Page 22 of Loki
“Fuck! Is it about Monica?” I asked jumping from my seat and rushing out of my office.
“I think so,” New York said as he followed me back to the front of the clubhouse.
The brothers huddled together in front of the flat screen television waiting to hear if this was it. If it was her body they had found.
All the guys knew Monica. She was one of the more popular dancers at the club because she was just easy going, beautiful, and one of the hardest working women out of all the dancers. And when we all found out she had gone missing, we all had been on pins and needles waiting for any information about her disappearance. We all felt helpless as we waited for the police to do their damn jobs. However, I believed they were dragging their feet looking for her and her sister.
Probably because of this fucking auction. They all know who’s behind it.
I propped myself against one of the chairs and waited for the reporter to give their report. It was so quiet in the clubhouse you could hear a pin drop. There wasn’t a lot of hope in this room who thought she was alive including from me.
I knew she was dead. I just needed confirmation.
We are going live to Barbara Rosales who has more information on the police’s investigation. Barbara…
Thank you, Charles. I’m reporting to you live from Bayou Segnette State Park. Authorities are confirming that the body of a woman found yesterday in the early morning hours by visitors on this trail where I’m standing, has been identified as Monica Goins. She had been reported missing more than a week ago by her co-workers.
Fucks and groans from the brothers echoed around the room.
The police stress that this is the early stages of the investigation, but they do believe foul play may be involved. And Charles an added twist to this tragic story is that Monica Goins had reported her younger sister, Lila Goins, missing. Her case is also still active.
The authorities ask that if the public has any information about either of these cases to please contact the police. We will have more information about this case when more details become available. I am Barbara Rosales reporting live from Bayou Segnette State Park.
A heaviness weighed on my chest as my heart sank deep into my gut. Monica was a sweet and compassionate woman. All she wanted was the best for her little sister and a brighter future for herself. She didn’t deserve this shit, and I should have done more to protect her. Her blood was on my hands. And the only way to fix what I’d failed to do was to find her sister. Hopefully, she was still alive.
“Fuck! Turn that shit off!” I shouted. “Church now!”
Chapter Eight
Joshua “Loki” Ledet
“I’m going to keepthis short and to the point because we got shit to do. Monica came to me about her sister’s disappearance, and I told her, I’d look into it. I didn’t bring it to you guys because she wasn’t under our protection, so it wasn’t club business. But she was special to me and I’m going to do what she asked.”
Maybe I should have brought it to the brothers regardless because of her affiliation to the club, but hindsight was 20/20. She was gone now and there was nothing I could do about it. We had just lost a brother, and I hated to pull them into more shit. But, until the day I died, I would regret how I handled the situation because I knew there was more I should have done for her.
“I probably should have brought this to you guys, but I try not to involve the club in shit unless absolutely necessary.” I leaned back in my chair, crossing my arms over my chest. “She wasn’t anyone’s old lady, or girlfriend, just someone we employed. Not an excuse, just a fact. We just got finished dealing with that shit with Dragon, and lost Stone. I also wasn’t sure how dangerous itwas at the time, but now I know. Even if it is too late for Monica, it’s not too late for her sister. So, this is what’s happening. She came to me for help because her sister is missing and possibly caught up in a sex-trafficking ring. There’s an auction held about every six months.”
“Like an auction for people?” Irish, one of the brothers asked.
I nodded. “Yes, women and apparently girls. I’m not sure how young, but Lila, Monica’s sister is only sixteen. Here’s the thing. The police know about it, so I don’t see much happening on that front.”
“Fuck! So, what’s the plan?” Irish asked.
“We got an invitation, thanks to New York.”
“And how do you have those kinds of connections?” Black, another one of the brothers asked.
“That’s not important,” I said cutting in before New York had the chance to answer.
There were only a few members who knew Christian’s connections to the Rizzo family, and I’d like to keep it that way. Not that I didn’t trust my brothers, but I didn’t think it was important for everyone to know the man’s private life unless he wanted them to know. And I knew it wasn’t something he talked a lot about. His reasons for keeping his family connections a secret where his own.
“Anyway, New York is attending the auction and bidding on the girl if she’s there. And before you even ask, yes, we have the money.”
“What if it’s not enough?” New York asked.
“Then we take her,” I said.
“So, we aren’t shutting it down?” Black asked.
