Fratelli: The Awakening (The Vampire Cartel #1)

48. When He Sees Me

Chapter 48

When He Sees Me

B ellagio Casino, Las Vegas - Nevada

April 15, 2018

(6 Days Before Death)

Lucio pushed Darlene off him. She sat in the back seat of the SUV, glaring over the rejection. He turned his gaze to the window and locked in on the darkened city streets that were nothing but a blur as they zoomed through the city. Darlene’s presence was almost too much—like a living flame, her energy wrapped around him, and he felt himself become intoxicated by her inescapable power. The dress was just the beginning. She smelled like temptation itself—everything pure yet dangerous, the true essence of femininity that drove him to the edge. Her scent enveloped him. Even the dewy sweetness of her arousal was unmistakable. The driver, a shadowy figure in the front seat, remained stoic, his eyes focused ahead, but Lucio could sense how hard he worked to ignore her magnetic sexual pull.

It only made Lucio’s internal conflict worse. If his loyal soldiers struggled against her seduction, how would his brothers—hungry and ruthless—react when they finally laid eyes on her?

“You’re so tense, Lucio,” Darlene murmured, her fingers traced lazy circles on his thigh. “Why fight it? You know you want to fuck me, punish me, drink… me.”

If he were a mortal who struggled with a restrictive diabetic diet and then was locked away in a bakery with his favorite treats, the temptation he suffered might feel the same. It was the only comparison he could summon to put words to what temptation he fought.

And then he realized she knew. She was doing it on purpose. She knew if he fucked her, he’d take her blood. She knew if he drank her blood, he’d weaken. To arrive in public with her in a weakened state could be disastrous, with her powers now flexing before him. She would escape him. He glanced over at her and wondered about the dress, her giddiness, how she kept teasing him. Was it all planned?

Lucio swallowed hard. The Draca was awake, and he wanted his Darlene. He rumbled in his chest, demanding that Lucio respond. Darlene reached over and squeezed his cock, making the temptation unbearable.

“Not now,” he grunted.

“But why not?” she whined. She leaned in so her breath warmed his neck. “You’re always so eager to play when we’re alone. Play now, honey. Hey, I got an idea. You can just lick my pussy; we don’t have to have sex. Just take a little taste to make your Draca stop wanting me so badly.”

“Back off Darlene,” he said.

“I’m hurting for you to touch me, Lucio. It’s painful,” she moaned.

Her scent rose as if it were sprayed up his nostrils. An intoxicating blend of honey and warm spices that weaved through the air, a tantalizing aroma of freshly baked cinnamon rolls. Each inhalation was a siren’s call. It made it nearly impossible for Lucio to resist, much like the way the scent of chocolate chip cookies fresh out of the oven tortured the diabetic.

His jaw tightened as he struggled to maintain control, to stay focused. He closed his eyes and strained. His head went back. His fangs dropped. “Stop Darlene.”

“I want it. Let me ride it, just a little. Give me a little,” she breathed.

“We have business. Important business,” he groaned, more to himself than to her. His Draca repeated only two words over and over in his mind: TAKE HER.

“Business?” Darlene mocked his voice. She giggled in that soft sing-song way of hers. How can a woman’s voice, even her laughter, sound like velvet? Was velvet now a sound, not a texture? Was he crazy?

“Is that what you call our games now, Lucio? You like games, huh? Casinos? Board games? Mind games? Or are you just afraid of losing control? Is it my blood? That’s what it is. You have to be in control,” Darlene prattled on.

Her hand slid higher, and he inhaled sharply. A mix of desire and frustration twisted the knife inside him. Her blood. It was her blood. Her blood was an ambrosial elixir, a symphony of flavors that danced on his tongue. It was like tasting the finest wine, aged to perfection, with layers of dark cherries, rich chocolate, and a hint of whiskey aged in a smoky oak barrel for a century. Each drop was as irresistible as a decadent slice of tiramisu, making it impossible for him to pull away.

“Stop,” he breathed, his voice rough.

“She is yours. She is mine!” his Draca roared into his mind.

Darlene didn’t flinch. She had no fear of the danger within him. Even after he showed her, he could harm or take her life. It was still nothing more than a game to her. She swung her leg over to straddle his lap once more; her dress riding up. She reached to pull it all the way up over her breasts. Naked underneath the garment, her tits bounced free, and her sex pressed down on his groin. The heat of her pussy glaze over his zippered erection, and Lucio felt himself weaken.

“There’s always time for me, vampire,” she murmured. She rocked her hips slowly. “You can’t resist me, Lucio. You never could.”

