Page 44 of Outcast

Rita laughed again, this time I winced. It was a nasty sound that scratched the back of my neck like brittle nails.

"Funny howPapáis fresh in the ground and you're all fighting like dogs over a bone." She dropped her head and rubbed her forehead. "Get lost. Get some sleep. Tomorrow, when we've sobered up,I'mcalling a meeting. Twelve sharp in the compound."

She started to leave, but Leo finally righted himself.

Her steps slowed and she stared at him. "Except you. Until further notice, this ismyfucking club and you don't have any place in it."

That's my girl.

Rita was Dirty Dogs. And she was going to clean shit up if they let her.

"I don't answer to bitches." Leo crossed his arms.

Rita paused her walk, and I froze from bending down to pick up his vest. This idiot didn't have a lick of self preservation.

"I can't help you. You're a lost fucking cause," Damen muttered as he melted through the crowd.

"Now, you see.Papádidn't raise me to believe I was less than a man. Are you saying that I'm not powerful in my own right?"

Picking up the vest, I joined Rita.

"That's because he babied you. No other woman in the gang gets the same treatment."

"Hm. Ricco, do you shit talk your old lady?"

"Hell, no."

"Robby, who runs your house?" she called.

"You know Stasia does!" he yelled back.

"Seems you're the only one who thinks that way. That tracks, because you're a danger to the club. No one shares the same asinine opinions as you." She tapped her full, red lips. "Dirty Dogs. This man, thiscabrón, could be the reason we lose some of our brothers. He took that decision away from you. He thought he knew best. He's no longer a Dirty Dog anymore." Leo stiffened and his face mottled with purple. "The question is, after this disrespect, do we let him run and chase him down, or kill him on the spot?"

Every bit of color blanched right out of him.

"Kill him," I tossed in.

"Let him run! I need a good chase!" Due, my best friend, shouted. I couldn't make out all the votes. Everyone had an opinion.

Rita listened, then out of nowhere, her hand snapped forward and she held Leo's balls in her hand. He whimpered as her nails dug in.

"I don't mind a little blood, and unfortunately, we're safer without you on the run. Who knows what kind of trouble you could cause us." She gave a twist and he cried out.

I winced.

"Dirty Dogs?" Rita projected her voice.

We answered back with a savage bark.

"Take care of him." She squeezed so hard, Leo's eyes bugged out and his mouth fell open on a silent scream. When she let go, he collapsed to the ground.

The crowd parted for her and then descended on him. Grunts competed with the thumps of punches and kicks they delivered. Leo never made a sound.

Following after Rita, I tossed his vest in one of the barrels. It hurt my heart to burn the leather, but it was tainted now.

"Rita, wait up!" I jogged to catch up with her. She was already halfway up the stairs.

"What?" She didn't have the same sass she had outside. It was as if the testosterone from the men had held her up and now she was just depleted. Dark circles started to ring her eyes, and her mouth was set into a severe frown.

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