Outcast

Prologue, Matías
4 years ago
My heart pounded in anticipation.
From both the soft curvy body pressed between me and the wall, and the near discovery of Tomas stumbling across us. The man was an idiot, but he was dangerous because he’d sing like a canary to my father to get more power.
My father, Vicente. Head of the Institution, otherwise, known as the Castillo cartel.
"What the hell are you doing here?" I growled against Rita's ear. Tonight was another festival, one of many that Father held in his city.
Rita shouldn't be here. The Dirty Dogs weren't enemies, but they weren't exactly welcome when Vicente wasn't given explicit details about why they were here and when they'd leave.
Or what was in it for him.
She laughed, the sound full and throaty as her nails dug into my chest before she slid her hands up around the back of my neck. Never mind that some ass might wander down the alley and see us. We were barely out of the light and every fucking person here would recognize me.
I was the spitting image of Vicente, unfortunately.
"Don't be such a fucking coward." Her dark brown eyes twinkled as she leaned up on her tiptoes, pressing her succulent lips against mine. Anger in my gut whipped alongside desire.
She was delicious.
Ever since I'd met her, she'd had a fire about her that was wild and thrilling. The woman was every man's temptation with curly, black hair and miles of curves. To top it off, she wrapped up her sex appeal in bright red gloss that was just as addictive as she was.
I licked my lips, tasting that sweet, cherry flavor as I grabbed her hips and pressed her deeper into the wall.
"That was Tomas who just passed us. You know who that is?"
In the dark light of night, I could just make out her eyes rolling. "No, nor do I give a damn."
"You should. He's a weasel who'd do anything to climb the ladder. And finding the gang princess under the heir to the Institution would be like candy to a pedophile. He doesn't want it, but he'd use it to get exactly what he wants." My words were low and forceful. I wanted her to understand exactly how dangerous this was.
Except, she huffed. Like I was an idiot.
"You worry too much."
"You don't worry enough!" I fired back.
Pausing, she studied me in the shadows. Her thumbs made soft sweeps against the column of my neck as her lips drooped and I shivered in the cool, night air.
"Then let's get out of here, Matías. Let's go strip on the beach or tear it up in one of my clubs. That way you can breathe and lose that giant stick up your ass."
I chuckled, shaking my head as I pulled her away from the rough concrete wall. Graffiti art shimmered in the few places the light touched as we headed deeper into the alley and away from the main celebration.
There was no winning with her. She was a spoiled brat at the best of times, but damn did I love her.
Sliding my fingers down her arm, I caught her hand in mine. She started swinging our joined hands like we were a bunch of stupid teenagers.
We were. We were being stupid. Her for coming here in the first place, and me for entertaining her when anyone could see us.
But no matter how dangerous this was, I couldn't turn her away. I wouldn't.
"Beach or club?"
"What?" I glanced at her before scanning the alley ahead and behind us.
"Where are we going from here? Because you're not dropping me off or sending me on my merry fucking way." She snorted and started swerving her hips in a dancing motion. "The night's young and I'm tougher than you are. I'd win in a fight."
I didn't even answer that as I quirked a brow toward her.
"Let's go to the club." That was the safest option. Javier's men were ruthless when it came to protecting their territory. And they'd go apeshit to protect their princess.
I could also actually relax and enjoy myself there. Any other men from the Institution would be shot on sight.
She tossed an unimpressed look over her shoulder. "You're starting to make me feel like a dirty secret."
Shaking my head, I tugged her back against my side. "You're not a dirty secret. You're a precious one. Of our two fathers, yours is sane and mine is not. I like your pretty head right where it is. I'd rather not see it on a stake because he's throwing a tantrum."
A shiver worked its way up my spine as she stopped walking.
Glancing up, she narrowed her eyes. "You think Vicente would do that? Murder the daughter of a dangerous organization that wouldn't hesitate to rain fire on his ass?"
I rolled my lips. "I think my father is insane and his ego is the most important thing to him. He's unpredictable and that's why we have to be careful."
Rita sighed, absolutely put out, but in the next breath, she was already moving on from the serious moment. "Fine. My car is two blocks over."
I twirled her around before bringing her back into me, lightening the mood. The last thing I wanted to do was let my father be a dark cloud over the few stolen hours with Rita.
Call me a fool, but it was these moments that made all the others bearable.
Being the only legitimate son of a psychopath was a lonely place to be. I'd learned that time and time again, any time I'd attempted to make any sort of connection with anyone.
Even my own brothers.