20. Esteban

20

ESTEBAN

I had 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 slid in. Without thought, I pulled out my gun, and rested it on my thigh pointed at Matías.

He glanced back and raised a brow. "What are you going to do with that?"

"Nothing, as long as you mind your manners." I shrugged.

Rita glanced back and rolled her eyes. "Esteban's harmless."

"That's what you think. That's what everyone thinks, but you haven't seen me angry."

She paused, then nodded. "You're right," she breathed out. "And this is my fault."

"No." Matías grazed his fingers over the back of her hand on the steering wheel. "It's no one's fault. He just has to grow up," he said with a sneer as he cut his gaze at me.

Raising the gun, I pointed it straight at his head. "Watch your fucking mouth."

I had to give it to him. He didn't even twitch. Eyeing me calmly, he leaned between the seat and pressed his forehead to the end of the gun. "You want to shoot me? Go ahead. I think you underestimate how fucked up my childhood was. I was constantly on the verge of murder at my father's hands, just like my brothers."

"Sit your ass back, Esteban," Rita yelled. She wasn't playing. Her voice was firm and cold. "We have a funeral to plan for Tiago and a club to keep intact. We don't have time for petty posturing."

There was a note of uncertainty there. My girl, she knew me as the easy going guy. But right then, she didn’t know if I would actually kill him or not. She didn’t know how far my hate drove me at that moment.

I didn't glance at Rita as intrusive thoughts battered against me. I could pull the trigger. I could get rid of my number one problem. Then nothing would stand in my way with Rita. She'd forgive me.

Eventually.

Once I made her see how useless Matías actually was.

There wasn't even an ounce of sweat on his forehead. This fucker really didn't care. Or he cared, but he didn't think I'd do it.

"Esteban," Rita snapped, fear coloring my name. Shit, I didn’t want that emotion attached to my name out of her mouth no matter the cause.

It was like fighting hell itself to lower the weapon.

"Thank you." She sounded so prim and sassy, if shaky. But I still couldn't look at her. Matías and I were locked in a battle of wills.

He broke the stare first, facing forward and hooking Bluetooth up to his phone. He broke our stare to put on fucking music.

Low notes came out of the speakers and Rita stiffened. "This is my favorite song."

Matías reached over and grazed her hand again. "I know," he said softly, like they were having a minute without me in the backseat.

How could this man, who proclaimed to want her so badly, to say she was his one who got away–or he threw away, not to have attacked me the night before?

He was a bigger man than me because just knowing where his skin touched hers made me want to cut his fingertips off so he'd never do it again. I thought I could wait for her to see me. But I couldn't.

I needed her now and I was going to do everything I could to convince her she needed me more than him.

Giving one slight shake of her head, Rita started the car and put directions on .

"What's the plan?" I gritted out, doing my fucking best not to reach forward and choke Matías.

Twisting her lips to the side, she thought for a minute. "Matthews is the leader. They're American. I've dealt with my fair share of tourists so I can possibly play up their need to treat a woman right."

"That might work, but they could just as easily see you as a non-threat because you're a woman," I said, pressing my back against the seat.

Bikes roared as they surrounded the vehicle. Some of my tension eased. At least we weren't going into this blind.

"The days of thoughtless killings are behind us. We're not the same club we were when the Institution was alive, and we're not going back there."

If Matías thought that was a dig at his father, he didn't show any reaction at all.

"You'll make sure they don't get to that point," Matías assured her.

She made a noncommittal grunt as she picked up speed.

"Remember that time when you stalked me through the streets close to the mansion?" Matías stretched back in his seat, hands grabbing the top of the headrest.

Rita snorted. "I did not stalk you. You have a faulty memory."

"You couldn't get enough of me so you had to track me down. You almost got us caught." There was a smile in his voice and I wanted to puke.

Sneaking a glance at Matías, she fluttered her eyelashes. "I love a bit of trouble now and then."

"What is this?" I tucked my gun away and leaned between the seats. "Do you hear yourself right now?" I turned to Rita .

Red tinted her cheeks. "Shit. I need to focus. It was just a quick distraction that my brain needed."

Matías frowned. "There's a reason I brought it up."

"And what's that?" I snarked.

