Page 65 of Fratelli: Eternal Bloodlines

“How was your flight?” Sebastiano asked.

“Where is she?” Marcello asked, his fangs in full view, eyes burning with vengeful hatred directed at Lucio.

“Bellagio. Secured by me,” Lucio replied.

Marcello glanced at Domenico; his left brow arched for an explanation.

“We had a strange first encounter. She saw me and passed out. Did some voodoo shit. Made me crazy and knocked me on my ass. Lucio took her inside the suite. We fought. He was weak?—.”

Sebastiano glanced at Lucio. “What do you mean, weak? You were weak enough to be hurt?”

“He’d been drinking her blood, gorging on it. Apparently, it did something to him,” Domenico said.

“And?” Lucio asked.

“And what?” Domenico replied.

“Tell the rest,” Lucio said.

Marcello glared at Lucio. “He doesn’t have to answer to anything. You tell us the rest, brother.”

“Certainly. The story isn’t too different from what you’ve heard before. I attacked Domenico. In the fight, I was impaled. That’s what he means by weak. I couldn’t heal. He saw that as an opportunity and started crying over being six years old and scared, and how I didn’t save him. Said he wanted revenge because his little feelings were still hurt. Something he still sucks his thumb over.”

Domenico shook his head. “You stupid motherfucker.”

“I healed myself in time to prevent Domenico from taking advantage of me. When I did, I didn’t fight him. I checked on her. For Father’s sake, I had to make sure she was alive. That’s the picture you saw.”

“A moment of tenderness between the lovebirds,” Domenico said.

“A moment of kindness from me. Something that has gained me more access to her than any of you could have ever gotten,” Lucio said.

“To what end? This access? Now she’s here threatening us with Guardians,” Sebastiano added.

“I had nothing to do with that,” Lucio reasoned.

“All of this leads to you,” Marcello said.

“All of it!” Sebastiano snarled.

“Careful,” Lucio warned the trio.

“Time is up, big brother. I didn’t return to Paris. I went to see Father,” Marcello began. “He is worse than any of you know. Delirious, feral, self-harming. He’s withered. The only choice we have now is the old teachings. Your girlfriend will be given to him as food for the Draca. You tasted her. You know how potent the death of a Chosen One is. She is a double treat. Her sacrifice will prevent the prophecy of your rise and cure our father from the true death. End of the story. Maybe I’ll drink from her first, just to see what I’ve been missing.”

Lucio held his brother’s glare. Silent rage within him sizzled like frying bacon. He showed no outward emotion but saw the truth in Marcello’s eyes. The truce was over. Marcello had joined the other side. Lucio gave him a slight nod of obedience, but no one seated at the Fratelli table believed him. He’d see the world burn before any of them ever touched her. That was the unspoken truth.

Chapter 28

To Protect and Serve

Bellagio - Las Vegas, Nevada

April 17, 2018

(4 Days Before Death)

The last dayof Comic-Con sent a surge of fans into the Bellagio. The crowd overwhelmed the ladies the moment they stepped off the elevator. Darlene charged ahead.

“Wait!” yelped Charmaine.

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