Page 113 of Outcast

It was our dirtiest club. While it was technically open to the public, it was mainly a hotspot for illegal activity. This had also been our number one playground for peddling recreational club drugs.

"Did they respond?" She glanced over her shoulder.

I glanced at my phone, the screen blank. "No." The word was torn from my throat. "But they'll be here."

Due had been my best friend from day one. We'd come up through Dirty Dogs together, fucked girls together, andshot the shit together. We had even done most of our jobs as a pair.

If there was one thing I knew about him, it was that he didn't back down. He would come if only because he couldn't force himself to stay away from a challenge.

I just really fucking hoped I was wrong.

She reached back and squeezed my hand. "Let's get inside then."

The three of us talked about the possibility of what happened if he was out to tear Dirty Dogs apart. I needed to look in his eyes and ask him if he lied to me.

If he did want to go back to our old ways, or Rita dead, and he hid that from me? Already my chest squeezed at the betrayal. It would mean everything with him was a fucking lie.

We hopped out of the SUV as other Dirty Dogs who had been at the compound pulled up around us. The Dirty Dogs who were hanging out by the club paused to watch us walk up.

As instructed, they alerted the men we were coming. A group text had gone out, minus the men who had dropped off.

I sent those out separately, letting them know they had one chance to clear their names.

Loud rock music spilled onto the street as the door was held open. Black light painted all the walls inside and everyone wearing white was now lit up in blinding neon blue.

The people parted and the ones who weren't part of the gang were knocked out of the way. There was a fight coming and everyone knew it. It stank in the air.

Women in white, slashed, crop shirts and cut-off jean shorts holding trays of liquor, stopped on the side of theroom. We used to own these girls, but now, they were paid a more than generous wage.

Sex was still on the table if they wanted it, but they kept the payment.

They seemed especially interested. One of the men must have told them what was happening.

Rita headed straight toward the couches in the back, falling right into the one Javier always favored. Matías walked around the back, and I took his lead. If we all sat, it would have been too easy for someone to get the drop on her.

I wanted to trust my brothers, but until we had this all out and sorted, no one had her back but Matías and me.

The music kept playing as the Dirty Dogs arranged themselves around the room. Most wanted to be close enough to hear, but not close enough to get involved. Due and our other brothers who were with him were still liked. At least until we could get their side.

We'd also pulled everyone in. This club specifically was big enough to house us all. It was also the most off the beaten path.

Then we waited.

And waited.

"Do you think they won't show up?" Matías asked out of the side of his mouth.

"They'll come." I was sure of it. Due would just make us wait. For the sole reason that he was an asshole and this was his way of sticking it to us when he knew he had a fight on his hands.

Another thirty minutes went by, then an hour.

Dancing had long since started back up and drinks were getting served. Some of the guys weren't drinking at all, toowired for the coming fight. But some were slamming them back.

A yelp came from the front, then people pushed toward us.

Rita stood. "They're here," she said just loud enough for us to hear.

Matías and I moved around the couch to stand on either side of her. If things went sideways, I didn't want to waste precious seconds jumping over furniture to get to her.

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