Page 69 of Outcast

"Don't understand what?" My voice changed from angry to frustrated.

"He came back for you. I hoped it would fix things. I want you both to be happy."

I pulled a face. "He was the reason I missedPapá'spassing."

She faced me. "That's not his fault. Andre or any of my guys would have gone to get him for you. You wanted to be the one to go. That was your decision."

My chest squeezed at the uncomfortable feeling pressing down on it. "You think I don't know that?"

"Youdon'tknow that!" Amorette tossed up her hands. "Otherwise you wouldn't blame him for it."

I shook my head. "You don't understand."

A roar of laughter came from their table. I recognized Matías' laugh. It wasn't often he laughed like that. I used to savor those moments.

I glanced over as Matías did the same. A bright smile on his face for the first time since he came back and I wasn't the one who put it there.

Not able to hold his gaze, I looked back at Amorette. "I think a night out is more than I can take."

Turning to get Esteban's attention, I was ready to call it quits. I had bigger things to worry about. Like how I was going to win the vote. Actually that wasn't even in the top three. The most important was figuring out how to keep a bunch of man babies from running to their deaths.

"Wait." Amorette leaned over the table, reaching for my arm.

"What?" I'd lost all my good mood.

Someone screamed in the crowd and people started running toward the back of the club. The music cut and men's shouting echoed off the walls.

The brothers surrounded Amorette and I ran from the table, straight for the front. Esteban was hot on my heels.

Ricco called for the Dogs, from right behind me, and when I glanced back, Matías was on his other side.

Several women almost ran into me in an effort to get away but I wove as Esteban pushed.

At the front of the club, Due stood toe to toe with a couple men I didn't recognize. Their new leather jackets gave me an idea of who they were and my stomach sank.

"What's the problem?" I asked, stopping shoulder to shoulder with Due.

He glared at the man in front of him. "Looks like the new gang in town wanted to scout out our club. Not fucking happening."

The man in front of him smiled, not the least bit intimidated. "What? You don't want to make friends with your new neighbors?"

"You don't want to be friends. You made that clear when you killed one of our men."

The man scoffed. "You killed your own man and delivered his head. Don't blame that on us."

"I'm not talking about him. I'm talking about Tiago. He was dropped at our gates today." Due lifted his chin.

I had to give it to the man. He looked genuinely confused. "That wasn't us."

"Don't lie!" Due shot forward but Esteban pulled him back and took his place.

"Tonight, you're not welcome here. If you didn't deliver our man like you say you did, leave as a show of good faith," Esteban said as he placed his shoulder slightly in front of mine.

"You expect us to just roll over anytime your club says? It seems you don't have your shit together and you're holding onto your businesses by your fingernails." The guy laughedand slapped his friend's chest. The three of them were having a good laugh at our expense.

"Your first mistake is assuming the Dirty Dogs aren't lethal. They are." Matías' shoulder touched mine as he made his allegiance obvious. "Your second is assuming they don't have friends."

The guy glanced at Matías, his gaze lingering. He didn't outright recognize him, but he must have thought he looked familiar.

---