Page 78 of Fratelli: Eternal Bloodlines

“But what about Sonya?” asked Charmaine.

“They won’t hurt her. Not yet. They want us, and if they don’t have Russell, we just bought her some time. We have an inside link to her protection,” said Dolly.

“What? How?” Charmaine said.

“Tristan. That’s how. He’s consiglieri, and he’s yours.” Dolly said and walked past Charmaine. Her friend stood there,stunned. She thought of the bite, the feel of Tristan, the way he called for her even now mentally, and how she fought with all her might to block him.

Dolly stopped at the open door to the car and Nzinga got in. “Stop fighting it, Charmaine. I tried to resist Lucio. I knew he was a monster. And I hated him for using me for this war. But when I stopped fighting him, I found out he was my soulmate. You want to save your sister, Liora, and we need to save our friend, Sonya. We have to do so by any means. You will need Tristan. Give in to him, control him, make him your servant.”

Dolly got in the car.

Charmaine closed her eyes and exhaled. Liora’s conflict and internal struggle was her own. She shook off her doubts and knelt to put everything back into the duffle bag, then joined them all. They were in the car, speeding away from Vegas.

Tristan tried to walk straight,uninhibited by the drilling pain in his skull. The power outage was still in place. The hotel security wore light vests and escorted groups of people to areas of the hotel they felt safest. For those leaving, a long line of security checks awaited before they could exit.

Unable to take the elevator to the vault or use his powers, Tristan felt the effects of Liora's essence. He navigated through the guards to the emergency exit and hurried down thirteen steps to the belly of the Bellagio.

In the darkness with his Draca suffering, he found himself free of dark thoughts. Only thoughts of her and the warnings Phoenix had drilled into his head consumed his mind. What would his mentor do if he knew of his crime? Could Phoenixsense his compromised state? He worried deeply about what would come next.

Liora…

He reached out into the night with his fading strength. He hoped she heard him.

Liora…

Liora…

Liora…

He kept repeating her name and searching. He’d find her. Of that, he was sure.

Chapter 33

The Sacrifice

Las Vegas, Nevada

April 18, 2018

(3 Days Before Death)

The four brothersstood side by side in the pitch-black night, their immortal presence amplified by the sudden power outage that had plunged the Las Vegas Strip into darkness. They thrived in the shadows, their senses heightened and their predatory instincts sharp.

In front of the Paris hotel, they faced the chaos erupting at the Bellagio. From beyond the fountains, they observed the pandemonium as people scrambled to either flee or enter. The streets were flooded with panicked crowds. Yet, the brothers’ combined energy created an invisible barrier, repelling the masses to the other side of the street.

Humans were simple creatures to influence, their minds easily swayed. With minimal effort, the brothers shielded themselves from the mobs, weaving between traffic-jammed cars on the Vegas Strip, remaining hidden in plain sight. Masters of the night.

Marcello, the youngest of the four, stepped forward, his movements deliberate and filled with purpose. He had always been the peacemaker, the negotiator, the one who could bridge the gaps between his brothers. Tonight, he had returned to settle a conflict that threatened to destroy their brotherhood forever.

“This power outage—is this your lover’s doing?” Marcello asked, his voice calm yet commanded a response.

“She’s not powerful enough to knock out the entire city,” Lucio responded.

“Are you sure?” Marcello emerged fully from their shadowed existence; his presence now undeniable as he faced the other three.

Lucio didn’t answer immediately. He felt Marcello’s probing thoughts and easily pushed the inquiry aside. None of them had dominion over the others, but three against one was a match that could end him. Even he couldn’t ignore the threat.

“She’s gone,” Sebastiano interjected. “She and the guardian escaped.”

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