Page 129 of Outcast

"Morning, boys." My heels clacked against the concrete as I made my way to the table. Today, we'd be discussing a new order, but it wouldn't be a vote. Not really. Yanking the Dirty Dogs into the future was what I did best.

If they wanted to fight about it? They could challenge Esteban and Matías in the ring. Which was a win-win for me. They hadn’t lost a fight yet and I'd never been hotter in my life than watching them beat the shit out of my adversaries. Although, it was all done in good-natured fun and once the fight was over, so was their anger.

"I have a change coming. I wanted you to be aware first."

"And what's that?" Ricco asked hesitantly. After a month of seeing I wasn't going to run the Dirty Dogs into the ground and that I was actually good at this shit, he became his old self again. Except, he recognized when I was up to something that wouldn't go over well.

"We're welcoming women into the Dirty Dogs. I have a few in mind, and Amorette and I have already talked about a venture between us and Carnage Industries that will be crazy lucrative. A shared unit that bridges our…affiliations."

Ricco blanched as Manny stared at the table. "I'm surprised it took this long."

I laughed, and the sound was bright, even to my ears.

"That's right. The Dirty Dogs is now a co-ed gang. Not that it wasn't before," with me here, "but we're broadening our horizons.”

MATIAS

"You're serious?" I peeked at the front gates of the compound.

There was a shiny new bike sitting out front. I knew how to ride. But it had been over a decade and I only learned because my father had arranged lessons on how to drive everything. Cars, boats, planes, choppers. If it had an engine, I learned it.

"You can't be a Dirty Dog and not have a fucking bike." Esteban walked around it, wiping the chrome with a cloth.

"I have a very nice SUV."

He gave me a droll look. "That’s what an old man drives. You have to fit in or we're kicking you out. It was in the fine print of the acceptance."

The click-clack of heels signaled Rita coming and I turned to find her.

A dream, just like she always was, carrying a black leather jacket. "You can't ride without protection." She tossed it to me.

I caught it and held it up. It was smooth, buttery leather, and a Dirty Dog patch taking up the entire back.

Shit. My throat closed up. It was just now starting to cool off enough to need a jacket, even if I’d burn up in leather.

But riding, Rita was right, I would need protection.

"Fine," I said, but I wasn't angry. I was...Fuck, I was touched. After I had it on, I circled my arm around Rita's neck and pulled her in for a kiss. "I love you." I let out a breath through my nose. I wished this had been the first time I told her. Or anytime after the first. But I also wouldn't change a goddamned thing.

"I love you too." She held my sides and peered up at me through her lashes.

Esteban walked over. "And I love you both," he snickered. He did that. Told me he loved me when he told Rita. I hadn't said it back, and he seemed to be getting more and more aggressive in trying to pull it out of me.

I never realized before, but underneath his silly charm was a cinnamon roll.

Rita tipped up her face and pursed her lips. He didn't let the opportunity pass by and dropped a kiss to her mouth.

"There's a surprise outside the gates waiting for you." He motioned to where the bike was.

Was this a trap? It felt like one.

"I'm not joking. Go check it out."

Releasing Rita, I walked toward the bike. Both were right on my heels.

As soon as I passed through, I froze.

There were my brothers. All four of them were on their own bikes. Waiting.

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