Page 119 of Outcast

"Esteban," I called. I tried to step out of Matías' arms, but he didn't let me go and Esteban didn't stop. Matías dropped his hand from my neck and hugged me to him as he murmured unintelligible words against my hair.

"Esteban!" I yelled.

My voice must have pierced his fury because he dropped his hands, his shoulders drooping forward as he panted.

"You were my best friend, you fucking cunt." He delivered one more punch to Due's face. He didn't move or twitch. He wasn't even breathing. At some point, Esteban beat the life out of him.

"We don't have time for this." I pushed at Matías' chest.

My heart fluttered, knowing Matías chose me. He wasn't leaving my side. It soothed the last jagged crack in my heart, but I couldn't fully appreciate it. Not knowing that my friend was under attack.

Around us, the fight was over. Some of the girls had their hair torn down and their make-up smeared. One girl held two pieces of a broken tray.

"Girls!" I pointed at them and motioned for them to come forward quickly. "Work with Jonny and Rio. We need to sort through the men who are against us." Rio and Jonny stepped forward, baring their teeth. The fight was over, but they were ready for more. With how some men edged toward the doors, they might get it.

"Lock the doors! No one in or out until Jonny and Rio allow it."

The girls huddled together, whispering as they looked to Jonny and Rio. They heard things. And with the way many of these men liked to pillowtalk, they had a good chance of making sure nothing slipped through the cracks.

"You got it." Rio's gravelly voice skated across my skin as he and Jonny started working through the crowd. A couple of the girls walked after them.

"Rio! Jonny!" I had one last order before we left.

They turned. Swallowing hard, I held their stare. "If they aren't on our side, they don't walk out of this building."

The words burned on my tongue. It felt like I was tearing downPapá'slegacy, but these men, they'd had enough chances. They were a poison that would just keep chipping away at the club if we didn't eradicate it now.

They jerked their heads and I rushed to Esteban.

"Esteban." I cupped his cheeks, wiping away the tears that tracked down his face. "Oh, baby. I'm so sorry. I'm so fucking sorry, but we have to go. Amorette and the brothers are under attack. We have to go help them."

His gaze skated past me but he relaxed when he glanced over my shoulder. He thought Matías would have left too.

"Okay," he rasped as he raised his hand to check my throat. When he was satisfied, he pushed up from the floor. "We need to load back up in the office. Then we can go."

We rushed to the office, reloading clips, grabbing extra weapons. I selected a holster and added a few more guns. I usually only had what I could hide in my dress, but fuck that.

My best friend was in trouble.

Esteban drove this time, flying down the road and racing around cars. We saw the fight before we got there. Bikes lined the street and gunfire popped off.

Esteban swerved over to the side of the road, slammingon the breaks before we could see their place. "We'll go on foot from here." He threw his door open.

We exited the car and I left my heels. Clanking across the pavement would signal our sneak attack from a mile away. I just hoped I didn't tear up my feet too badly.

Next to Matías, I reached out and squeezed his hand. He glanced from me to Esteban and nodded to himself.

At first, I thought he was going to speak, but as we moved closer to Amorette and the brothers, it hit me.

Us, being here for Matías, soothed something for him too.

As much as I wanted him to stay, he never could before. I didn't think he knew how. No one had ever stayed forhim.

30

MATÍAS

Roman, that asshole.

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