Page 71 of Fratelli: Eternal Bloodlines

“Stop the car,” said Russell.

Lamont ignored him.

“I want out of here. I want to go back to the hotel,” Russell shouted.

Lamont ignored him.

“Let me out! Now!” Russell demanded. He slammed his fist against the window as hard as he could.

“I suggest you chill, bro,” Lamont said in a monotone unaffected voice. He scrolled to the next video post.

“Fuck you. I’m being kidnapped,” Russell replied.

“You’re being rescued,” Lamont replied.

“Take me back! Now. To my sisters. Take me back, damn it,” Russell’s protest sounded weaker.

“One more time, bro. Chill,” Lamont's gaze slipped over. There was a sincere threat in the hard glare he gave him. It shocked Russell. Lamont had been nothing but patient and cool. The silence in the car became even more threatening. The men driving, silent as crypt keepers. The hairs on the back of Russell’s neck stood on end.

Russell fumed but understood the situation. His disability and the indifference of the men in the car meant anger wouldn’t help. He needed to diffuse the situation without escalating it.

“Can you tell me what’s going on? Was I drugged? Where are my sisters?” Russell pleaded.

“Sister?” Lamont frowned. “You mean sister?”

“Yeah, okay, sure. Where is Dolly? Does Lucio have her? Did he take her? Is he sending me away? What’s happening?” Russell asked.

“I don’t know any fucking thing about Lucio. In fact, from now on, let’s keep him out of it. We had to get you out of Bellagio for protection. You were asleep in the car when I got in. I couldn’t wake you.”

“How? Who put me here?” Russell asked.

Lamont sighed. “Look, kid. You know who these motherfuckers are. What they are.” Lamont glanced at the front seat, at the silent vampires driving them.

Russell fell silent.

“I’m not one of them, and neither are you. But your sister, her boyfriend, and the rest of the Bellagio crowd are things from nightmares. Some dark shit is going down back there. I was supposed to be headed to my next job, but then I got saddled with you,” Lamont said.

“Dark things? Like what? Is she in danger?” Russell asked.

“They’re at war. That’s all I can tell you.” Lamont shrugged.

“Where is she?” Russell’s voice quivered.

“Not sure. We’re headed to Reno. I’ll protect you, but I won’t baby you, Russ. Whatever’s in Reno, you need to man up and deal with it. Understand? Shit, I got enough on my plate,” said Lamont.

Russell searched for his backpack out of defense. When he realized he didn’t have it, panic settled in. Lamont sensed his alarm, reached down, and pulled it up like a magic trick.

“Everything’s in there, your medicine, some other interesting shit you keep on you,” he said and tossed the backpack to Russell.

Russell opened it, finding his things, including his sister’s doll. He sighed in relief when he noticed his cell phone.

“Put on your weight,” Lamont ordered.

“Huh?” Russell asked.,

“Chain. It marks you as one of Lucio’s boys. Put it on and never take it off. It’s like a fucking silver bullet to thesemotherfucka’s. We’re headed to Reno. The den for the Wolves,” Lamont yawned.

“As in…?”

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