Page 39 of Fratelli: Eternal Bloodlines

Russell glanced at the door, then back at her. "Does Dolly know? Did she know?"

"No. She does now, and she’s in love with him. I used to be, until I met his brother. He’s finer than Lucio—and he tried to save my life!" Darlene bragged.

"Stop! Darlene, what are you talking about? You sound crazy," Russell shook his head.

Darlene laughed. "I think I might break up with Lucio. He’s a big baby, like Dolly—always moping. I need a warrior. A mean, badass mean vampire I can practice my powers on. Tame him and make him my slave, so I can kill the Supreme?—."

"Darlene, we need to go home. We need Dolly back, and we should just leave," Russell reasoned.

Darlene rolled her eyes. "I’m not staying. I’m looking for a cure, so we don’t have to share this body anymore."

"That makes no sense. You two are the same," Russell said.

"We are NOT!" Darlene shouted, and the force in her voice made the lamp explode.

Russell jumped in his chair.

That’s enough, Darlene! Control your anger,Dolly warned.

"I’m sorry," she mumbled to both Dolly and Russell. “I can’t help it sometimes.”

"I think we should leave," Russell whispered, clearly terrified.

Darlene smiled. "Hey?"

He avoided looking at her. She walked over and picked up his chain, holding it up. "This is nice. Did Lucio give it to you?"

Russell looked up briefly, then lowered his gaze.

Darlene knelt beside him. "Tell me your dreams haven’t come true in the past two days. Tell me you aren’t happier than you’ve been since Mama and Daddy died. Go on, tell me."

"You told me never to trust vampires. That they wanted to kill you and Dolly. You always said?—"

"And I was right," Darlene interrupted. "Never trust them. But Lucio’s different. All he’s done is protect us. Without him, we’re in trouble, Russ. That’s the truth. We need to stay and figure this out with him, not against him. Does that make sense? Please say it does."

Russell nodded.

“Me and Dolly are good now. We get along. You don’t believe me?” Darlene giggled.

Russell shrugged.

“Watch this.” Darlene kissed his cheek, then stepped back and closed her eyes. When she opened them, it was Dolly who smiled at him. Russell knew it instinctively. “I’m sorry we scared you.”

“Dolly?" Russell asked, wide-eyed.

She nodded. "See? No more secrets between us."

“I’m sorry, Dolly,” Russell said. “You never really wanted to hear me when I told you about Darlene. You just wouldn’t listen, so I stopped talking about her.”

“I’m sorry I made you do that. We are a family. The three of us. I see that now, Russ.”

She sat on the bed. She reached over and touched his hand. “Hey, look at me. I know this is strange, and I know you’re scared for me. There is a lot you don’t know. And there is still a lot that me and Darlene don’t agree on. But know this. We are a family. And we agree with Lucio. He is not like them. Okay?”

“Charmaine’s here, Sonya too. Should we bring them to the hotel?” Russell asked. “Until we decide to go home?”

“Whatever you want,” she said.

“Can Lucio move out? He gives me the creeps,” said Russell.

---