Page 43 of Outcast

Sometime while we were fighting, the crowd lost their bloodlust. As if an actual fight sobered them instead of hyping them up.

I watched the three of them leave, and once they were through the gate, I turned around.

It didn't matter that Matías had left.Iwas still jazzed. I wanted blood and I knew exactly where I'd get it.

"Ricco," I said without looking at him, leaving all my focus for Leo.

"Yeah, kid."

"We have a traitor on our hands."

"That's fucking bullshit!" Leo exploded.

Damen tried to calm him down. "Stop. You fucked up," he snapped at his friend.

"Ifucked up? You're all a fucking bunch of pussies." Leo shoved Damen away.

You could hear a pin drop. That was how quiet it was after Leo insulted every single person here.

"What?" He raised his hands out to the side. "I made a stand. For the club. Those bitches are coming forourbusiness andourterritory. You want to sit with your thumbs up your asses? Fine. But I protect what's mine."

Rita started laughing. Ricco started to step forward, but she held a hand out, stopping him. Her raspy chuckle still filled the air as she took slow, methodical steps toward him. Her heels clacked against the pavement.

"What was your name again?"

I raised my brows. She knew his name. She knew everyone here.

"Like you don't know my name." Leo rolled his eyes as his face heated. He was trying to save face. Whether it was from her mild insult or how every single man and woman zeroed in on him and he was finally realizing exactly how much he fucked up.

"I know you're the last recruit in. I know you wear the vest, but you haven't earned it. And I know there's no place in the Dirty Dogs for your stupidity." Rita never raised her voice as she went toe to toe with him.

"Your opinion doesn't count," he spewed, but his eyes were wide as he flicked his gaze from one side to the other.

"Who told you that?" She tipped her head, curious.

"Everyone knows it. Even Damen–" He barely got his name out when Damen pushed the side of his head.

Leo popped over, stumbling several feet.

"Keep your fucking mouth shut," Damen growled.

“That's interesting. I didn't realize you didn't care about my opinion." Rita tipped her head to the side.

I stepped up behind her because no way in hell was I letting her be that close to Damen without me. His reaction to the few words Leo spoke said all I needed to know.

"What's interesting is that we've now got a gang war on our hands." Damen tried to change the topic.

Others shouted, but Rita raised a hand again. "I want to know. What's the big plot? You seemed happy enough whenPapáwas alive."

Damen pressed his lips together as he studied her. Then as if he figured it wasn't worth keeping anymore he shrugged.

"I was. But now he's not and we have to figure out who the next leader will be."

"We talked about this," Ricco said as he worked his way over to Damen.

"What the fuck, Ricco?" I asked. He was having conversations about leadership without the whole club?

Ricco glanced back. "You know we have to have a vote."

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