Page 80 of Barinov

Marisol hums in amusement. “So there was something between the two of you then? I knew it!”

“No… it wasn’t.” Ellie stops, glancing back at Briggs.

He doesn’t say a word. The guy just stares at her like she just knocked the wind out of him.

“It wasn’t like that,” Ellie whispers.

A muscle ticks in Briggs’s jaw, but he still won’t speak.

“Clearly,” Marisol chuckles.

“What the fuck do you mean Zeke came to see you?” Tex snaps.

She spins a chair around and drops into it backwards. “He came by a few days ago,” she says while picking at her neon nails.

“Days?” Knox echoes. “Zeke came and saw you days ago and you’re just now showing up here?”

“What?” Marisol scoffs, glancing up from her manicure. “I got here as fast as I could. But, Daddy had some cartel mess he needed me to sort out first.” She waves him off. “You know the rules, Mr. DJ. Daddy always gets first dibs.”

Cade and I step up beside Nate’s table.

I brace my palms on the edge and lean forward. “What did Zeke want?” I ask, my jaw locked tight.

Her eyes flick up to me. “Who the hell’s the Russian?” Marisol asks, pointing a long, neon pink acrylic nail in my face.

“You better put that finger down,” I snarl.

“That’s Lex,” Nate says, pulling her hand from my face. “He’s one of Bella’s boyfriends.”

“Boyfriends?” She smiles. “Kinky. Didn’t think B had it in her.”

“Marisol,” Nate warns. “Just answer the fucking question.”

“He came and said that he needed to borrow the ring.”

“A ring?” Cade asks.

“The ring,” she corrects, rolling her eyes. “Daddy’s fighting ring. Said he needed it for a Red Hour. Whatever the hell that is.”

Fuck.

Me.

“He said Red Hour?” I ask. My heart is pounding so hard I’m convinced everyone can hear it. “Specifically?”

She nods.

“Lex,” Knox says, eyes narrowing on me. “What’s wrong?”

“The Red Hour,” I start, glancing over at Rez who’s already rushing toward me. “Is phase one.”

“Of what?” Knox asks.

“Our initiation,” Rez answers, calm and cold. “It’s the first step to becoming a Hollow King.”

“Damn it!” I roar, running my hands through my hair. “Rez he’s gonna?!”

“I know.” Rez nods, grabbing the back of my neck and forcing me to lock eyes with him. “Take me off of dancer detail, cousin. I’m going with you.”