"That Rita was fearless. She was a bit reckless too." He leaned around me to get a better line of view of Rita. "We need her back. Whatever made you question yourself, it's not important. It doesn't fucking matter, because that woman...That's who you are and who the Dirty Dogs need you to be."

I sat back. Fuck, he had a point.

Rolling her lips together, Rita flicked her gaze at Matías then back at the road. "And if you're what made me question myself?" It was quiet, like she wasn't sure if she wanted him to hear it or not.

He gazed at her, his dark eyes unblinking. He wasn't even breathing.

"Then that's my sin to live with and you should know I would spend the rest of my life atoning for the ways I've wronged you."

Was this guy for fucking real?

Rita came to a stop on a deserted street and faced him, her expression literally melting.

"You're the strongest woman I know. Don't let a pendejo like me tear you down." He leaned forward.

Like two magnets pulling against each other, Rita leaned in too.

Until I stuck my head between them. "Let's keep driving, hmm? We have people to meet and sitting in the middle of the street isn't the best plan for us."

Rita sucked in a quick breath and pressed the gas, jolting us forward. Matías looked out his window, apparently lost in his own thoughts now. Whatever. I needed to get through this meeting so I could get Rita alone.

The new guys’ headquarters was a solid thirty minute drive. An uncomfortable one.

We drove around the block and scoped the place out before parking on the street. Our guys took up various positions. They were as discreet as big bikers could be. They'd be noticeable though. The new club rode roadsters not motorcycles.

Turning the car off, Rita dropped her hands into her lap. "All right. I lead. You're my backup. But if you have questions, ask them. Just don't talk over me." She put her hand on the door and paused. "Don't try to undermine my authority." Her words were for Matías.

"Never."

Unable to sit in this Twilight Zone anymore, I hopped out.

We made it to the front of the restaurant and I had my gun in my hand. No matter if this was a peaceful call or not, Rita was not walking in there without any kind of protection. Matías pulled his weapon too.

Inside, there were only two tables and an old hostess who looked like she was half-Asian, half-Hispanic.

"We're here to see Matthews," Rita said as she stepped up between Matías and me.

The woman eyed her with a severe frown before calling back to the kitchen in some type of Asian language.

As we waited, the people at the tables eyed our guns, but we weren't in a tourist district, so they didn't freak out. Instead, they pretended not to see us.

The swinging doors to the kitchen popped open and Matthews strolled through. He wasn't even trying to hide his patronage with his US flag shirt. Americans .

"This is a surprise." He held his hand out to Rita.

She looked down her nose at the offer. I didn't think she was going to take it, but she slid her hand in his.

Raising it to his lips, Matthews started to smirk. Then Matías aimed at his head.

"You can shake her hand, but keep your lips to yourself."

Matthews dropped it and held his own hands up. "Got it. She's off limits." He glanced around and motioned for us to follow him. "We'll take this somewhere more private."

He led us through a different door. This one went to a staircase and we went up to the second floor. Oriental paintings and murals decorated the wall as traditional music played from old, static filled speakers.

Opening the first door at the top, he guided us into an office. An empty one. I wasn't a strategist, but I would have had a few buddies attend for backup. Matthews didn't grow up here, didn't understand the ways of the crime organizations.

A sun faded American flag hung up behind the desk and there were several pictures of men in service. So they were a unit when they served? Not surprising they'd want to stick together after they got out. What was surprising was that they wanted to turn to crime in South America.

Rita took her seat opposite Matthews and Matías took the extra chair. I stood directly behind Rita.

Matías could come and go, but my place was at her back. Always.

"So what do I owe the pleasure of this business?" Matthews threaded his fingers on the desk. His red hair fell in his eyes and he gave Rita a small grin. He wasn't completely at ease from the way his hands clenched and relaxed, but he wasn't high strung either .

"Let's cut the shit. Since you came to town, you've been nothing but a thorn in our side."

Matthews tutted. "That's not fair. We tried to be neighborly. From where I'm standing, the Dirty Dogs are the ones causing problems. Threatening us when we tried to make friendly contact." His gaze flitted to me briefly. "Killing our man when we were delivering our respect and condolences for your father. And then kicking out my men from one of the clubs."

