Page 148 of Fratelli: Eternal Bloodlines

The sisters shared another look but stayed silent. Lucio could read their thoughts, and they knew better than to voice their concerns out loud. He returned to Darlene’s feet, scrubbing them with care.

Darlene leaned in, smiling softly. “We don’t need to hide from your dragon, Lucio. The three of us—we can kick his ass. We did it before.”

“You don’t know what you’re talking about,” Lucio mumbled, his focus narrowing on the task at hand.

“Then tell us,” Dolly said gently. “What are we facing? What’s really happening to you?”

Lucio looked up at them, his gaze intense. “What’s happening is that I love you. Both of you. For me, there’s no separation. You are the same. And I’ll make sure that nothing—not even my dragon—comes between us. That is the only thing that keeps me from becoming something you don’t want to know.”

He stood, lifting the basin, and walked out into the night to pour it out. His movements were deliberate, as if he was sealing their fate with every step.

“We can’t stay here,” Darlene whispered, panic rising in her chest. “Domencio could?—”

“Shut up!” Dolly hissed; her voice fierce. “Don’t say his name here. Don’t even think it. We’ll stay as long as we need to untilLucio is mentally strong enough to control his dark urges. That’s true love, Darlene. He needs us. And I need you too. The three of us—together. Look at what he created for us. It’s paradise in here.”

“It’s an illusion,” Darlene said.

Dolly stood. She then met Lucio at the door. She hugged him tightly, she pressed a kiss to his chest. Lucio looked at Darlene. He extended his hand to her.

Darlene hesitated only for a second. She pushed up and walked over to him. He took her hand into his and submitted to his desires. Together, they returned to bed, wrapped in the fragile peace of the night.

The End?

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