Fratelli: The Awakening (The Vampire Cartel #1)

26. The Visit

Chapter 26

The Visit

B aton Rouge, Louisiana

April 14, 2018

(8 Days Before Death)

Nzinga parked two houses away from her target and killed the engine. She watched as Sonya was warmly greeted by her friend Charmaine. The women embraced at the door before Sonya disappeared inside. Nzinga picked up her phone. She scanned the photos that had been sent to her. “The prodigies have connected,” she typed, informing her supreme mother that her mission was underway. If fate permitted, both women would uncover the truths of the universe before day turned to night.

“Hey, girl,” Charmaine wrapped her arms around her friend’s neck, who was noticeably shorter and often affectionately called Tiny by their friend group. As a friend, Sonya was known as the fixer, the one they all relied on when their backs were against the wall.

“So, what’s up? You said it was urgent,” Sonya sighed. She released Charmaine and stepped around the house. She dropped her purse onto a sofa chair and admired the furnishings. “Hey, it looks good in here, girl. You painted?”

Charmaine said nothing. She had so much to explain she didn’t know where to begin. Sonya walked through her newly decorated home. She didn’t see Charmaine’s cat but assumed she had hidden her away.

“Where is Gigi?” Sonya asked.

“Probably upstairs,” Charmaine said. “She’s around here somewhere. Did you call Dolly? Like I told you?”

“Huh? No. I was working—” Sonya mumbled.

“I told you to call her! She stopped answering my calls,” Charmaine groaned.

“Why are you tripping? She texts me a picture of her on a jet. She’s doing better than you and me,” Sonya said with an eyeroll.

“My God, you are dense. I told you she was in trouble. She’s with some dangerous people. Damn, girl. I thought you’d help her.” Charmaine sat down. Sonya settled into the sofa chair and mirrored her friend’s concern. Dolly, in trouble, meant trouble for everyone.

The girls sat in silence for a moment before Sonya spoke, “Charmaine, you aren’t responsible for Dolly and her fuck ups. You know she is—” She paused and searched for the right words. “Odd. I mean that in the most respectful way, she’s always finding trouble. She always makes these situations we have to rescue her from.”

“She’s family. Period,” Charmaine said.

“She switches up on you and me all the time. One minute we’re all best friends, the next you’d see her at the mall, and she acts as if she doesn’t know you. And what about Tyrone? Do you remember that drama? When it comes to her dating and her choices, I checked out on that crazy game two years ago. Sorry, girl.”

“Tyrone was not her fault. She doesn’t even remember what happened that night. We swore we’d never speak on it again,” Charmaine reasoned.

“But yet, here are you. Trying to save her. She’s a grown woman. She’s dating some guy who has a jet and flying her all over the world. You’re acting like you’re her mother. Let her go,” Sonya said.

“You don’t understand,” Charmaine mumbled.

“Tell me where I’m wrong—?” A knock at the door cut Sonya off. Charmaine’s brows furrowed.

“You expecting someone?” Sonya asked.

“Not yet,” mumbled Charmaine.

“Well answer it,” said Sonya.

Charmaine stared at the door. “Maybe you’re right. Maybe we shouldn’t get involved. But if we don’t… it ends badly, terrible Sonya. I don’t know what to do. I’m sorry. I’m so sorry, I shouldn’t have called you.”

“Wait what? What are you talking about? What’s wrong with you? Now you’re acting weird,” Sonya said.

“Don’t answer the door,” Charmaine whispered. “You’re right. This is none of our business. We should just try to stay out of it. Hope for the best.”

“Who’s at the door?” Sonya asked.

“She can’t come in if you don’t invite her in,” Charmaine said and stared at the door. “That’s what she told me. We have to make the choice.”

“She who? Dolly? Girl, who is it?” Sonya demanded.

“Lower your voice!”

“Answer me Char, now,” Sonya said in search of her purse.

“It won’t matter, I can’t unknow what I know,” Charmaine sighed. She dropped her head and wept. She wept openly. The person beyond the door knocked again. Not threateningly, but a persistent one. Sonya found her purse. She got her gun. She checked the chamber and released the safety. “You bitches always drag me into your bullshit. What kind of trouble did Dolly get you into now?”

