Marisol DeJesus: The Bruja (Book 2)

A Night Out

“We’re working too hard,” Brianna complained as she took the books from everyone in the room. It was almost three days after Marisol had seen Javier still going on with his life like he hadn’t fathered a daughter. Marisol was still upset about it but seeing Aurora laughing as Jeremy made beautiful images around her calmed her.  

She’d have these people in her life, people who loved her. And if her father couldn’t be one, his loss. She’d given Aurora all the love she could handle and hopefully keep her from feeling like she was missing something.  

“We should have fun,” Brianna was announcing after collecting all book of shadows and spell scrolls Marisol, Tamia, and Jeremy were pouring over. “Go out? Go out where?” Tamia asked confused, “You’re a seventeen-year-old runaway, I’m wanted for murder, and Marisol’s face was just on the news as a runaway.”  

Smirking, Brianna shrugged as she mischievously replied, “I know a club that we can go to, and they cater to outlaws like us. Besides, it’s someone’s birthday today!!! The official sixteen!!!” Everyone immediately paid tribute to Tamia then who waved them off.  “It’s just another day!”  

Brianna frowned as she flopped into Tamia’s lap, “It is not another day though. It’s your birthday, the celebration of your birth! It can't be ignored, it must be celebrated to the lit-est degree.” That sounded like trouble to Marisol and Jeremy rubbed his jaw unsure as well, “I don’t know sis…” Brianna groaned, “Oh come on! All we’ve done is work, train, sleep, eat, and play with the cute chunky perfection. We deserve a night out.”  

Looking around, Brianna frowned when no one seemed motivated, “Or we can stay home all night like a bunch of lame losers and practice more spells on each other.”  

Marisol blew out a breath not eager for more spells on each other, “Okay say we agree? Are you forgetting I have a daughter? Can’t exactly leave her here or take her with us.” Brianna beamed as she admitted, “Got that covered. Now all your asses, go get dressed!”  

 And since no one could fight Brianna, they all did as ordered.  

It felt weird for Marisol to get dressed up for a club. At sixteen, her nightlife had consisted of sneaking out to get drunk on roofs with kids from school. And smoking a little weed here and there, to take the stress of living with her aunt and dealing with Frank a little easier.  

And while there were a few parties here and there, it wasn't like in the movies. They were a kegger, all ending with teenagers getting drunk and being stupid in a field. Sometimes with the cops ending the fun before she even got there.  

Marisol still unsure of this, slid into the short mini black dress given to her by Brianna. Winging her eyeliner, swiping on a little blush and some nude lipstick, Marisol checked it over. Her natural curls were just fine so she just put some shea butter-smelling product on them. 

They bounced and shined like obsidian as she put on the leather wrist bands from the trunk. They were inscribed with a protective spell and she figured better safe than sorry. But seeing they were brown and her dress black, Marisol started to take them off.  

But something told her not to, so she flicked her wrist twice and concentrated hard on the color. And of course, they turned black in a matter of seconds making her grin. Turning back into the mirror, she picked up the charm bracelet but elongated the chain so that tonight it’d fit like a necklace. When she looked over at her sword, Marisol knew it’d be wise to take it.  

But she wouldn’t know-how to without being looked at weirdly for lugging a battle axe around. Conflicted, she jumped when her book of shadows opened. Seeing the spell on the page, she grinned a little as she held her axe up to the crescent moon. Seeing the lake shining at dust, made her power swell as she concentrated on the axe.  

“Encanto. *charm.” And slowly the axe shrunk into a bite-sized charm and a little hook appeared. Clipping it on, Marisol looked over her shoulder as Brianna came in with a young woman. “Marisol, this is Angela, she’s the babysitter.” Angela, a nineteen-year-old college student stood looking totally calm. 

Confused as Brianna smiled at her knowingly, Marisol turned back to Angela assuring her it'd be fine. Looking closer, Marisol's eyes focused on Angela and saw the spell around her. 

Tuning her eyes in to see it, Marisol could clearly see the incantation around Angela's eyes. And the normal home Angela saw versus the actual cathedral she stood in. 

Nervous since from the moment she was born, Marisol had been with her daughter. It made her anxiety rise as Angela lifted the now awake Aurora from her crib. Aurora seemed at ease with the nice girl, but Marisol still shot Brianna a look of panic.  

“Are you sure about this?” Brianna grinned, “Positive. Nothing can get past the wards, you have my guarantee and I ask Kase to leave his dog here. Just to be safe." Pointing to the pretty girl, Brianna gushed, "And Angela here comes highly recommended with ten stars.” 

Nodding slowly, Marisol approached her baby and kissed her head gently. “Okay, well be a good bebe, I love you.” Aurora kissed her mama’s chin and then giggled when she did the same.  

Angela waved them off with a small smile, and when Marisol went outside with Brianna, she found Kase, Jeremy, and Tamia waiting.  

All dressed for the night, the car waiting for them was a new feature. A beautiful Mustang, the black on the black interior was drool-worthy as she got in the back with Jeremy and Tamia.  