Lucio’s senses reeled, his self-control unraveling, as the combination of her scent and presence took hold. He had faced battles, betrayal, and death—but this, this was a war of desire he wasn’t sure he could win.

Control slipped. Lucio gripped Darlene’s hips, his fangs extended, and his eyes glowed from the rise of his Draca. A fraction of another second passed before he snapped back in control. “Get off me, Darlene. Now.”

She leaned in, her lips a hair’s breadth from his. “You don’t mean that, vampire. You crave me. My blood, my pussy, you want it bad. Admit it.”

Lucio was greedy; he was selfish; he was an evil bastard for even considering fucking her when he knew that with each minute that passed, Dolly slipped further away, but the darkness was calling, and oh how the Draca had taught him to love the darkness.

“You’re fucking with me,” he grunted.

Her eyes flashed with anger. “I want to fuck you.” She slapped him. Lucio's eyes opened and stared at her with lethal precision. “You don’t say no to me. You’re mine. Act like it, Lucio. Take what’s yours. Imagine when I walk in and instead of them smelling me on you, they smell your nasty vampire seed in me,” she gave a wicked laugh and flicked her tongue at his lips. “Every man, human or vampire, will know you have the best pussy in the world, and it’s all yours. Think about it. There’s nothing like me Lucio. Not even Dolly can compare. She was too weak to fuck you like I do. No normal woman can fuck you like I do. Think of what I can give you forever. Power, pleasure, and obedience from all the other creatures that were on that lyrical board. Dominance over the underworld. Everything you desire.”

He forced himself to not react. He knew a new truth. By pushing her so far from the light, he had caused her transformation into darkness. It wasn’t just Dolly he had to save now; it was Dolly and Darlene. What the fuck had he done? Why had he forgotten the number one lesson taught to him—Julia Brown’s curse?

“If we do this... turn to the darkness, what’s the cost, sweetheart? La mia dolce Darlene ? Dolly’s soul? My brothers, my father, their lives?” Lucio asked.

Her smile was pure elation. “You aren’t a hero, Lucio. You don’t care about your brothers or your father. You are pretending that you’re the hero. Stalling until it’s too late. Grooming me for a seat next to your throne. Stop pretending, darling, I see you, the real you . This is destiny. The Draca understands and so does the darkness in you. Everyone else is insignificant. We could be unstoppable together.”

Lucio’s grip tightened, and he pushed her off, his strength fueled by desperation to end his internal struggle. He retracted his fangs. “ Basta così!! ” he cursed. “We’re going to the casino, and you will behave as we agreed.”

She landed on the seat beside him, her expression a mix of shock and fury. “Remember how much you don’t want me the next time you come begging for it. You always come back, you do.”

He wiped her kiss from his lips, the taste of her still burning on his tongue. “Maybe. But tonight’s different.”

“Oh yes, Lucio. It is different,” she agreed. “You’ll see.”

When he cast his gaze over to her for a moment, he saw a flicker of pain and uncertainty on her face. As the SUV glided smoothly towards the casino, Darlene’s anger heated the inside of the truck. He pretended not to notice but felt the need to loosen his tie. She smirked and refused to pull her dress back down over her naked body, making him even more uncomfortable. So, he averted his eyes.

Lucio stepped out of the SUV first, his tall frame cast a formidable shadow in the glittering lights of the Bellagio Casino. The atmosphere buzzed with excitement as the marquee lights painted a kaleidoscope of colors over the throngs of people. Fans in elaborate cosplay costumes crowded the entrance, jostling for a glimpse of their favorite video game streamers. The hum of youth and energy was palpable. It blended with the casino’s ambient sounds—the clinking of slot machines, the bursts of laughter, and the occasional exclamation of victory as bells rang because someone had hit a jackpot.

As Lucio helped Darlene out of the truck, a collective hush fell over the crowd. She emerged like a dark, dazzling star, her mini dress shimmered with rhinestones that caught the lights and reflected them in a trillion different directions. Her beauty was almost otherworldly, and she moved with a grace that turned every head.

The scent of her hit the air. A pheromone trailed her as everyone, immortals, who mixed in with the mortals, eyes were drawn to her. It was a risk too soon to take with her life. Lucio would not have brought Dolly into his world this way if it weren’t for seeing Darlene flex her power on him today and defend herself. She was strong and growing stronger than him by the minute. He was her slave now. He felt her toying with him. If he didn’t act soon, to bring it all to an end, she would.

