31. Rita

31

RITA

I held the folded piece of paper tight in my hands as we drove back to the compound.

I'd received calls from Jonny, Rio, and Ricco on the status of where everything stood.

Joel was still locked up. One of the two men had been cleared, the other was sharing the shed with Joel.

Rio and Jonny's call had been the hardest. They’d had to put down twenty-three men after we left the club. They hadn’t shared names, and I could only hope they were the names that we’d extracted from Tad.

My heart physically hurt as if someone had decided to take a knife to it over and over again, just for giggles. There wasn't a spot on it that didn't feel touched in some way by all this shit. So much death. So much heartache. And for what? Because we were trying to be less villainous people?

I wasn't like Amorette. I didn't mind getting my hands dirty. On the right occasion, I enjoyed a petty side dish simply because I liked the rush it gave me afterward.

But there was nothing wrong with protecting innocent women and children, damn it. On that, I agreed with Amorette wholeheartedly.

The sun was peeking over the top of the compound as we pulled up. Soft peach and gold lighting up the sky. Rows of bikes were also parked exactly like before. Except now, there weren't near as many.

Because of death. Because of betrayal.

Matías parked us right in the center. As if they realized we were coming, the guys had left a path right up the middle.

"You ready to get this over with?" Matías glanced at me.

Esteban cupped both of my shoulders from behind, giving me a gentle squeeze.

"You got this, baby."

"You're right. We do." I touched Esteban's hand, gave Matías a small smile, then got out of the SUV. "We're going to have to do something about my car, Esteban," I said under my breath as we waited for Andre to join us.

He and a few of his men had accompanied him.

"Why?" He glanced at me with a divet between his brows.

"Because it's only a two seater. There are three of us."

He shook his head and chuckled. "I don't know what's gotten into you lately, but you're saying the most random things."

I shrugged. We could always take one of our SUVs, but I was desperately thinking of anything other than facing the others.

"You ready?" Andre adjusted the cuffs of his suit as he walked up. He’d followed behind us in his own protected SUV. Leave it to him to dress up to come to a biker compound.

No, but also more ready than I'd ever been in my life. "Let's go. "

Matías took one side and Esteban took the other as we led the way into the compound.

There was no music to disrupt the somber mood. Three-quarters of the Dirty Dogs congregated in the open space. Some had pulled out chairs. Some were standing defensively with their arms crossed, and some were sitting on the floor, leaning against the wall.

Everyone seemed shattered.

More even than when Papá had died.

"Rita." Ricco came up, scrubbing his face. He eyed Andre with a heavy dose of suspicion, but he didn't comment on his attendance. "What are we doing with Joel and Dag?"

"That's what Andre is here for. He's turning Joel and Dag over to his contacts."

Ricco blinked and some of the men closest to us leaned in to hear what I was saying. No need. I'd project the message for them.

"Dirty Dogs!" I had everyone's attention as they stood and moved closer. Esteban and Matías pushed closer to my back. "Let's never repeat last night again."

Some barked out a laugh as others smiled. Most understood it for what it was. Dark humor because that was the only way to deal with this shit hand.

"I won't force you to listen to my speech twice. But I'll ask. Is there anyone here who feels the Dirty Dogs is not your home anymore?" No one raised their hand. "Is there anyone who won't follow my lead?" Still silence. I took a deep breath. This should have been eradicated last night, but I had to ask. "Is there anyone here who will not follow my rules?"

"What are your rules, Rita?" Someone in the back called out. I didn't recognize the voice and I couldn't see the person. It didn't matter. I'd answer it. They deserved to know.

"My rules are that if you have a problem, take it up with me. Don't cause dissent. Don't kill your brothers, and don't start wars on behalf of the gang and for the gang without our entire buy-in. It's that simple."

"Good enough for me," he called back.

"Why is he here?" Jonny nodded at Andre. There wasn't an accusation there, but it was close. "I'll follow you without a doubt, but I won't be part of Carnage Industries. We'd be footboys at best."

"We now have an alliance with Carnage Industries. It was unofficial before, and last night we made it official." Some alarming expressions moved over their faces. "The only thing this means is that if we're under attack, they'll provide support, and vice versa. We already do that."

Most of the guys relaxed. Except for Jonny. "Why is he here now?"

"He's taking Joel and Dag to his contacts."

"Contacts?"

"US government officials. It will make working in the US easier for us after he hands over our traitors."

Ricco nodded as if he was impressed. It wasn't common knowledge Andre had these kinds of connections. Or why. Not that it was hidden either.

"Bring them out," I addressed Ricco.

He called to a couple of the younger members and they ran off toward the shed.

In a few minutes, they came back, dragging Joel and Dag between them. Both were unconscious and battered to hell. Black and purple bruises mottled their skin.

In a way, I was glad to be done with it. No more confrontations, no more arguments .

"Load them up," Andre ordered his men. In an efficient manner, they were carted out.

It was all so anti-climatic, I busted up laughing.

Andre cut his gaze at me. "You okay?"

"Great." I grinned. This whole nightmare was over. I knew it deep in my bones that the threat was gone.

"All right." He glanced at Matías. "Call me later. I need to get in touch with my old contact."

"Cash?" Matías asked.

Andre smiled. "Not that crazy asshole."

Lingered for a minute, Andre eyed the Dirty Dogs. He looked as if he might say something, then shook it off and waltzed out like this was just another Tuesday at Carnage Industries. I snorted.

Once the doors shut behind him, I faced the men again. Holding up the piece of paper, I sucked in a deep breath.

"I have the list of every name who was implicated in Joel's fucked up scheme." I surveyed the room, searching for any names on the list. There were none, and I released a shaky breath. Passing it over to Ricco, he unfolded it.

"We have a lot of repairs to do. Our gang has been hit from the inside and I have no desire for it to ever happen again. From now on, we'll have weekly meetings. You have grievances, you air them there. If this ever happens again, what happened to these men will be a child's play. Is that clear?"

One of the younger men stepped forward. He was barely twenty-one and full of hot air. He eyed Matías with slight hostility. "How do we know that he's not going to try and lead us for his brothers?"

So much suspicion where there hadn’t been any before. I blamed Due and Joel for that .

I rolled my eyes. Did these guys think I was such a doormat that I'd allow it?

Matías raised one brow. "I have no interest in leading. I've made that clear by walking away from the Institution–now Carnage Industries. I am at Rita's disposal only." He caught my hand, raising it to his lips. His gaze burned into me as he pressed a soft kiss on my knuckles, then stepped behind me, clasping his hands behind his back.

Heat curled in my stomach and I almost raised my hand to fan myself.

Clearing my throat, I turned back. "His loyalty is not to be questioned. He's proven it many times over. In fact..." Normally, we gave new members thirty days before voting them in. But I didn't want this looming over any of our heads. "All in favor of Matías being a Dirty Dog?"

Everyone's hand raised and several whooped.

"All against?" Crickets.

I tipped my head toward Matías with a smile on my lips. "Looks like you're officially a Dirty Dog."

He grinned, scooping me up into his arms and swinging me around.

He set me down, and smoothed the hair back from my face. "It's going to be okay."

"I know." I nodded.

Esteban stepped up behind me, cupping my hips. "This is just the beginning."

Oh yeah, it definitely was. I knew the first major change I was going to make too.