Fratelli: The Awakening (The Vampire Cartel #1)

39. Treason

Chapter 39

Treason

T he Palazzo Tower we are MADE from Father and dark hoodoo magic. That witch in the swamp fooled our mother into bargaining with her devil. Father betrayed the Draca by straying from the prophecy and making a deal with Papa Legba. There was never to be four of us, just one, the chosen one. And now that is dead. We are an abomination. We do not know what happens when Father dies. We could all end with him. Have you thought of that?”

The brothers fell silent. Lucio shifted in his chair. If he tried to reach out to Dolly or Darlene, or whoever screamed incessantly in his head, the protective barrier over his and Tristan’s thoughts would drop. Still, her screaming was shredding him inside. His Draca was suffering from worry too. So, he probed her mind and extended his power. It was a dangerous endeavor. The brothers noticed. One by one, they sensed his internal struggle and stared at him. He needed to escape the meeting. But how?

“Father is a liar,” mumbled Sebastiano after Lucio recovered his strength and reinforced the shield between them and him and Tristan. “How many of Julia Brown’s daughters have you taken in Father’s name?”

Domencio shrugged. Marcello didn’t bother to answer. All of the brothers looked to Lucio because, out of the four, he was gifted with the most talent for hunting the ladies down and bringing them into the Fratelli. That was until he met Wanda. Each brother recalled how hard he fought to save the life of his Wanda.

“If anyone is weak for Julia Brown’s daughters, it’s you,” said Domencio.

“Are you accusing me of something?” Lucio asked.

“We know you are hiding something from us,” Marcello answered. “You have built a fortress around yourself and your pet priest. Why?”

“Who are you to judge my loyalty? I don’t trust any of you,” Lucio stood. “You meet in secret without me. You endorsed espionage with Domencio sending his goons into Louisiana to set me up for war with the wolves.”

“Can you prove it?” Domencio asked.

“I don’t have to,” Lucio said. “I came tonight to tell you that time is up. I am no longer seeking your counsel or approval. I will find this woman and save father myself.”

“Will you?” Sebastiano asked cooly as he enticed his lizard back to the cradle of his arm.

“Maybe you already have,” remarked Domencio as he sipped a goblet of fresh blood.

“Careful brother. You are not the Master here,” Marcello said to Don Domencio. He then turned his attention to Lucio. “It would not be wise to turn against the brotherhood. Three against one is a tough number to defeat,” Marcello said.

Lucio stared them down.

“Where do you think you’re going? We have much more to discuss,” Sebastiano said.

Lucio glanced back at Tristan, who headed for the door. He turned to follow. He paused. “I intend to return to Sicilia. I will see you there.”

He strolled out the door before any of them could object. In the hall, he knew his brothers were using their powers to track, listen, and watch him and his consiglieri.

“Should I get the car?” Tristan asked calmly. He tried to seem casual. Lucio needed to take to the night and return to Henderson fast. Ahead of any sabotage that may greet him there. His brothers were on his scent, and he had no idea what they would do next. But if he left in a hurry, then Tristan would be their gator bait.

“Yes. We have a few stops to make,” Lucio lied.

Together they entered the elevator. No one dared stop them, but Lucio knew the entire casino had eyes on them. They didn’t speak. The Bugatti was brought around, and the driver left the vehicle. Don Lucio took the passenger seat while Tristan sped through the night, moving within the blink of an eye. When they hit gridlocked traffic on the strip, they were stuck. Tristan quickly took another route, escaping through a side road and turning off the headlights to blend into the night. They were being followed. After several quick maneuvers, Tristan parked behind a run-down chapel. Don Lucio got out of the car.

“They will send the Fratelli for me tonight,” Tristan said.

“Can you handle it?” asked Lucio.

Tristan nodded. Lucio trusted him. Though their shared history wasn’t the best, Tristan had proven to be the best consiglieri and friend to him over the decades—something Lucio foresaw all those years ago when he spotted the priest locking up his chapel in the Vatican. There was no one alive or dead that he trusted more.

“Something is happening to my Dolly. She’s in trouble,” Lucio said.

“How do you know?” Tristan asked.

Lucio closed his eyes and listened. “She blocks me from her mind, but not tonight. Tonight, she cried out for my help. She entered my mind.”

Tristan’s eyes widened. “Has she ever shown this power before?”

“Never. And now she is silent. I can’t hear her or reach her.” Lucio opened his eyes. “You secure her brother and Lamont. Nothing can happen to them until our plan is in place. If you must deal with your brothers, then do so. They cannot get to those two, under any circumstances. See me at sunrise.”

Before Tristan could respond, Don Lucio dissolved into a black cloud of smoke and lifted into the night.