Page 31 of Fratelli: Eternal Bloodlines

“Hey boyfriend,” Charmaine teased. “I found you!”

Russell grinned when they reached each other. Lamont stopped her just before the two embraced.

“Whoa there, sweetheart. Slow down. You’re not supposed to be back here,” said Lamont.

“She’s family!” Russell stated.

“Still, I don’t know her. What’s up, Carmen? Why is she back here? You know the rules,” Lamont asked.

“You don’t remember me?” Charmaine asked. She stepped in closer. Lamont stepped back. It was his greatest defense to resist the urge to look into her eyes again. Something was wrong with him. He had the world’s biggest mind-fuck just being in the same room as her. Charmaine pretended surprise over hisrejection of her. “We went to high school together, asshole. Now you don’t know me?”

“Get out of the way!” Russell demanded. “She’s, my family!”

Lamont glanced around. The Triad wasn’t in the room, just fans and the crew. He was in charge, and Tristan’s rules were clear:no one gets near the kid without consent.

Russell bumped Lamont’s legs with his wheelchair, forcing him to step aside. Lamont moved and glared at Carmen. He mouthed:Why did you bring her back here without checking in?

“We’re cool. Sorry,” Carmen replied.

“Shit.” Lamont couldn’t believe the coincidence. Charmaine had a connection to the kid and the boss’s girl. He worried about Tristan’s reaction. His eyes darted to the room’s cameras, which were placed strategically around. He hated fucking casinos and their cameras. Eyes were everywhere.

“How did you know where to find us?” Russell asked.

Charmaine cupped his face. Before she answered, she just stared at Russell with complete love. He was the sweetest gem in all their lives. For her, Sonya, and especially Dolly, Russell never aged. He remained their baby. “You’re all over social media. You’re famous, sweetie. Sonya and I couldn’t believe it. How did it happen? Where is Dolly?”

“This was all because of Dolly,” Russell boasted. “Lucio owns everything. He put me on. Gave me new gear, and ice,” he said and popped his diamond Cuban link chain. “And Lamont’s my man. He’s been like my manager.”

The comment made Charmaine glance back at Lamont. Their gaze held and melded. He forced himself to lower his first. A man confronted by his crush often loses his courage.

The connection was severed, which jolted Charmaine’s brain. Dizzy, she tried to stand upright but stumbled. Lamont frowned, concerned. Before she could speak, she swayed and crashed tothe floor. Several people screamed. Charmaine heard them but saw only the ceiling. Paralyzed, she lay there rapidly blinking.

Lamont reached her first.

“Hey, you, okay?” he asked.

We must go, Charmaine. Now. Close your eyes and listen,said a voice. Charmaine gasped; she tried to breathe. She blinked up at Lamont. There was also Carmen and Russell, who stared down at her. Everything went dark as she slipped into an abyss.

When she opened her eyes, she couldn’t see or hear anything. Battling anxiety and claustrophobia, she hyperventilated and screamed in her head in fear.

It’s okay. It’s okay,the voice said.

The black void dissolved as a beautiful version of herself walked out of the fog. The woman smiled. She wore a white sarong and a wrap of white fabric around her chest and over her breasts, with gold strands woven into the material. There were gold cuffs on her bare arms and wrists. Her hair was reminiscent of the ancient Egyptians in dark and blunt cut style.

Hi Charmaine. I’m Liora,the woman said.

“Lee-or-ah, hi?” Charmaine stammered.

I wouldn’t hurry us this way, but we’re out of time. The twins are in trouble. They’ve breached the realm through a connection they found in Domenico. Soon, Don Vittorio will find them, and they’ll be lost to us.

“Dolly? Darlene?” Charmaine asked.

Yes. They’re using power they shouldn’t. It’s like giving a baby who had just taken its first steps a knife and telling it not to run. We must get to them first.

“Where? How? Where is she?”

They’re in the penthouse suite. Lamont can take us, but he won’t agree. I must take control to get us there. The Master vampire Lucio cannot meet me. He cannever know of me. Do you understand? I’ll give you back your body when we are in his presence, and you must follow Russell’s lead.

“Why Russell? He doesn’t know what’s going on. Dolly wouldn’t want him involved.”

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