Page 63 of Fratelli: Eternal Bloodlines

“I dunno, Darlene. What does Dolly think of this?—”

“I’m in charge now!” Darlene said. “That’s our deal. I’m bored. I want to go. Stay here,” huffed Darlene.

“Okay! Wait. I’ll go with you. Sorry. I’m just trying to make sure we’re okay.”

“I’ll go in and talk to Russell. Put him to sleep. Then we’ll go, okay?” Darlene went straight for the room. Charmaine needed to be ready. She glanced up at the cameras installed in the living room and realized for the first time that they were all being watched.

Darlene cameout of the bedroom with a wide grin after almost two hours. The sun had set. And she had changed, refreshed her makeup, put on designer jeans and a low-cut blouse with a black leather jacket. It was over eighty degrees outside, but the casino was a freezer. Her hair flowed prettily around her face. The makeup was light, fresh, and expertly done around her wide eyes. Dolly really had bloomed into her powers after accepting Darlene. They were a beautiful woman.

“All done. Had to take off those nasty, bloody clothes and shower, wash my cootchie in case Domencio comes back,” Darlene laughed.

“What did you do?” Charmaine asked.

Darlene frowned.

“I mean to Russ, to relax him?”

“I didn’t hurt him, if that’s what you’re implying!” Charmaine snapped.

“Of course not. I know you would never—” Charmaine stammered.

“He’s my baby brother. He gets stressed, and it affects him. I just made him relax. He has too much pride to ask me for my help, but I knew why he went to lie down. He’s in bed. What I did to him will wear off in a few hours. We’ll be back before he wakes or Lucio returns. Don’t worry.” Darlene repeated herself. She picked up the case of casino chips, stuffing every pocket she had with the coins.

“Go or stay, I don’t care. I’m leaving,” said Darlene.

“I’m coming,” Charmaine said. She, too, had prepared. She was ready to meet the Consiglieri.

Nzinga layon the bed and tried to rest. Her body aches and pains had worsened. Even in her dreams, she prayed to be healed. The suffering was unbearable. When it got too bad, she forced herself to the bathroom to take more Ibuprofen. Now she feared she had taken too much. It was then she caught a battered version of herself in the mirror. She paused. When she stared at her reflection, all her trauma resurfaced. She could hear the screams of her sisters, their suffering, begging, and pleading with the Guardians. It became so loud she grabbed the soap dish and threw it at the mirror, smashing it. She gripped the sink and cut her hands on the shards of glass. Nzinga cried out in agony and wept.

Slowly, she slid to the floor. The cool tile was more of a comfort than the lumpy mattress. She pressed her face against it and wished for death.

The phone in the room rang. Nzinga ignored it. The Guardians had not bothered to heal her, to ease her suffering. She had been loyal to the cause, to the traditions of the First People, and she was abandoned.

The phone rang. The phone rang. The phone rang.

The call would end and start again. Not until all her tears stopped did, she find the strength to sit up. She got a towel and used it to absorb the blood on her hands, then stumbled out of the bathroom.

The phone rang.

Nzinga winced as she picked it up. “Hello?”

“It’s me,” said a soft voice.

“Greenlee!” Nzinga sat on the bed, hope in her heart. She put a hand to her mouth. “Is it really you? Are you okay?”

“I’m alive. The others… they could not be saved,” wheezed Greenlee.

“I am so sorry, Greenlee. I wanted to protect you. I offered my life,” Nzinga babbled, weeping.

“Shhh… it’s part of the sacrifice. Now listen carefully. The Guardians have changed plans, which means so do we. It is not over yet, Nzinga. We need you,” said Greenlee.

Nzinga nodded. “I am here. I am here to serve.”

Chapter 27

The Meeting of the Brothers

Palazzio - Las Vegas, Nevada

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