They made their way through the crowd. Lucio’s presence parted the sea of people with ease. Whispers followed them. A murmur of admiration and envy were in many thoughts he picked up on. The vampires of Lucio’s organization watched with keen interest; their senses heightened by the unmistakable allure of Darlene’s presence with their boss. Even the wolves, usually aloof and wary, couldn’t help but notice her, as the mix of her scent and the promise of sexual dominance she exuded ignited their basic instincts.

Inside the casino, the lights were brighter, the sounds louder. The extravagance of the Bellagio was on full display, with opulent chandeliers casting a warm glow over the marble floors and plush carpets. High rollers and celebrities, their laughter mingled with the electronic symphony of the slot machines, surrounded by the gaming tables.

“Wow! This place is cool as fuck.” Darlene said in awe, squeezing his hand. “Why are people dressed like idiots?”

“It’s a convention of gamers here. I’m hosting it,” Lucio said, barely moving his lips, keeping his eyes trained on any threat to her.

“Ooh, that’s right. You told Dolly that you do this kind of thing,” she said. A few men stared openly at Darlene, and she caught them. He could sense her excitement over the attention. She smiled and batted her eyes at them in a flirtatious way.

“Don’t push me, Darlene,” Lucio warned.

She remained close.

“Sorry,” she said. “I want you, Lucio, baby. You know that. You’re my big evil vampire.”

Darlene moved with a feline grace, her hips swaying. Each step exuded confidence and was plain in its seduction. Lucio’s hand left hers and rested on the small of her back, a silent warning to the surrounding predators. As they approached the VIP section, the scent of Darlene grew stronger, and he understood why it happened. The more excited she became, the more she bloomed. She couldn’t help it.

It was then that Lucio’s twin brother, Domencio, stepped into view. He was the mirror image of Lucio. Dressed in black on black in a tailored, expensive suit, his presence exuded a different darkness. The similarity and subtlety of the differences between the brothers struck Darlene as sexy. Lucio read her mind. Domencio slowed his approach, and his dark gaze was sharp in assessing Darlene. Those eyes glowed with a savage inner fire once he recognized her to be a descendant of Julia Brown. He paused his approach, but Lucio did not stop his stride.

Darlene looked up at Lucio like her protective parent. He gave her a reassuring wink to restore her confidence. Of course, she reminded herself that she was a bad bitch, but Lucio’s wink made her even more fiercely determined to prove it.

Domencio’s expression shifted from curiosity to something Darlene would liken to threatening, more primal. The scent hit him like a physical force, and she felt a tremor of a thrill by witnessing how electrifying Lucio’s lust-filled stare could come at her from another man’s face. Was this how he felt when choosing between her and Dolly ? She wondered.

The air sizzled with energy, and a silent battle of wills unfolded between Domencio and Lucio. Darlene enjoyed it immensely. Lucio’s hand eased down her back and then away to clench into a fist. She could feel the drag of breath Lucio took as he silently inhaled through his flared nostrils. She swore his Draca exhaled invisible fire out at his brother. Lucio seemed to bulk in mass and muscle underneath his suit. Darlene finally understood his refusal of sex when she felt him flex an unseen power, she’d never seen him use. It was like a force field around her thoughts where Domencio tried to pry in. Of course, she could repel one or two vampires, but she soon learned that a room full of them was possibly too much. She felt a little lightheaded, caught between two master vampires and their legion of vampire soldiers circling each other amongst the mortals who were oblivious to the surrounding tension.

It was no longer funny or thrilling; she felt scared. For the first time with Lucio, she begged for his protection. Her hand went to his fist, and his fist softened to take her smaller palm into his own. He put up his power and shielded her from further inspection. Domencio’s smile tilted the corner of his mouth, revealing the tip of a fang. Darlene’s eyes stretched to see that instead of diamond tips on his canine teeth, Domencio’s were rubies. And that was the only difference between the two men.

“Well, hello pretty,” Domencio whispered against Darlene’s ear from the distance between them. He approached them both again. Another man fell in step beside him. He was handsome with a toughness to him. One of his eyes was different, like a clear grey. And then to Lucio’s left side, Tristan appeared. Darlene took it all in.

“Brother, please, tell me, who is your friend?” Domencio asked politely when he stopped before them.

“I’m not his friend!” Darlene declared in a loud and proud voice. “I’m his mate!”

All eyes went to Lucio. The men who were part of Lucio’s organization heads turned from every direction and they fixated on their boss’s new bride. Lucio was proud of Darlene’s courage, but his test of her had proved one thing. She was not invincible. He could feel her weakness and smell her fear mixed in with all the other lovely smells of her body. He’d made the move he never wanted to do with Dolly so openly, but time was short, and he was desperate. So let the games begin.