Chapter 17
Wizard
R ed and Brick take the girls to their apartment to eat and watch a movie while we talk. Gambit held onto the paper until after the girls were gone. As soon as they’re gone, he turns to Charlie and hands her the paper.
“Any idea where this came from?”
“I found it on my windshield. Haven’t had time to read it.”
I stand behind Charlie, looking over her shoulder as she reads the paper.
Stop looking into Lola Biaz
Or they’re next.
Below the writing is a picture of the triplets. Someone had taken a black marker and put x’s over their eyes. I watch the paper start to shake. I step up and pull Charlie into my arms. Her breath rate increases until I’m concerned, she’s having a panic attack.
I gently turn her, lifting her chin until our eyes meet.
“Breathe slowly. You’re not in this alone, Spitfire.”
“I called church,” Gambit says. “We have a few more members on the way, Charlie. We’ll figure this out.
She keeps shaking. I pick her up and put her on my lap and rub small circles on her back.
“My brothers and I won’t let anything happen to you, the girls, Regina, or Pops.”
She nods her head. A tattooed hand thrusts a glass in front of her face. I look up to see Doc.
“Drink this. Doctor’s orders.”
“Thanks, brother.”
He smiles, and winks before taking a seat next to us. Charlie takes a sip before throwing it back in one long gulp.
“Someone else needs to drive us home,” she says, placing the glass on the table.
Doc takes a flask from his pocket and hands it to Charlie.
“Thanks.”
“Welcome,” Doc replies.
The last few members take their seats and Tully closes the door. Gambit takes the skull and slams it on the table.
“Church fuckers.”
All eyes focus on him. It’s cute, he said fuckers instead of motherfuckers. I know he did it because Charlie’s in the room with us.
“Wizard, I need you to patch Bug in. He’s waiting for us.”
“Lean back, baby.”
Charlie leans against me. I leave one arm wrapped around her. With the other, I open the hidden keyboard in front of my chair. It hides in the table. It activates as soon as the tray is fully extended. A few clicks later, Bug is on screen. He’s the IT guy for our mother club in Baton Rouge.
He’s “retired” from working for the government. They occasionally call on him for his unique skills.
“Thanks for helping, brother,” Gambit begins. “Can you give us two minutes to update everyone before you fill us in on what you’ve found?”
“Sure thing.”
“For those that don’t know. Earlier tonight, Charlie’s girls’ car broke down in Storyville.”
“What were they doing there?” Papa asks.
“They’re father gave them an address nearby for a party. Only the girls didn’t find the address.”
“What the actual fuck?” Smoke says.
“It’s worse than you think,” Bug adds.
All eyes turn to him.
“The address is owned by a shell corporation. Which is owned by Yuri Morozov. Yuri is New Orleans Pakhan. A ruthless son of a bitch with his fingers in everything. He’s suspected of human trafficking. The Feds have an ongoing investigation into him and the rest of the New Orleans Bratva.
“The address is in the Feds file as a possible abduction site.”
I feel Charlie sag against me. Her face is pale. I wrap both arms around her and draw her to my chest.
“We’ve got you, Spitfire.”
“I’m going to cut off his balls and make him eat them before I dump him in the nearest swamp,” Charlie says.
She wiggles out of my hold and hops off my lap, storming toward the door. I’m out of my seat after her. I catch her before she gets to the door.
“Hold on, baby. I’ll go with you. Let’s finish the meeting first. Bug may have more information.”
She reluctantly agrees and comes back to the table with me.