Rita inclined her head as she crossed her legs. The motion was subtle, but it still drew his eye. I figured she wanted him under her spell, but I still wanted to pluck his eyes out.

On this, Matías and I were on the same page.

"I admit, we had a bad apple, which we dealt with and delivered his head directly to you. Surely, you can't hold the actions of one man against our entire club." She gave him a sultry smile. "And be honest. Do you expect rival clubs to mingle together when there's trouble brewing under the surface? That's asking for trouble."

She paused as Matthews mimicked her by inclining his head.

"But that's not the issue I'm here about today. It seems your club has killed one of our own, unwarranted."

Matthews' brows kissed in confusion. "We haven't killed any Dirty Dogs."

Funny how he didn't say anyone .

"Once your man died, you didn't declare war on the Dirty Dogs?" Rita's tone made it out like she wouldn't believe shit that came out of his mouth.

"I didn't say that." He smirked as he leaned back. "But I didn't get me and my boys where we are today by rushing off with my ass on fire. I prefer to observe and see where the weakest link is." Like a smug fuck, he laced his hands over his stomach and started twisting back and forth in his seat. "And it seems the Dirty Dogs aren't so stable with your father gone. From what I hear, it sounds like you have a bit of a leadership issue on your hands."

All of my senses snapped alert and Rita lifted herself to her full, rigid height. Even Matías twitched in surprise.

"And where did you hear that?" Her words trembled.

Fuck, Rita. Don't let your voice show your hand.

He shrugged. "Doesn't matter. What does is that your house isn't as locked up tight as you might think." He glanced at Matías and twisted his mouth to the side. "Although, I do think you have the upper hand just because of your connections. Matías, right?"

Matías nodded, staring him down with psycho eyes he'd inherited from his father. I'd never seen a man with such dead control over his eyes like that.

But with Matías, it wasn't a constant. The other night right before Rita walked out on us proved that.

"Interesting that you gave up your legacy to your half-brothers and to request to be a Dirty Dog."

Shit....

He had fresh information that no one should have except the people who were at the clubhouse this morning.

Matías didn't say anything, but his lips pulled down into a deeper frown.

"I ultimately do want peace for me and my brothers, so I'll throw you a bone. Believe it or not, I think you'd be the best option for the club. Don't trust anyone." His gaze moved between the three of us. "Except the ones in this room."

“Peace,” Matías mulled over the word. “Then why send your men to shoot up Rita’s house?”

Matthews blinked, careful to keep full eye contact with Matías. It was a good show, but I wasn’t sure I bought it. “That wasn’t us.”

Matías’ eyes darkened as he sat forward while Rita tipped her head to the side.

We weren’t going to get a straight answer out of Matthews. Not without reason to torture it out of him, and unfortunately, we didn’t. That would have to wait and Matías would have to be patient.

"I think that's enough for today," I said as I touched Rita's shoulder. "Let's get the fuck out of here."

"I want your word that you had nothing to do with Tiago's death." Rita scooted to the edge of her seat. She was bringing the conversation full circle.

"You have my word." He didn’t ask who Tiago was, but he mostly likely knew with the level of intel he had.

"If I find out you're lying, you and your brothers won't exist anymore."

"You think you and a broken club can get rid of us that easy?" He laughed under his breath.

"No." She returned with a smile. "But I have a lot more friends than you do. I've been making connections since I was born that have nothing to do with the club. Including his brothers," she jerked her thumb toward Matías, "and their new wife."

His humor faded. "Regardless of what you think, I'm not trying to start a war. And I believe you. Just remember what I said."

Rita stood and we excused ourselves without shaking his hand.

"We can find our own way out." She tossed over her shoulder. Matías took the lead and I followed up behind her.

The restaurant was empty as we left. Outside, our SUV was exactly where we left it. Glancing down the street, two of our men were visible. Good. No one would have been able to tamper with it.

"That was either a success or a dud, I'm not sure which," I said to Rita as I opened the door for her, and she climbed in the driver's seat.

I'd just shut the door when Matías tackled me to the ground. I started twisting, ready to protect myself, then I heard it.

A bullet whizzed by us. Matías had just saved my life.

Holy fuck. Matías just saved my life.