Page 55 of Outcast

Carnage Industries was as secure as they came. Amorette's men made sure of it. Add in the school nextdoor, and Jesus himself couldn't break through the gates uninvited.

But a girl needed her privacy, and I needed time to process my mess of a life.

"It's me," Amorette said.

I twisted the knob to open the door. She wasn't someone I wanted to see either. Mainly because I didn't want to see the judgment on her face after what I told her on the phone. Amorette was the master of judgment, even though she said she didn't judge.

She absolutely did.

With the door open a handful of inches, I sucked in a breath. There was Amorette all right. And Esteban stood behind her, raising one taunting eyebrow at me.

"Seems this man was loitering," Amorette remarked drily. Then she excused herself, giving me a slight smile to let me know she wasn't irritated that he was here or that I was avoiding her.

"Hey," I said as I stepped back and opened the door.

He started to come in, but I held up a finger. "You know what, hold on."

I grabbed my keys and phone from the desk and joined him in the hall. He watched me silently as I shut and locked the door. Call me paranoid, but I'd seen Matías here this morning and I didn't want him to ambush me in my office.

When I faced Esteban, we had a moment of mutual appreciation. My body buzzed under his appreciative gaze as it swept my body.

Like always, he was dressed in ripped jeans, a white Tee and his Dirty Dogs vest.

"Shouldn't you be at the shop?" The chop business was still fairly young and Esteban was heading it up due to his love of all things bikes. Cars were his second love.

"Due is handling it. While we're waiting for Matthews to make a move, the VPs and officers thought it would be best you have someone protecting you." He shoved his hands in his pockets.

"And naturally that person is you?"

"Naturally," he repeated, smiling. Damn it, his dimples popped out. I was a sucker for dimples.

I didn't have any smart comebacks. I wanted to blame it on life and stress, and how I couldn't think around him. Different from how Matías made me feel, and that was the most intoxicating of all.

"Are you kicking me out?" His gaze flicked to my shut door. "Is that why you shut and locked your office door? Afraid of what will happen if we're alone?" He pressed his lips together to suppress his smile.

Those dimples were still there.

Damn.

"I slept in your room without any issues controlling myself." I sniffed as I started walking down the hallway. He'd catch up.

He chuckled under his breath, giving me a full-blownshow me all the beautiful white teethsmile. "That was because I respected your space. I wasn't trying to fuck you."

"Hm," I hummed, suddenly flustered.

"Where are we going?" He easily fell in step beside me.

"You've never been here before. I thought I'd give you a tour."

His eyes softened and he nodded. "I'd like that."

I took in the hallway, trying to see what he'd see. I'd gotten used to it now, but I remember the first time I walked the halls. The understated opulence took me off guard. I imagined it was similar to what Amorette was used to in her high-profile law firm.

The Dirty Dogs owned some nice clubs, but they were nothing like this. Even our best club still had a level of grittiness to it that was both thrilling and sexy. Everything a nightclub should be.

"The hall back that way is where the rest of the offices are for Amorette and her guys."

A hint of anger slid through his eyes even though his smile didn't dim. "I know. Amorette walked me past them."

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