Kase drove as Brianna cranked on the music. Styrofoam cups with ice were passed out with bottles were given by Brianna. They all started the night with a light buzz, for the first time in months relaxing. Marisol took it easy, she still breastfed on occasion and she already had to wait a couple of days until her blood cleared of ALL alcohol.   

Licking her lips as the sweet peach Amsterdam coated her tongue, Marisol was shocked at the club they appeared at. On a back street of Staten Island, Marisol had never seen this place before. What looked like an old factory of some type, was now a club.  

And while there was no line out front, there was a bouncer and the street was packed with cars. Kase parked a block over and they all walked with their cups. Brianna held on to Kase so she wouldn’t fall in her heels, which Tamia and Marisol copied sharing Jeremy.  

The bouncer was a huge guy who looked at the group, nodded and then dropped his shades, “No trouble,” his bright green eyes warned, “Or you’re out.” Nodding all of them agreed and walked in to be sucked into the energy.  

Everyone around them was having a good time, and as Kase led them to a section in VIP, they were soon on a sectional couch. A table in front of them soon filled with drinks and weed if wanted. Tamia rolled a blunt she and Brianna shared as Jeremy poured himself and Marisol a drink.  

Nodding as Kevin Gates poured through the surrounding system, Marisol was laughing as Tamia told her a joke. Looking up suddenly feeling eyes on her, Marisol gasped seeing it was Paco. “I’ll be right back.” She told them as she stood and walked to him.  

Paco standing by the VIP bar greeted Marisol kindly as he gave her a hug, “Hola, Hermosa you know you had us all worried right? (*Hello beautiful).” Marisol gave him a look, “I had y’all worried? I was waiting but then I heard about the shootout and I couldn’t come back. How is Tío Diego? Is he okay?”  

Nodding, Paco calmed her worried brow with a gentle, “He’s all good. And you shouldn’t have been worried about us, we had it all under control.” Smirking suddenly, he teased lightly, “But it’s sweet you were worried about us. Or at least one of us for that matter.”  

Pinching him, Marisol grumbled, “I was worried about all your annoying selves.” He laughed and then looked over at the others. “Your people?” Marisol nodded as she admitted, “My sisters in arms. They came in when I had nowhere else to go, and I’ve been staying with them.”  

A look of concern passed over Paco’s face, “What about tater tot?” Marisol laughed a little, “She’s not here! She’s a little too young for clubbing don’t ya think? Unless Ricky is here learning how to pop bottles early!” Paco nudged her as he laughed, “No! He’s with the sitter tonight. Come on,” Marisol looked at Brianna who c****d an eyebrow unsure.  

But Marisol shared her memories making the mambo relax and wave her off with a smile. Marisol followed Paco to another section of the club, and while she trusted him, seeing people doing lines made her nervous. 

Before she could make a lie up and rush off though, she was being hugged. Hearing a happy squealed, “Puta! I was so f*****g worried about you!!” Marisol backed up and looked at Rebecca almost in tears, “I was looking for you! I couldn’t find you and you’d ditched your phone!”  

Rebecca winced realizing that, “Right, that. Sorry, I had to or they would have found me.”  

Looking up as Gabriel and Jesus came over to give her a hug as well. Marisol was waving them and their weed encouraged flirting off when she found eyes looking at her. Stephano was standing ready to be greeted, in a black suit jacket with no shirt, he looked good. 

All of his tattoos were on display, thick silver rings were on each finger, and he oozed a different aura.  

Walking to her, Stephano hugged her tight and it made the girl that had been draped all over him squawk in protest. But Stephano didn’t let her go, he instead only pulled back and looked down at her. “I was worried about you and Aurora. How is she? Where is she?”  

Marisol giggled unintentionally, “I don’t know about you, but I think bringing my daughter to a club would be a little much.” Stephano laughed nodding a little, “Okay, got me on that one, mami.” Marisol laughed again but this time the partially dressed girl stood and bitched at her, “Who the hell is this?” Marisol looked over at her, “*Quién carajo eres tú? (*Who the f**k are you)?”  

And while she was obviously Latina, she couldn’t speak a lick of Spanish as she turned to Rebecca for a translation. Marisol rolled her eyes, “Another f*****g coconut, how fun. My friend isn’t Google translate, get the f**k out of her face.” 

Turning red in the face as the others laughed, the girl tried to come at Marisol. But all she did was trip and fall on her ass, as Marisol looked up at Stephano, “Have fun with that, I gotta go. My friends are waiting.”  

Stephano wanted to protest, wanted to tell her to stay with him. But she nudged him gently as Chantel stood again. Getting her second wind, she tried to curse at Marisol for interrupting their vibe. But Marisol just gave Uncle Diego a kiss on the cheek seeing him now, “Ve a aprender español, pocha  antes de que intentes venir a mi. (*Go learn Spanish before you try to come at me.)”  

