Page 79 of Barinov

“Well, well, well,” a sultry voice cuts through the tension.

All our heads turn as a chick in a leather jacket over a tight, lacy black tank saunters up. Late twenties, maybe. Golden-brown skin with hair that spills past her shoulders in long waves of inky black fading to neon pink.

“Nice place you boys got here. Real murder-meets-mixology vibe.” She lets her dark eyes track slowly over the space, a confident smirk playing at her pink lips. “I dig it.”

She’s hot, yeah. But so is a lit match before it burns the shit out of your fingertips. Must be that Mari-something everyone keeps yapping about.

“Marisol,” Tex says, stepping forward. His voice is gruff with surprise. “Nice of you to finally show up.”

She flashes him a slow smile as she strides toward him. “Missed you too, hot stuff,” she says, playfully slapping him on the cheek.

“Marisol,” Nate mutters, his tone clipped.

“Ahh!” Marisol shrieks like a banshee when her eyes lock on Sabine. She breaks into a full sprint, throwing herself into a hug like they’re long-lost lovers. “Where’s my baby?”

“Baby?” I mumble to Cade.

He shrugs.

“Celeste is with Jacques, chérie,” Sabine says, untangling herself.

“Did she just call the fucking snake, baby?” I whisper again.

“I think so,” Cade replies, scrunching his nose.

“Bummer.” Marisol pouts dramatically. “But you look absolutely stunning, chica.”

She air kisses both of Sabine’s cheeks, then spins to Laing like she just remembered he existed.

“Laing.”

Out of nowhere, the bitch launches a blade at Dragon-Dick’s face. He catches it by the hilt mid-air, the tip missing his eye by an inch. Without blinking, he slams it into the wood.

“Mar,” Laing mutters, his voice flat. “Still a walking red flag I see.”

“Awh, honey,” she says, twirling a strand of hot pink hair around one finger. “Don’t tell me you’re still upset over—”

“Marisol,” Nate cuts her off, not even glancing up. “Don’t start.”

“Who are you?” Ellie blurts from the booth, her ocean-blue eyes wide.

Marisol pivots, clocking Ellie and Haley both curled up with Briggs in the corner booth.

“Ahh…” she says, grinning at Ellie. “You must be the blonde Barbie Zeke wouldn’t shut up about.” She eyes her up and down and shrugs. “I don’t see it.”

Marisol’s eyes drag over to Briggs. “Two at once now? Classy, cowboy.”

Before anyone can reply, Nate slams his laptop shut. “Knock it off,” he barks. “For those of you who haven’t guessed, this is Marisol.”

The chick curtsies.

“She’s the daughter of Alejandro Vega, head of Los Cuervos out of Miami.”

“And,” Laing cuts in. “A raging pain in all of our asses.”

Marisol blows him a kiss. “If I’m such a pain in the ass, then why did Zeke choose to come see me instead of any of you?” she says casually.

“What?!” Ellie screeches, nearly launching herself from the booth.