Page 90 of Outcast

"That's not true." Matías shook his head. “It could be Ricco. It could be Joel. Just because someone's giving information to the enemy does not mean it's not one of the leaders in power. Let's say for example, Joel wants to take Dirty Dogs for himself. He could be using this new club to take you off of the playing board."

Fuck, he was right.

"Okay, for Matthews to know that you requested to be a Dirty Dog, the rat has to be someone who was at the compound yesterday morning." I tried again.

Matías shook his head again. "Not necessarily. It took us at least thirty minutes to drive to the Chinese restaurant. Anyone could've called their friends, who could've called Matthews."

"Dammit, man. You're bursting all of Rita's bubbles." Esteban pushed away from the island to lean against the back counter.

"Sorry," Matías said. "Rita needs to be prepared for any situation."

"You're right." I hated how his corrections cut at my ego, yet I needed the reality checks. "Let's start with who was at the compound yesterday morning. We had Ricco, Joel, and about three-quarters of the Dirty Dogs. The chances are high that the rat is one of those men, but we won't rule anyone out. How the fuck are we supposed to find out who the rat is?" I rubbed my forehead, racking my brain for a solution.

How did you find a rat?

"You set a trap." Matías set his cup down and tapped his fingers on the counter.

He glanced at his coffee, and then he slid it across to me before turning to make a new cup for himself.

Esteban and I exchanged glances before we both got lost in watching Matías move around his kitchen with such ease.

I'd never seen Matías do anything so comfortably in all the years I'd known him. Part of me was happy to see him like this. The other part, the bitter part, was sad that I never got to see the real him. He apparently never felt comfortable enough with me and that fucking hurt.

Nope, I needed to get rid of those toxic thoughts.

"A trap," I restated to myself.

"Has Ricco or Joel tried to contact you?" Esteban reached out and touched my hand.

I flipped my hand and laced our fingers together. He gave my fingers a squeeze.

The coffee in front of me smelled so good, yet I just couldn't bring myself to sip it. Not while all of these thoughts were raging inside my head.

"I haven't checked my phone."

Matías came back with his new cup, but he glanced at my untouched one on the counter. "Do you want the fresh coffee?" he asked.

"No. I'm going to drink it in a minute, I just–I need to get my thoughts together."

I went to grab my phone from the living room. The screen lit up with two dozen missed calls and texts. Not only from Ricco and Joel, but so many other members in the Dirty Dogs.

Shit, I needed to go through the messages, but we need to plan more.

"Here." Esteban held out his hand. "I'll go through them."

I slid my phone over to him.

"Rita," Matías called my name. "I think the best thing you can do right now is go back to the compound. You have to tell them what happened and watch their cues. The very best tells are in the body language." He dropped his gaze to the counter as if thinking. "I'm well liked in the Dirty Dogs, and I know Esteban is too, but I don't trust anyone enough to put your life in their hands by not seeing their reactions for ourselves."

"Nothing here," Esteban chimed in. "Only people asking about what happened and wanting to know why you didn't come back. Joel is threatening to ride out on the new club," he added, his voice filled with irritation as he pushed the phone toward me.

"We can't let that happen." What had gotten into Joel? He'd been a level man. He helped keep some of the younger guys in line. Where did this sudden thirst for violence come from?

Could he be the one who was informing Matthews?

A scream bubbled up the back of my throat. I hated how I was now suspicious of everyone who had been there for me my entire life.

"It doesn't look like any of the men you picked to join usyesterday called it in." Matías' words penetrated my deep thoughts.

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