Page 99 of Outcast

"Why do you want to lead the club?" I asked.

He straightened his back and lifted his chin. "Someone has to."

"Right..." Matías drew out.

Whatever, I tapped Matías' shoulder and we started walking.

"I wasn't done talking to you!" Joel shouted.

"Funny, you sounded like you were done. Call Rita to make any plans you want to make. Then we'll have the vote soon."

I tossed Matías the keys and climbed into the passenger seat. The compound was mostly deserted and all the bikes that had been outside were gone.

Matías got in and slammed his door. He sat there for a few minutes, not putting the key in the ignition.

"Are we going to get this show on the road, or are we wasting more time for shits and giggles?" I was only half-joking. Being away from Rita after that weird interaction with Joel rubbed me the wrong way.

He started the car and pulled out of the compound.

"I don't get it," he said quietly, more to himself than me.

"I'll play. What don't you get?"

"A lot of things. The one at the top of the pile is why you offered to go with me." He peeked at me. "Shouldn't you want me dead and out of the way?"

I shifted in my seat. "I never wanted you dead," I said, then sighed. "I was jealous as hell of you. I want what's best for Rita and you weren't it. You disappear at the drop of a dime."

"And now you think I won't?" There was only curiosity there.

Leveling him with a hard stare, I shook my head. "I don'tknow that." The words were slow and his jaw worked. "What I do know is that you've done all the right things since you've been back. It would have been easy for you to try and take control of Dirty Dogs. Or even fuck her and leave her–which I saw the night of Javier's funeral."

The skin under his eye twitched but that was the only reaction.

"You still could. A week of good deeds doesn't mean shit, but..." I dropped my head back against the headrest. Rolling to face him, I studied him. Several years older than me, a world away in terms of life experience, and so much loneliness clinging to him, it was like a chill surrounded him. "You saved my life. I'm willing to give you the benefit of the doubt."

He barked out a short laugh. "You're overlooking everything your gut is telling you because I saved your life?"

I grinned. "Yeah, pretty much." We both chuckled. Then I sobered up. "Don't fuck with her again. Not like you did before. If you do, I'll flay every inch of your skin, and save the nipples for Rita."

We cracked up again.

"That was something, wasn't it?" He smiled at the windshield.

"Damn straight it was. Rita loves going for a man's sensitive bits. That's how Javier trained her."

"Yeah."

The rest of the ride was spent discussing nonsense. Nothing related to the Dirty Dogs drama or the new club. It was like an olive branch.

It felt dangerous to put my faith in a man who had a high track record of breaking Rita's heart. But for her, I wanted him to be different this time. To not make fucked up decisions for the right reasons.

For me, I wanted to believe he was different this time. Because damn, when he tackled me, I realized that the people who had your back weren't always the people you thought they were.

And the man who should have had my back was the very one who tried to put a bullet in my heart.

25

MATÍAS

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