Watching her sashay away with his eyes on her curves, Stephano sat down feeling his gut tighten. He watched her until she was right across the way rejoining her people. He watched a guy touch her shoulder asking her something. And he didn’t like the friendliness or the sweet smile she gave him in return.  

It made him want to put a bullet in his temple.   

“Who was that b***h?” Chantel demanded to know still embarrassed. She was a girl whose father was a boss, and she was told to make nice with the *jefe on the rise. *boss.  

But other than being annoying, Chantel was all shine and glitter. There was no substance to her and she was an unappealing girl. No matter how hot she tried to make herself appear. “Watch your mouth,” Rebecca warned her immediately on defense about her friend.  

Chantel was however more focused on Stephano now. He hadn’t minded her all over him before Marisol appeared. But now he rudely pushed her off as his eyes watched Marisol’s every move. She had moved from V.I.P and was now on the dance floor. Dancing with two girls and two guys, Marisol moved with a carelessness he had never seen in her.  

Every time he’d been around her, she was firmly in mama mode. And now here she was, hair down and looking sexy, and men were drooling for her attention.  

It only made him happy when she didn’t seem to want them back. And that spark of pleasure in his eyes as he watched her reject guys made Chantel envious. She turned her nose up in disgust as she drank more. 

Marisol was finally relaxed.  

She loved dancing, it was like being in the water to her. Hips moving hypnotically, her hands slid in her hair and down her body. Stephano watched with a heated gaze wishing she was against him right now. Her beautiful body moving that way for him.  

Coming up beside him, Rebecca teased, “You keep starring she might need to get a warrant.” Stephano sent his cousin-in-law a look and she giggled, “So tense. Maybe you should go beat one-off, that scary scowl might traumatize her.”  

Stephano scoffed as he bitterly reminded her, “That’s not the only thing scaring her off.”  Not shocked at the brittle tone of voice, Rebecca placed a hand on his shoulder, “You know she’d lose a lot beside you. And she’s young, this isn’t something that comes lightly. But…you never know. stranger things have happened. Besides if you don’t,” Waving to the floor, Stephano fought a growl at her dancing with a guy. 

He was good-looking and obviously trying to spit game.  

Stephano immediately wanted to put a bullet in the fuckers head. “Someone else will.” Rebecca finished seeing him steaming mad. And that statement did nothing but make his glare lower.   

And as she walked away, Stephano couldn’t stop himself anymore. He was going down there, and he was getting his girl.  

As he started down the stairs, he was surprised when Gabriel and Jesus followed his lead. But he said nothing as he found Marisol on the dance floor. One glare at the punk she was dancing with sent him scrambling. And she didn’t even notice as she kept dancing, her body graceful and sexy as she wound her hips.  

Her hands sliding down her thighs as her ass twerked on rhythm.  

Marisol jumped when she felt strong, confident hands on her hips. Looking over her shoulder, she looked at Stephano who grumbled in her ear, “Dance with me, mami.” And Marisol naturally followed his lead. His body hot and strong, their moves seductive as they danced pressed against each other.  

Brianna and Kase both watched eyebrows to their hairline. “And who is that?” Tamia tipsily asked as she came and draped an arm over both their shoulders. Both held her waist as Brianna guessed, “That must be Stephano Dante.”  

Nodding already agreeing at the choice, Tamia observed him. And the tatted and overall sexy-looking Latino young man was so fine,  Tamia admitted, “Yeah he’s Papi worthy.”  

Kase scoffed a laugh shocked at the blunt honesty of the sixteen-year-old girl. Looking at her little sister concerned, Brianna asked, “Are you drunk?” Tamia nodded drunkenly, “Hella drunk!” And then her head snapped to the side suddenly and her jaw dropped as she gasped out, “And who is that!?”  

Brianna looked over and giggled seeing her older brother kissing a gorgeous woman in a dark booth. She was gorgeous, her burgundy halter top and cute leather skirt combo showing off her luscious chocolate skin. 

She was a sensual young woman with a beautiful body type, and all her movements screamed grace.  

Rubbing her forehead a little bemused, Brianna guessed again, “And that must be Cameron. Jere-bear met her a couple of weeks ago. I guess things are going well.” Tamia slow clapped, “Good job big bro, hella cute, made thicc. The problem though,” Tamia realized holding up a finger, “Does this mean everyone is booed up beside me? That sucks.”  

And as if conjured, Gabriel and Jesus stood in front of her. Tattooed sixteen-year-old boys, who towered over Tamia with their chocolate brown eyes smoldering her, Gabriel asked her teasingly, “Depends, think you’d be interested in a two-for-one combo?”  

It was Brianna’s turn for her jaw to drop as Tamia c****d her head to the side and muttered, “Interesting…” And then she turned on her heels and walked off. The twins following behind her watching her every move.  

Unsure if she was needed to act on that, Brianna asked Kase confused, “What the hell is happening?”  

Shrugging, Kase wrapped his arms around her waist as he whispered in her ear, “The new normal.”