Page 37 of Outcast

Glancing up, the sun had just gone down and the stars were starting to come out.

I walked toward the makeshift platform. Someone handed me a bottle of liquor as barrels were rolled out. Once I was above the crowd, I whistled.

"It's a sad day when Javier Aguilar is no longer with us. He was a great man. A great leader. And a great father." My voice broke at the end. Esteban sidled up to the front of the stage, watching me with a steady support I hadn't known I'd needed until that moment. "Tonight is a celebration! Of his life and his memory! Light the barrels!"

Men tossed lit pieces of paper into the barrels that had been prepared specifically for tonight. They went up in flames and the crowd cheered.

"Until the sun comes up, the Dirty Dogs do what we do best! Fuck it up!" I raised one fist in the air, and used the other to bring the bottle to my lips.

The liquor was warm, adding to the burn as it went down my throat.

When I dropped my head, Ricco and Esteban were there to help me off the platform. As much as I tried to ignorehim, Matías was in the crowd, with a perfect line of sight to me.

People crowded around him, clapping him on the back, welcoming him as if he'd never left. Yet his eyes never left me.

Something told me he'd find me before the night was up.

9

RITA

"No, I can't," I forced a smile and pushed away the bottle. Every Dirty Dog wanted to have a drink with me in honor ofPapá.

I was moving quickly past buzzed and if I didn't call it quits, I wouldn't be able to remember anything from tonight. Even in my relaxed and numbed out state, I wanted to remember.

Yet, I enjoyed the soft humming under my skin. It was warm and built a wall up around me that even the darkest parts of sadness couldn't penetrate. I fucking loved it.

Sweat rolled down the back of my neck and I twisted my hair up into a messy bun. Not securing it, just holding it in my hand as I tried to cool down. It was a hot summer night and the barrels only added to the stifling air.

Esteban pressed a cool beer bottle against my nape and I gasped.

"It's hot. Why don't we go inside?"

I nodded. That sounded like a fucking fantastic idea. "Let's get out of here."

We took two steps toward the door, but Leo, one of thenew guys, called Esteban’s name. He cursed under his breath. "I'll be right back. Wait for me?"

"Hell no. It's hot." My words weren't slurred. That was a win. Yet when I walked inside by myself, I teetered to the right. "Fuck," I muttered to myself.

It wasn't that much cooler. There were a couple old air units, but we didn't use them that often. With such a massive garage space, it was a waste of energy.

And it was gloriously empty. For once, everyone was outside having a hell of a good time, exactly likePapáwould want.

Papá.I sucked in a breath.

No. I wouldn't go there. I wanted to enjoy this break from emotions for a little longer.

Passing the stairs up to the rooms, I headed toward the makeshift bar. WhenPapáhad remodeled this place, he had a set of counters added in the back. They were in a separate room and not really a kitchen, although there was a sink.

The only times I could ever remember the Dirty Dogs using them was for potluck cookouts.

I sighed when I flipped on the light. Bottles lined the counter like someone had been collecting them and bringing them in here instead of tossing them in the trash.

At least it was cooler. Someone had turned on the air so instead of Satan’s asshole, this room was set to a hot breeze in hell.

Walking to the sink, I was going to run the cold water to splash over my face. I didn't make it there.

"Rita," Matías said softly behind me.

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