“Put the gun away,” Charmaine choked out between her hard sobs. She looked at the door and shook her head. “She can’t come in unless we let her in, unless we agree. That’s what she told me. We have a choice.”

“She? She who? Talk to me. W’sup!”Sonya held the gun down but glared at the door.

When Charmaine didn’t answer, Sonya. snatched the door open and held out the gun, aimed and ready to fire.

“Who the hell are you, bitch?” Sonya demanded.

“Man, what the fuck do you want? Why are you out here? I told your men I’d check in,” groaned Lamont.

Tristan stood by the sleek white sports car, unfazed. He stared at Lamont and only lowered his gaze to check his watch.

“Are you serious? I got my peoples here, and we’re headed to DeShawn’s’ tonight for the memorial. I can’t leave. My mom and my family are upset. He was family, bro. This one is going to take some time.”

Tristan ignored what sounded like a plea to him. He tapped his watch, and the Lamborghini doors lifted. He walked around the car and slipped inside as the engine revved up on his approach. Lamont glanced back at his palatial house. His mother and sister were now just outside the door. She watched with a look of concern.

Other family members would join them soon. The situation shook everyone. That hurt badly. They did not know the world they lived in had monsters, and one day soon, he’d become one too. The only way to protect them was to leave their world behind—that was the lesson the Triad preached. Though they shared other things that Lamont didn’t allow himself to think about. His sanity could only survive so much.

“Yo! Ma! I’ll catch up with you later!” Lamont yelled back at them. “I got some business to take care of. Okay, Ma?”

“Where are you going? You promised. We have a prayer session and then go to the memorial together. That’s what we agreed to.” His mother started toward him and the car with concern. “You aren’t working today. This is a time for family.”

Tristan revved the engine once more. It was his last order. He heard it from Tristan as clearly as if he’d said the words in his ear. Lamont spoke fast to his mother and family.

“The police have questions. I am just going to deal with it and the attorneys. It’s okay, I’ll be back in time for the memorial. I promise.”

Before his mother reached the car, he was inside, and the doors lowered. Tristan zoomed out of the circular driveway, and Lamont could hear his mother’s screams for him, for his soul. His gaze dropped to the rearview mirror. His sister held his mother. She knew. She took one look at Tristan and knew. Just as he knew when he signed that contract with Don Lucio. He had lost his soul.

“I won’t see them again, will I?” he asked.

“Don Lucio keeps his promises. Your family, Deshawn’s family, all will be well taken care of, as long as you keep yours,” said Tristan.

“That’s not an answer, motherfucker!” Lamont shouted.

“For their sake, you should consider the Lamont they knew is dead, laying in the same coffin as your partner Deshawn. And that’s the end of your story.”

“Man, fuck you,” Lamont wiped at his tears.

Tristan chuckled and accelerated. Lamont tried not to be afraid of how dangerously they zoomed through lights and around cars.

“We all have an end. At one time, we’ve all had to make a tough choice. Look at it this way, young soldier, for every death in the eye of the Draca there is a rebirth. You are reborn. The man in charge now,” said Tristan.

“But why I am not a vampire? If this is destiny? What is the limbo I’m caught up in,” Lamont said.

“You want the truth?” Tristan asked.

“Finally. Yes. Truth. Give it to me,” Lamont said.

“The wolves will never go to their knees for a vampire. You got a different path young one. You’ll figure it out soon enough,” said Tristan.

“Wait? Wolves? You mean werewolves!” Lamont gasped.

Tristan cranked up the music and stared at the road. Conversation over. Lamont stared out of the window as they sped toward the expressway. They arrived at the Walmart and Tristan held a brief meeting with his men. The Triad had new orders. They now worked for Lamont in name only, and he didn’t understand how or why. They were like Tristan, cold, calculative, dangerous. After travel plans were updated for them all, he was ushered to Tristan’s SUV and he got inside of the open door. Headed to a destination he didn’t care to know.

“I’ve made my choice,” Charmaine said. “Come in.”

“Who the hell are you?” Sonya asked.

