Page 29 of Outcast

More than anything, I wished I could have been there with her.

I stoodon the tarmac with my sunglasses shielding my eyes. For once, the heat coming from the pavement didn't bother me.

My thoughts were too consumed by Rita and being there for her.

Somehow, I'd gotten Ricco to tell everyone else to fuck off and let me be the only one to get her.

She'd appreciate that. Rita thought she was so badass, and in a lot of ways she was. Yet she was also as soft as any woman I'd met.

How many times had I heard her say tears were for weak people?Shedidn't cry.

But she’d be crying today. If not when she landed, as soon as she stepped off the plane. Because shared grief burst through the strongest of walls like a motherfucker.

Once her eyes met mine, she'd lose it.

And I'd catch her. Just like I always had and always would.

The distant sounds of the plane coming in started buzzing in my ears. Nice of Andre to let her use his private plane. He'd even sent her with his best pilot. It made for a quick return home.

No matter what I thought of them, he had my gratitude for taking care of her.

It was more than Matías had ever done for Rita. I just had to make her see that so she could move the fuck on.

The plane stopped not far from me. After five or tenminutes, the door opened, and the stairs were attached. Then Rita stepped foot out of the plane.

She was stoic with her body armor on. That was her thing. Protecting herself with her skintight dresses and wicked high heels. It was an obsession as much as it was a crutch.

Her gaze locked on the steps as she descended and I walked her way, reaching the bottom of the stairs when she hit the last step.

Then she looked up, and her bottom lip trembled. Her eyes were bloodshot and swollen, lacking the heavy makeup she regularly wore.

"Esteban," she whispered as she doubled over.

"Shh..." I gathered her in my arms and lifted her against me. Her body wrapped around mine and I carted her away from the plane as she cried into my neck. "It's going to be okay."

"It's not. He's gone.Papáis gone. And I fucked up by leaving.” It was almost a wail.

"It's okay. You were trying to give him something he asked for."

"Did he know he asked for that? I left before he was fully awake." Desolation was so thick in her voice.

Shit, it was hard to hear her beat herself up. I got it, but I didn't fucking like it.

"You did what you thought was right. He knew where you were. He loved you and knew you loved him."

I sat down in a chair outside the small private airport, arranging Rita on my lap. She cupped the sides of my neck and stared deep into my eyes. So much heartbreak stamped across her face. Even the tears caught in her lashes were devastatingly sad.

"I hate him, Esteban." Her brow furrowed and she bared her teeth. "I hate him so fucking much. I told him to come back with me, thatPapáwas dead and he just...he just...argh!" Another flood of tears fell, and I guided her head to my shoulder.

"Stop it. It's not worth it. You don't need Matías. You have the Dirty Dogs, and you have me."

She cried harder.

We needed to go. There were arrangements to be made, but I sat there holding Rita. She needed this more than anything else and I'd be damned if anyone stopped me from giving her what she needed.

7

MATÍAS

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