Page 102 of My Darling Mayhem

ARCHER

The night came backin flashes as the dead weeds crushed under my boots.

Kingston’s amber eyes as he sipped from a glass. Its contents mirrored that color that reminded me so much of Wren. He stared at us, glaring while we talked.

The memory of when Kyle walked through their door, Juan on his heels. Thistle and I had walked in after, but Juan’s two sons didn’t even pay any attention to us. Their only focus was Kyle James, and the man seemed to know it as he gave them a sardonic smile.

“Boys, seems like you fucked up.”

Gio leaned forward like he couldn’t believe he was being blamed. “Us?”

I was already annoyed that this was the jumping off point. The two boys sitting on the couch smoking weed while they watched a UFC fight.

Fuck them. My kids and my woman were in danger, and fuck if they were going to sit here and wage war with me while my dad moved in close to them.

I walked over and kicked the coffee table in front of them so all the shit on it flipped over.

Kyle smiled, leaning against the edge of the couch.

“Yeah, you fucked up by going after him. But it seems we had ourselves an imposter at that game where the territory was being gambled. Mr. Green, the true president, had no knowledge of the trade.”

Their gazes hadn’t left me, their hands were on their guns, but Thistle was behind me with one trained on them. Juan seemed withdrawn like he didn’t want to watch if his kids were about to get shot. Couldn’t say I blamed him.

The one with blue eyes, Gio, had leaned forward to sip his drink. “Not our problem.”

Kingston remained stoic, staring into his liquor that he held off to the side, on the back of the couch. There was enough space between it and where Gio sat.

I pulled my gun out and shot through his glass. The shards hit his face and splattered against the wall.

Gio jumped up and screamed, “Are you fucking crazy?”

Kingston scowled at me as he tossed the remainder of the glass in my direction.

“Get the fuck up and answer these questions,” I ordered. They wouldn’t respect anyone who wasn’t a fucking monster to them. Fine by me.

Kyle surveyed them both. “It just became your problem. Archer intends to join the family, which means we owe him a second chance. A new deal.” Kingston flicked his amber eyes up, inspecting me as though I’d produce something of value at any moment.

“What kind of deal?”

“How about one where you apologize by leaving my territory the fuck alone.”

Kyle smirked and let out a small laugh. “That won’t work.”

He stood and began pacing in front of the overturned coffee table. “We keep the territory. We go back to pushing what we did when Juan led. No more bullshit. In exchange, we let him and everyone in his club live. We also help him kill whoever the fuck the man was who impersonated him all those years ago.”

Gio produced a vape pen from his pocket while shaking his head before sinking back into the couch. He must have forgotten there was glass, because he lifted his hand with a wince and cursed.

“This isn’t our problem. We don’t need this motorcycle club bullshit in our way. It’s easier with them gone, and while I love your angel wings, Daddio, we’re not doing that shit again. We made triple what you did on these routes.”

Juan’s jaw was tense, his eyes deadly as he glared at his son. King seemed to return the sentiment with the way he stared at his brother.

I expected Kyle to speak up, but it was Juan who quickly stepped in front of the boys.

He flexed his fingers and then he smacked Gio’s face, so the vape pen flew from his mouth. Kyle’s phone was out, and he tossed it over to Juan, who caught it without even looking. I couldn’t see what was on the screen, but as Juan pushed it in front of his sons’ faces, it had both boys going ghostly pale.

“Not your problem?” He shoved the phone closer. “He’s circling our property as we speak. How long before he goes traipsing through the woods, until he gets closer to our home? Do you know who else is home right now?”

Gio looked away, but Kyle lunged forward and grabbed his jaw until his eyes were back on the screen.

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