Nzinga closed the door behind her as she entered, causing Sonya to immediately lower the gun she had aimed at the unexpected visitor. The woman before her was strikingly beautiful and undeniably odd. Slender like a marathon runner, she stood perhaps six foot two or three, her skin a deep brown. Her eyes were the most compelling feature on her face. Large, doll-like eyes cast under long lashes.

She walked in with a confidence that stilled the aggression in Sonya. Her hairstyle is notable, with shaved sides and a crown of dreadlocks that hung long over the left side of her face. Her attire added to her imposing figure: a leather corset showcased her up-tilted breasts, and tight leather pants, like those worn by warrior women in video games. It had slashes that served as pockets along the legs. A thick belt crisscrossed around her shapely hips, with a gun hooked on one side, and she wore dark boots that looked like they could kick through doors or crush chests with ease.

Charmaine stood. She wiped her hands down the tears on her face. Sonya recovered from her initial shock and noticed that Charmaine didn’t instruct the tall woman to leave her home, but had indeed invited her in. It was clear now the visitor’s arrival was expected. As Sonya took another step back, she sensed that something was off with her friend from the moment she arrived, but now she was sure of it. Charmaine wasn’t afraid, she was terrified.

In Nzinga’s hand, she held what appeared to be a fancy baton, about three feet in length. At one end, it was tipped with a knife point. She carried it with the dangerous end pointed downward, handling it with ease.

“Is this the friend you spoke of?” Nzinga asked Charmaine.

Surprised, Sonya looked over at her friend for an explanation.

“Listen to her. She has information you need to hear,” Charmaine mumbled.

“What the hell is going on with you? Who is this crazy lady? What are you into, Charmaine?”

“Me? Not me. It’s Dolly. If you had listened to me and convinced her to leave that man, it would have been over.” Charmaine sat back down. If Sonya’s eyes weren’t deceiving her, she would swear that her most trustworthy friend, who normally feared nothing, was shaking. Suddenly, Charmaine’s black cat appeared at the top of the stairs. It sat and stared before descending and then offered comfort by brushing against Sonya’s legs.

“Please. Have a seat,” Nzinga said. “We have little time. Lucio has your friend. It is done. The ritual has already begun.”

“Why are we here?” asked Lamont. This was now their fourth stop. They had switched from the fancy sports car to Tristan’s preferred SUV. All the while, Lamont barely questioned the vampire’s intentions.

Tristan parked.

“We have a flight to catch. I’m picking up another passenger. You’ll make him comfortable.” said Tristan.

“Bro, I can’t do what your mans want. I’m no gangster. Okay? That was Deshawn. That Leonardo guy was your leader. Why me? I have never done an illegal thing in my life. Ever! Check my record. I’m clean. I don’t even front in my lyrics. Besides, everyone in Louisiana knows me. I can’t be discreet. Especially with the media all over me now. I’m hot. I can’t!” Lamont warned.

“Don’t sell yourself short,” Tristan looked back at him. “In a few days, you’ll be surprised at all the things you can do. Your future is big and bright, kid.”

Before Lamont could object, the driver or enforcer for Don Lucio got out of the car and walked across the street to the townhome. He slumped back in the seat and let go a deep groan.

Russell had streamed a new version of his favorite game for six hours without an actual break. Not only was his bladder full, but he was sleep-deprived and hungry. He removed his headphones and pushed his chair back from his monitors. He had to text his sister and give her the good news. His last competition had netted him close to six thousand dollars. They not only had rent money, but a little more to tie them over until they found something solid for her. Things looked promising.

The knock at the door came when he finished draining his whistle. He washed his hands before he answered. After all, it was probably a package from Amazon that he had been waiting on or the lunch he had ordered.

When Russell opened the door, he wheeled back his chair in surprise. It was the man who took Dolly the night before. He had watched them from the window. He was certain it was him.

“What is it? Is it my sister? Is she okay?” Russell asked with alarm in his voice.

“Hello Russ, my name is Tristan. May I come in?” Tristan asked.

Russell wheeled his chair backward. The request was hard to deny.“Yes, you may.”