Page 63 of Outcast

"Then make decisions like a Dirty Dog! Javier would have hit them hard. We have to make a stand for our territory. Our pride." Joel touched his nose to hers.

As soon as he said Javier's name, Rita backed down. She tried not to show it, but she wavered. He'd made her question herself.

Fuck that. I didn't belittle women, and I damn sure wouldn't let him do it to her. I waded in the middle, forcing Joel away from Rita.

"I'm with Rita. We didn't see who it was and we don't have enough information. The only thing you're doing is igniting a war that may or may not be on our doorstep anyway. We can wait ten fucking hours for someone to do some goddamned research."

I pointed at Joel and Ricco. "This emotional manipulation bullshit stops now. You have an idea. Say it. Don't try to make Rita or anyone in the club think it's the right idea just because Javier would have done it. And you're fucking wrong anyway. Javier would have done his homework to see who dropped him off at our gates."

"Twenty-four hours," Due said slowly. "Twenty-four hours. If we don't have an answer then, I'm riding to their place. I'll ask questions, and if I'm not satisfied, I'll do what I think is necessary. On my own."

Due wasn't close with Tiago, but he was as rage filled as the rest of us.

I shook my head. "Due, man, we don't need anyone going off on their own–"

"I'll go." Rita's voice was loud and clear. "If you can't figure out who dropped him in twenty-four hours, I'll go question them."

"I'll go with you." Joel straightened up.

"Fuck that, you'll try to undermine her like you did here and that's not the look we need in front of those assholes." I shook my head. "I'll go with her."

"Then take Matías," Ricco said.

"Absolutely not." Rita backed up, affronted.

"Rita, his name does more than ours does. If these guys did their homework like they said they did, his presence will help. That is what Javier wanted." Ricco eyed me, daring me to argue, but fuck. I knew for a fact,thatat least, was true.

"Fuck," Rita muttered under her breath as she twistedaway from us. I almost jolted forward to steady her, but she started heading for the door in a fast clip. "I'll be back to see what you've found in twenty-four hours."

"Due, pick two guys and start checking the area for clues," I called over my shoulder as I chased after Rita. Ricco and Joel protested, but it didn't matter. Due would do it because I asked him to, even if Ricco and Joel sent someone else on the job.

He was loyal to me before the VPs. The Dirty Dogs had just never had a reason to split ourselves.

"Rita!" I called as she reached the top of the stairs.

She didn't stop. Her feet moved quickly toward her room. I sprinted the last several feet so I could catch the door before she slammed it shut.

"Please, Esteban. I need a few minutes to myself." Rita wouldn't look me in the eye. Her gaze was locked on my chin as she shifted and fidgeted, acting like she was going to crawl out of her body at any second.

"Nope, that's not what you need." I pushed the door open far enough for me to slip through. "You don't want to chat? That's cool. But you're upset, and you shouldn't be alone."

The perfume of her room wafted over me and I was assaulted by memories of the best night of my life.

Rita at the club dancing her ass off. Me disengaging from my partner and sliding up behind her. At first, I thought she was going to push me away, but when she glanced over her shoulder, her glassy eyes sparked in recognition and a sultry smile softened her face.

"Esteban..." she said, but I couldn't hear her over the music. She turned and grabbed fists of my shirt as she started to grind on me, dancing to the erotic beat of the music.

One thing turned to another, then we had shots…

Another round of dancing before we found our way to her room.

"Esteban."

Snapping back to the present, I took in the space. It was exactly the same. Luxurious bedding on an expensive mattress even though the walls and flooring were jacked, just like the other rooms in the compound. Yet somehow, because it was hers, it just seemed feminine, sexy.

I dropped my gaze to her questioning one. "Hmm?"

"Where did you go?"

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