Page 44 of Fratelli: Eternal Bloodlines

“Good Lord! Who... whatwasthat?” Charmaine asked, still shaken.

“Those are his brothers?” Russell asked.

“Not all of them, but yes. Hi, Charmaine,” Darlene said.

“Hi... um, Darlene?” Charmaine asked.

“Yes. Don’t act like you don’t know it’s me.” Darlene rolled her eyes.

“You made them leave. I can’t believe it. You, did something to them. I saw it. How did you do that?” Russell asked, a flicker of hope in his voice.

“Don’t celebrate,” Darlene warned. “It’s hard to do anything when they’re together. My little push won’t stop them if they really wanted to hurt us. They left because they chose to. In a blink, they could’ve killed you both and taken me prisoner.”

Alarm reddened Russell face. She could have taken it easy on her brother, but she needed him to understand the danger. “We’re trapped. We wouldn’t even make it to the elevator if we tried,” she said.

“So, what are we going to do?” Russell asked.

“Let me think. Shut up, Dolly. I’m thinking!” Darlene paced.

“There’s something you should know,” Charmaine spoke up.

Darlene looked over at her. “What? Say it.”

“When you left… I, you won’t believe this, but there were…”

Not now. Don’t reveal us to her yet. It’s not a good time.Liora warned.

“Oh, we were, uhm, thinking of staying with you, Darlene. Me and Sonya,” she quickly covered. “Sonya is here too. She’s staying at Circus Circus with me.”

“Okay. Well, call her and tell her to come here. That blonde one. The one Lucio calls Tristan. He kept staring at you,” said Darlene. “That can’t be good. He sees everything. I’m sure he’ll be checking in on where you are staying and how you got here. Sonya is safer with us.”

“Yeah, I will try to reach her,” Charmaine agreed.

Darlene sat down in a chair. “Well, I need time to think. You guys order whatever you want. We will be here for a while.”

Chapter 19

Girl’s Work

The Pink Pussy - Las Vegas, Nevada

April 17, 2018

(4 Days Before Death)

Sonya steppedout of the Las Vegas sun and into the cool, dimly lit comfort of the Pink Pussy. Of course, she had heard of the club. She’d always thought of membership only status as a lucrative investment. She did not know it was a den of sin for vampires. The contrast from outside to inside was stark, almost shocking, as her eyes adjusted. The club was empty, chairs stacked on tables, and the faint smell of cleaning products mingled with the lingering scent of spilled drinks and a hint of something more exotic—something she couldn’t quite place.

Be careful, said her inner voice.

“You’re Sonya, right?” Spoke another voice. This voice was not her own. It was smooth, almost velvety, with a hint of an accent that reminded her of home. Sonya’s head turned to see Sophie, the club owner, stood in the doorway of an office.

Sophie was beautiful, her presence almost otherworldly. Caught by the luminance of the club lights, her fiery red haircascaded in waves down her back. Her skin was flawless and pale, but with an ethereal quality that seemed to glow from within. Her eyes, a striking shade of emerald green, were sharp in their appraisal, with a depth that suggested centuries of knowledge and experience. She painted her full lips a deep crimson. They curved into a smile that was akin to a predator.

She wore a sleek black dress that hugged her curves. A diamond choker glittered at her throat. The bling drew attention to the elegant slenderness of her neck. There was an aura about her, a sense of power and sexual prowess that made it clear she was no ordinary woman.

“That’s me,” Sonya replied. Her voice remained steady despite the nervous flutter in her stomach. She had faced countless audiences, but there was something about Sophie and the empty club that made the itch for a fight.

It’s okay to feel uneasy. She is probing you now. I must leave you. Do what you do best. I am always near,said the inner voice who she could now name as Kaida. And then she was gone.

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