Poker Face (The Masks Series Book 4) Read Free

like pit bulls, turned on by the smell of fear.
    Closing my eyes, I forced in a long, slow breath and willed my nerves to stop freaking out. It took a minute, but eventually I found the strength to open my eyes and gaze up at my captor.
    His lips turned up in a half smile.
    “What can you see?” His breath was hot on my face.
    “I don’t know what you mean.”
    His eyes shot to Bruno, who pinched my arm so hard I couldn’t stop a whimper. Tears burned and I blinked rapidly, willing them not to fall.
    “Tell me I have not wasted one hundred thousand dollars of my money.” His Spanish accent grew thicker the louder his words became. “Tell me that Bruno here is not a liar.”
    “Miguel assured me, Uncle, and I saw—” Bruno began.
    “Shut up.” Santiago snapped his fingers, his eyes still trained on me. “I am not a patient man.”
    I swallowed. “I can see that.”
    His head tipped to the side, his expression rising with amusement before pinching tight. His slap came out of nowhere. It stung my cheek hard and fast.
    I sniffed in a quick breath. That was my fourth slap in two days and I wasn’t growing any fonder of them.
    I fought the urge to fall into a blubbering mess; somehow I knew that wouldn’t fly with this Santiago man. He admired strength; weakness repulsed him.
    Pressing my lips together, I turned back to face him, peeling his mask away and letting it flutter to the floor.
    “I value my money, güera . If you do not give me what I want, I will sell you on.” He picked up one of my curls, rubbing it between his fingers. “Blondes are popular in this town.” Dropping my hair, he placed his large hand on my chest, squeezing me and running his fingers slowly down my body. “Young, firm body, long legs...”
    His fingers inched around to the split in my dress, lightly skimming my exposed skin. He paused, his eyes heating with a malicious smile before he pressed his hand against my hip and moved to investigate a part of my body that had only ever been touched by one man. I’d rather die than have that fact changed.
    I flinched away from him, but Bruno moved in behind me, holding me steady.
    My struggle would be worthless. My only defense was to give him what he wanted.
    “You doubt your purchase,” I spat.
    He paused, his eyes narrowing. “Anyone can see that.”
    I pulled the second layer of his mask free before that grimy hand of his moved another inch. It was hard not to be offended by his expression, but it wasn’t the time to be a princess. I clenched my jaw.
    “Your threats are real. I can see you’re taking much pleasure in making me squirm. But you’re only doing it to get me talking. If I’m not what you’re hoping for, and what Miguel Vera promised you, you’ll feel cheated and...” I swallowed, cowering back against Bruno who was standing behind me now.
    “And?” Santiago’s eyebrow arched, an amused smirk tugging at his lips.
    “A-and you’ll make me suffer before you sell me on.”
    His eyebrow rose a little higher, making his broad forehead wrinkle. “How do you know I don’t want to keep you...for myself?”
    Throwing his mask on, I caught the lusty look on his face. His eyes traveled down my body, putting on a show.
    I pulled off his mask again and scoffed out a laugh, totally humiliated by the truth. “I have no breasts.”
    For the first time in my life, I was actually grateful for it!
    I cleared my throat. “I can see the disappointment in your eyes. You like a woman with curves, not a stick figure.” His growing smirk was encouraging so I kept going. “You didn’t buy me for my body.”
    “I just told you that.”
    “You know I can see it. You know that I can read people, because you believe that Bruno is not an idiot and he wouldn’t bring you back something that was worthless.” I kept studying him, my eyes narrowing at the corners. “Miguel knows the type of man you are. He wouldn’t have sold you a dud, because he knows you’d hunt him down and