MYTHIC GREY
TAYE AND Iwere rolling through the burbs on our way to a cigar bar to have a meeting with Manuel, the boss of the Viper Crew.
Taye leaned back in the passenger seat, glancing over at me. “This shit between the Urban Enforcers and the Crimson Order is getting outta hand. Fury made a dumb move starting that war.”
I chuckled as I nodded in agreement.
Fury, the boss of the Urban Enforcers, had kicked off a war with the Crimson Order two weeks ago. He had murdered top lieutenants of the Crimson Order in order to gain drug territory. Since, he had been losing many of his crew in the war that he had initiated and was now losing.
“That whole move was dumb from the jump. The Enforcers ain’t got no claim to that turf, but Fury wants to run everything.”
Taye chuckled, but it wasn’t out of amusement. “You know what’s coming next, right?”
I glanced at him with a curious raise of my brow.
“You know he’s gonna try to come to you asking to buy weapons. He needs the firepower if he’s gonna hold on to any of that territory. And you’re the man with the connects.”
I let out a low laugh, shaking my head. “I ain’t doing business with that nigga. He’s reckless as hell. He ain’t got no control over his crew, and that’s why they’ve been out here wildin’ out, killing innocent people. I don’t do business with bosses who can’t keep their soldiers in check.”
Taye nodded, leaning forward a little. “That’s real. His crew’s full of these young trigger-happy dudes that don’t know how to move smart. They just wanna shoot anything that moves.”
“Exactly. Fury’s an immature leader. He’s not thinking long-term, not thinking about how to build and protect what he’s got. All he cares about is making noise, and that’s why he’s losing control. If I give him weapons, he’s gonna tear the whole city apart, and I’m not putting my name on that.”
Taye smirked, glancing out the window. “I figured as much. But you know he’s gonna try, though.”
I shook my head again. “Ain’t enough money in the world to make me deal with Fury.”
“Facts.” He grunted. Then as we approached the parking lot, he asked me, “You really think this meeting is a good idea? After everything that went down with Diego and his crew, I’m not sure we should be doing this.”
“Manuel isn’t stupid enough to pull a hit here, not in a snooty suburb like this in broad daylight. It would be too messy. He knows better than that.”
Taye shot me a skeptical look. “You really think he’ll just sit down and have a conversation like nothing happened?”
“Absolutely,” I replied confidently as I parked. “Besides, Draven and the rest of the security team are tailing us. We’re not walking into this blind. Most of our team are already positioned inside, ready for anything.”
As I turned off the ignition, I surveyed the parking lot. I spotted the vehicles of my security team discreetly parked in various spots.
Taye still wore that worried expression. “I just don’t like the idea of walking into the lion’s den after what happened at the club. You slit one of his lieutenant’s throats.”
My brow arched cockily. “He doesn’t specifically know what I did since we killed everybody.”
Taye’s eyes narrowed, scolding my smug smirk.
“We control the situation, not Manuel,” I told him, seriously. “Just keep your head on straight and follow my lead.”
As I climbed out, I cleared my mind. Although my team had gotten rid of the bodies, I was sure that someone in the Viper Crew knew that Diego was coming to Enchant to meet with me that night. My team and I figured that this request to meet with the boss of the Viper Crew had something to do with his missing men.
As Taye and I stepped into the cigar bar, the thick, pungent stench of smoke soaked into the fabric of our clothes. The air was filled with the earthy aroma of aged tobacco, blending with the faint scent of whiskey and leather.
I scanned the room, spotting Manuel in an oversized, comfortable leather chair in the corner. My eyes narrowed as I recognized a few members of the Viper Crew scattered throughout the bar.
Taye hung back at the bar, ordering a drink while I approached Manuel. As I drew closer, he leaned back. “Mythic,” he greeted with a sharp nod.
“Manuel.” We shook hands before I sat in the seat across from him, clasping my hands in front of my face as my elbows rested on the arms of the chair.
Leaning forward, he told me, “Let’s cut to the chase. I know you were the last to see Diego and his crew,” Manuel said, his gaze piercing.
He didn’t need me to deny it; he was certain, so I maintained my cool composure, refusing to show any hint of vulnerability. The way Manuel laid it out felt almost like a game, one I was more than willing to play.
