Page 8 of Trial By Fire
“Thai would be nice. Haven’t had any in a while. Lola kills me with the Chinese.” Trish chuckled a little bit.
“Thai it is.”
CHAPTER
TEN
Jackson handed Lola back her phone as she glared at him. He couldn’t help but smirk at her as she stuck her tongue out at him.
“She got called out on a case. Apparently, some kid she’d been looking for was found dead this morning,” Jackson informed Lola as he walked into the kitchen.
“Shit! That’s not good. She’s been assisting gangs in going after a group of parents in a new gang that’s shown up here in the area,” Lola sighed as she banged her head onto the table.
“Going after the parents? What does gangs have to do with it?” Bradley asked as he walked over to Lola and rubbed her back.
“The kid Trish said they found, was it the ten-year-old one?” Lola asked Jackson as she leaned onto the bar with her arms.
“Yeah, from what she said. Why?”
“Then yeah. She’s going to be assisting gangs. I don’t know much, but what little I do know isn’t good. Seems there’s a new gang moving into the area. They are nasty as shit from what I’ve heard. They are deadly and blood thirsty from whatI overheard her and her partner debating the case. They are already responsible for two cops getting taken out.”
“Fuck!” Jackson and Bradley said at the same time.
“Yeah. Apparently, they are trying to establish a section here. They are from South America. Columbia, I think. They’ve been under investigation for sex trafficking young girls, including their own daughters. If I understand what she’s mumbled a few times, there’s three other kids in the home. All four girls are branded with the symbol of the gang.” Lola told both men, looking down at her hands.
“Fuck!” both men repeated.
“What do they call themselves?” Bradly asked, leaning in, continuing to rub Lola’s back.
“Columbiana or something like that. I think Delbert said they had ties to the ELN. I don’t know for sure.”
“Son-of-a-bitch!” Jackson grumbled as he leaned forward with his hands on the edge of the sink. “That’s not good if they’ve made their way here. It’s going to turn this city into a bloodbath.”
“Are they that bad?” Lola asked, her eyes going wide as she looked over at Bradley.
“Yeah, babe. They are that bad. We’ve dealt with them a few times on a couple of missions through the years. Not a fun time.”
“I guess I had better get dressed and meet her at the house…” Lola started until Jackson pushed up off the sink.
“Nah. I’m picking Thai up for her in a couple of hours and then I’m going to get her to sit down and talk it out,” Jackson sighed as he rubbed his face with his hands.
“I can do that, Jackson. I’m a nurse for Pete’s sake. I don’t know if she’ll open up to you after the way you broke her heart.” Lola glared at him again, crossing her arms across her chest.
“I know that,” Jackson growled as he slammed his hands onto the counter.
“Hey, dude! Don’t get pissed with her. She’s just looking out for her best friend,” Bradley warned him.
“I know. I know. Shit! I’m sorry, Lola. I know I broke her heart. I was a pussy because of her job. I hate she puts herself in danger like I do. I panicked when I realized I was really starting to care for her. Hell, I still do,” Jackson finally admitted to himself.
“Yeah, well, it didn’t help when you started dating that Valarie chick. Dude, seriously, what the fuck possessed you to stick your dick in that chick. I’ll never understand.”
“I never dated her. She was a one-night stand, in the alleyway behind the bar. Never brought her here nor have I sought her out after that. That chick is crazy as fuck!” Jackson shivered as he remembered their one night together. “In my defense, I was blacked out drunk that night.”
“That’s not what she’s said. She’s been telling everyone at the hospital that you two are in a relationship and have been talking about marriage already. She confronted Trish last in the women’s bathroom. Claiming she’s knocked up with your kid.”
“Fuck! I’ll deal with it. One of the guys recently started dating a nurse there, Tiffany.” Jackson groaned, as he knew he’d dread making that call. “I’ll make sure she knows the truth.”
“Careful with that one. She’s friends with Valarie. Valarie has that one doing a lot of her dirty work. Might want to have a talk to your guy and make sure there’s not issues in their relationship,” Lola warned Jackson and Bradley as she rolled her eyes at them.
