Chapter 12 Mythic Grey
MYTHIC GREY
TAYE AND I were 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.
“Now, they have gone missing, but…” Manuel shrugged a shoulder so nonchalantly that it was surprising. “Diego was a hothead, which was why he didn’t have the sense to ask for permission before he approached you with his disputes. That’s on him.”
Though I was shocked, I remained cool, nodding smooth and confidently.
Manuel sat up. He took one of the copitas from the row that was sitting in front of him on the table and threw back a shot.
The liquor must have been smooth as hell because he didn’t even wince or squint as it went down. Then he sat back, telling me, “You’re good with us, Mythic. You’ve been a valuable distributor for the Viper Crew. I know you don’t make stupid decisions.”
“I appreciate that. I have no intention of getting involved in any unnecessary shit. I’m here to do business, not to deal with weak motherfuckers’ egos.”
Manuel’s smirk was menacing as he leaned forward, tapping the rim of his empty glass. “Good. Because if it turns out you did have something to do with Diego’s disappearance, then this little partnership of ours ends with blood.”
He stood, adjusting his jacket, and gave me one last look. It was a look that made it clear the conversation wasn’t over, just postponed.
I stayed seated as he walked away. His men fell in behind him like shadows.
Taye approached a second later. “That sound like a threat to you?”
“Manuel’s just fishing. He doesn’t know shit.
” My eyes stayed on the door Manuel had disappeared through.
“He just wants to. And by the time he figures out he never will, I’ll be ten moves ahead.
But if Manuel suspects the truth, this meeting wasn’t about peace.
It was a warning. And the next time we sit across from each other, one of us might not walk away. ”
AVIANA SCOTT
Mythic: How are you?
As I stared at his text, my pulse quickened.
The text had been just three simple words.
It was a question he often asked, especially after everything that had happened with Mia.
But after that night we shared, it felt as if those words had more meaning.
They were loaded with unspoken thoughts and feelings.
He really wanted to know how I felt about what had transpired between us.
He was reaching out across the distance that had grown between us since then, trying to bridge that gap without saying too much.
I knew he was being respectful, not wanting to put everything in a text message, but it left me frazzled and unsure of how to respond. So, I didn’t. Instead, I scrolled through my Facebook app.
I scrolled to Mythic’s page. He hardly used the app, but the few pictures he had were striking, though I had seen them many times.
Some, I had even taken myself. I clicked on one that showcased his tall, muscular frame, and the way his chocolate skin glistened under the light.
He was so undeniably attractive, and I could feel a heat rising in my cheeks as I remembered the intimate moments we had shared just a few nights ago.
I was salivating over the sight of him, the way he made me feel, and the connection that lingered even in his absence.
As I continued scrolling, I stumbled across a photo of me, Mia, and Mythic.
It felt like a lifetime ago. We were all smiles, carefree, and na?ve to the chaos that would soon follow.
My heart ached for that bond that had once felt unbreakable.
No matter what Mia had done, I missed her.
I missed the laughter, the inside jokes, and the support we’d always given each other.
Tears pricked at the corners of my eyes as I reminisced about the good times. Everything had changed so drastically, and I wasn’t sure if it could ever go back to what it was before.
I heard the click of the suite’s door, which thankfully forced my mind off the hurt.
I closed the app, rolled off of the bed, and padded out the bedroom to meet Damar in the living room.
I had only been there for about an hour since arriving after work, so I still had on the maxi dress I’d worn to the office.
As I approached Damar, I noticed the tremor in his hands. His fingers fidgeted restlessly at his sides. Despite his nervousness, he smiled warmly, opening his arms to greet me. We hugged tightly, and I could feel the rapid thud of his heart against my chest.
I pulled back to look him in the eye. “What’s wrong?”
“I’m fine,” he replied, though the shaky smile didn’t quite convince me.
I scanned him over, taking note of the beads of sweat glistening on his forehead. “You look a little shaky and sweaty.”
He chuckled lightly, brushing it off. “I had it out with Jeremy again. I caught him outside with the 111 Boyz. I just can’t get through to that kid. He’s insistent on hanging with them niggas. I’m scared something is going to happen to him.”
“I’ll try to talk to him again.”
“Thank you, baby, but he’s got his mind made up apparently. This is a lesson he’s going to have to learn on his own.”
As I nodded, he shifted the focus back to me. “What’s wrong with you?” His gaze was intense, studying me as if he could see right through to my thoughts.