Page 124 of Outcast

"He's taking Joel and Dag to his contacts."

"Contacts?"

"US government officials. It will make working in the US easier for us after he hands over our traitors."

Ricco nodded as if he was impressed. It wasn't common knowledge Andre had these kinds of connections. Or why. Not that it was hidden either.

"Bring them out," I addressed Ricco.

He called to a couple of the younger members and they ran off toward the shed.

In a few minutes, they came back, dragging Joel and Dag between them. Both were unconscious and battered to hell. Black and purple bruises mottled their skin.

In a way, I was glad to be done with it. No more confrontations, no more arguments.

"Load them up," Andre ordered his men. In an efficient manner, they were carted out.

It was all so anti-climatic, I busted up laughing.

Andre cut his gaze at me. "You okay?"

"Great." I grinned. This whole nightmare was over. I knew it deep in my bones that the threat was gone.

"All right." He glanced at Matías. "Call me later. I need to get in touch with my old contact."

"Cash?" Matías asked.

Andre smiled. "Not that crazy asshole."

Lingered for a minute, Andre eyed the Dirty Dogs. He looked as if he might say something, then shook it off and waltzed out like this was just another Tuesday at Carnage Industries. I snorted.

Once the doors shut behind him, I faced the men again. Holding up the piece of paper, I sucked in a deep breath.

"I have the list of every name who was implicated in Joel's fucked up scheme." I surveyed the room, searching for any names on the list. There were none, and I released a shaky breath. Passing it over to Ricco, he unfolded it.

"We have a lot of repairs to do. Our gang has been hit from the inside and I have no desire for it to ever happen again. From now on, we'll have weekly meetings. You have grievances, you air them there. If this ever happens again, what happened to these men will be a child's play. Is that clear?"

One of the younger men stepped forward. He was barely twenty-one and full of hot air. He eyed Matías with slight hostility. "How do we know that he's not going to try and lead us for his brothers?"

So much suspicion where there hadn’t been any before. I blamed Due and Joel for that.

I rolled my eyes. Did these guys think I was such a doormat that I'd allow it?

Matías raised one brow. "I have no interest in leading. I've made that clear by walking away from the Institution–now Carnage Industries. I am at Rita's disposal only." He caught my hand, raising it to his lips. His gaze burned into me as he pressed a soft kiss on my knuckles, then stepped behind me, clasping his hands behind his back.

Heat curled in my stomach and I almost raised my hand to fan myself.

Clearing my throat, I turned back. "His loyalty is not to be questioned. He's proven it many times over. In fact..." Normally, we gave new members thirty days before voting them in. But I didn't want this looming over any of our heads. "All in favor of Matías being a Dirty Dog?"

Everyone's hand raised and several whooped.

"All against?" Crickets.

I tipped my head toward Matías with a smile on my lips. "Looks like you're officially a Dirty Dog."

He grinned, scooping me up into his arms and swinging me around.

He set me down, and smoothed the hair back from my face. "It's going to be okay."

---