Page 53 of Outcast

"Because he told me," Ricco said softly as the blood drained from Rita's face.

I stepped toward her, but Esteban shifted her so she was behind him. It didn't last, she jabbed him in the side andmoved in front of him, but the message was clear from both of them. I wasn't welcome.

"That was his plan from the first year he knew you. He saw the potential in you. In your name. And..." Ricco's gaze flicked to Rita then back to me. "He had other plans that fell apart."

"We need a vote." Tiago stepped forward. I'd interacted with him from time to time. He was solid, but too much of a hothead. He'd drive the club into the ground if he was given the reins.

"What makes you think you deserve it? If we vote on men in the club, they need to be the VPs." Due shoved Tiago's shoulder lightly. Not enough to show actual aggression but to get his attention.

Tiago scoffed. "There are no rules saying I can't toss my name in. I've sweat and bled for this club too. And I have visions I think the VPs are too old to have. We need fresh blood."

There were boos and scoffs tossed from the Dirty Dogs. He at least didn't seem to be a contender.

"We do need a vote." Rita pulled away from Esteban and took her seat. "Sit down. We'll run this the wayPapáhas always done." She glanced at me, I tried to hold her gaze, but I couldn't.

Damn it. I needed time alone with her.

"Matías, come up here." Ricco pointed to the extra chair. Either it was Esteban's or he'd added an extra chair for me and no one had noticed.

"No." I slowly shook my head.

"No?" His brows popped up and Rita tilted her head. Even Esteban frowned at me.

"I'm not a Dirty Dog. I won't run your club. I'll help in any way I can. For Javier. For Rita," I added in a softer tone. "But I'm not going to steal the head spot for myself. What I will do, is back Rita."

I walked toward the platform as the last few Dirty Dogs took their seats. The only one left standing now was Esteban.

He eyed me as I climbed the two steps up. He was positioned directly behind Rita, and he didn't budge when I got closer.

That was fine. I didn't want to hash anything out in their meeting anyway. I stayed to the side, but still behind Rita.

She pulled her shoulders back and faced the men. "I am a Dirty Dog. That means something to me. I will honor the position and do right by the club. If I'm voted in." Those last words seemed to tear from her throat.

Rita didn't believe she had to be voted in. But she was following the club rules.

"All in favor of Tiago," she called. Only five men raised their hands, one of them being Tiago. He made an ugly sound in the back of his throat as he jumped up and kicked his chair back, then stalked out of the main hall.

Rita released a breath. "All in favor of Joel."

Roughly half the Dirty Dogs raised their hands. That meant...

"All in favor of me."

The other half raised their hands.

"We need to count." Ricco called for the men to raise their hands again and counted.

It took several minutes, but the answer came back just like I figured it would.

Sixty-eight for Joel and Sixty-eight for Rita.

Deadlocked.

"We're calling a break." Ricco wiped his forehead. "Wehave work that can't be put off any longer. We'll hold another meeting at the end of the week."

"What about the club? They're a threat." Esteban placed a hand on Rita's shoulder and I had the urge to rip it off.

The VPs exchanged glances. It wasn't often they had to make decisions like this. For the most part, the Dirty Dogs had operated with few issues or challenges. So much different than the Institution.

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