23. Archer
TWENTY-THREE
ARCHER
Thistle was with me as we waited in the designated spot to meet Juan and this Kyle person.
My men surrounded the location because as much as I wanted to trust Juan, I was still cautious. Dozer would be watching from the building across the street. Thistle would use a flashlight to ensure they knew we were okay, but if things went south, and no light was shown, my men would move in.
I hoped things would go well because Wren texted me that she'd had a good conversation with her brother and that she had a good feeling about things. I wasn’t sure what to make of that, but it did make me feel a bit better about this meeting.
Thistle murmured quietly, "Ruth said if it wasn't possible to find anything on this guy, then it meant he was essentially a ghost. That or someone dangerous enough to erase ghosts from ever existing. Might not be worth messing with someone of that caliber."
I watched the street below us, the glass window from the empty warehouse providing a clear view of everything below.
"He's our only lead."
Thistle turned toward me. "It's more than likely a trap. Juan tossed a story at us that we're being forced to swallow. What are the chances he's even telling us the truth?"
I didn't know how to explain it to him, but I felt it in my gut. Juan wanted to do right by Wren, which meant he would do right by me.
"I—"
The street lit up with the arrival of one car. Just one.
Thistle joined me at the window, staring down.
"He didn't bring back up."
I kept staring at the two men exiting the sleek, black car. "That we can see."
Thistle waited for Juan and Kyle to step into the stairway before flicking his flashlight to the building across from us. Indicating that we were about to start the meeting.
Thumps from the stairs echoed around the empty room until Juan finally pushed through the doorway. He wore what he had earlier, and the man behind him was my age with inky black hair, cut short and styled messily. He was pale and what skin I could see aside from his face, was covered in tattoos. His jaw was narrow, with hollow cheeks and under his eyes was dark liner. He wore indistinct clothing, complete with a long overcoat, which probably was hiding heavy artillery.
"Gentlemen," the man I assumed was Kyle smiled, which reminded me of the jovial demeanor of the kid Gio, who had burned Wren's property patch.
Juan sauntered closer, lifting his hand toward the other man. "Kyle James, this is Archer Green.” He paused looking at Thistle expectantly.
"Theodore Barns. Call me Thistle." My vice president answered with a gruff voice. I hadn't heard his real name in years.
Juan continued, "Now that we're all acquainted, let's get this going."
Kyle messed with his cuffs. "Nice to meet you both. Glad the boys didn't kill you, Archer."
Irritation flickered in my chest at his cavalier attitude.
"Where are the boys right now?" I raised my eyebrow toward Juan.
Buck hadn't said there was any movement or chatter near our club.
Juan glanced at Kyle, who looked down at his phone. "Occupied."
Thistle shifted, silently communicating that he still assumed this was a trap and that the longer we were there, the more likely we would die.
I stepped forward and asked, "Kyle, Juan says that you were present for a meeting of cards where my territory was placed on the board. Something you won?"
The man who had been referred to as The Joker continued to lean against the counter, staring at me like he was happy to be there. "Yes. I remember that card game. I felt wildly successful securing so much territory for my buddy."
Juan laughed and then shook his head. This made me curious about their story and where things started for them.
"I wasn't there, as you can see from just meeting me. My second wasn't there." I gestured toward Thistle. "So, do you recall who agreed to hand over my territory?"
Kyle seemed to think about it, tilting his head back and closing his eyes. His arms were linked over his chest, and his ankles were crossed.
"Your patches." He pointed at Thistle, then me. "His says the nickname he goes by; yours is just your last name."
"Just depends on what each member prefers to go by. The last name was something I saw my dad do." I stopped mid- sentence because it had just connected who had sat in that game and bet my club as if he had the right to.
Kyle seemed to realize I'd figured it out. "This man, who bet, he was a big guy. His patch had your last name on it."
My adrenaline surged. "So, some guy randomly says he has the right to sell off some of my territory, and you just take him at his word?"
Kyle's brows furrowed. "No. Not at all. He had papers proving what routes you had and where you'd gotten them, and I knew the President of Mayhem Riot had the last name, Green. I took that at face value and went with it."
Shit.
"Well, that man wasn't even a part of my club at the time, so this is fucked."
Juan glanced at Kyle, and the two seemed to speak without saying anything.
"He had your patches, your colors…how—" Kyle's brows dipped in confusion.
I shook my head. "It was never retrieved after he'd been banned from the club."
Kyle searched the ground before he lifted his head. "Unfortunately, the man had papers…we considered it legitimate. You'd have to go back and figure out how you lost such important documents. So, the ownership stays with us. However, I will ensure Juan's spawn has been pulled off you and told to heel."
"Fuck off, Kyle," Juan muttered, pulling out a vape pen.
It still confused me why the twins might listen to Kyle over their own father. But Juan had said they had good reason to, so I didn't care.
I just wanted to get back to Wren.
"Okay, make the call."
Kyle laughed, tipping his head back. "Oh no. One doesn't call the Phantom Twins and simply tell them to stop murdering. You need to go in person to get them to stop."
Juan took a long hit of his vape. "Kyle, you're pushing."
"No. I'm not. If I pushed, Juan, then your boys would be at the bottom of a fucking ravine. You'll know when I'm pushing."
Kyle shoved off the wall. "Let's go, then. You'll need to come with us."
Thistle's jaw tensed, and I knew what he was thinking. Too dangerous.
"Why do we need to be present?"
Kyle turned back to us, his eyes searching our faces as his hands disappeared into his pockets again. "Because that man I made a deal with ten years ago was just spotted driving toward our home. He's a few hours out, but the direction is too coincidental. He wouldn't be sniffing around for anything I own, and surely not what Juan owns. He's on his way because he’s looking for someone. That would be your woman and your two boys if I'm correct."
No.
How had my father found out about them? Did he follow them? Thistle already had his phone out. He stepped away, yelling at whoever the fuck he'd put on watching my father. How the fuck had he slipped past our detail?
Kyle continued, "That fire in your eyes, that's what it will take to get the twins' attention. They're monsters, and they only respond to other beasts. You need to show them that you're going to tear into their throats with a jaw of steel. Anything less, and they'll ignore you like one would a housefly."
"Are they working together?" My voice was rough as I walked behind Kyle, and I felt urgency in each of my steps as we trailed down the stairs to the street.
Juan was the one to respond. "That man and the boys? I doubt it, but we won't know until we talk to them."
Fuck.