Page 80 of Outcast

"You can ride behind us."

"Esteban," I sighed. "We can't go and not be united."

"What's your problem? Are you pissed I didn't lose my cool last night?" Matías casually tossed out.

"No, I'm pissed you enjoyed it." Esteban pressed his chest to my arm as he leaned toward Matías.

"Noted. Also not important."

Esteban's body tensed and I shoved him back before he could start another fight with Matías. One was brewing and I’d do whatever I could to stop it. "Not here." Actually, "Not ever."

His cold gaze dropped to me. "Why was he at your house this morning?"

"What? Afraid that she really was just using you?" Matías taunted.

I shoved Matías away too. "Shut the hell up." Then I pulled in a breath and placed a hand on Esteban's chest. "I didn't invite him over. He was on his way up the sidewalk when it all happened."

Some of the tension leaked out of his body. "Fine."

Then he walked away leaving me with Matías.

"He doesn't believe you."

"What is wrong with you?" I whirled toward him.

Matías adopted a mutinous expression. "He's my problem. He thinks he knows everything just because he fucked you."

"He doesn't!"

"I know that!"

We were left staring at each other. One of the guys across the room who was waiting on me, snorted a laugh at something his buddy said and broke the moment.

"I'm driving." Then I walked away too.

I should be kicking Matías to the curb. Esteban was the steady ride or die. I'd learned my lesson the hard way and got burned for my efforts.

Yet, I couldn't send Matías away, and the more I got to know Esteban, I couldn't leave him either. A deranged part of my head saidwhat if I kept them both?

20

ESTEBAN

Ihad to get my shit under wraps. I was a walking, talking, ticking, time bomb.

Last night, I'd done exactly as Rita asked me to do. I dropped to my knees for her. Worshiped at her fucking altar for Matías to see like she'd requested. I wasn't stupid. She wanted to push him away and she used me to do it.

I hadn't given a fuck. I jumped in with both feet to assert my place in her life.

Yet, she'd walked out on us like she couldn't look at either of us.

Then this morning I find out that one, he wanted to be a fucking Dirty Dog. And two, he was there to save her when I wasn't. That shit stung and it swirled under my skin in a toxic cocktail.

Shaking my hands out, I blew out a hard breath.

"Fuck," I muttered. Turning around, I stalked back toward the front where Rita had parked. Because her car only had two seats, she was already in the driver's seat of a club SUV and Matías had taken shotgun.

Gritting my teeth, I yanked open the back door and slidin. Without thought, I pulled out my gun, and rested it on my thigh pointed at Matías.

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