4. Chapter Four
Chapter Four
Joshua “Loki” Ledet
One week Later…
As I took a sip of the lukewarm Coke I’d been drinking for the last hour, New York settled on the stool beside me, his presence adding a touch of dark energy to the dimly lit bar. Probably the last place I should be, but regardless of my history with booze, the place was comfortable for me.
As I flipped the sobriety chip back and forth across the back of my fingers, the ever-constant reminder of where I’d been and where my life was now, I couldn’t silence the thoughts racing through my mind. Despite New York’s reservations, I was convinced this meeting was too important to call off.
I didn’t want to deal with Savage Order either. God, their Prez got on my fucking nerves. He was an arrogant prick who thought everyone should kiss his ass which was something I would never do, so I guess our hate for each other was mutual.
I hated we had to go through him, but there was no way I could start a war over this because it wasn’t directly connected to the Sinners. I didn’t think the brothers would go for it, and I wouldn’t blame them.
So, sometimes you just had to roll with the punches, suck it up, and do what needed to be done. We had to do this together. Both Sinners and Savage Order. If not, we were gonna have the cops leaning heavy on both motorcycle clubs because they always blamed us as they tried to shift the guilt from the rich bastards that had them in their pockets.
“What’s the plan, Prez?” New York asked, his hesitant tone reflected in his thick New York accent.
“Nothing’s changed.” I downed the last of my drink. It was almost time to get on the road. “We meet with God and let them know we got to handle shit that’s going down in or near their territory. They can get on board or have the Feds bearing down on both clubs. Because when they target one, they target all. I’m sure God wouldn’t want that.”
New York huffed. “I’m not calling that motherfucker, God, Loki,” New York mumbled. “Who the hell okayed that shit, anyway?”
I snorted, shrugging because I had no fucking idea. God, the Prez of Savage Order’s Louisiana chapter was an asshole and an absolute narcissist. I didn’t know the history behind his club name, but it was what he had always been known as. You had to be full of yourself to have other people call you God. I understood where New York was coming from. It took me a long time to even talk to someone who referred to themself as God.
“I’ll handle the talking, so you don’t have to worry about it,” I said, chuckling.
When Monica came to me for help, it was like a floodgate opened. I went to every contact I could think of asking questions about this mysterious auction with no luck. No one wanted trouble, or it was kept so hush-hush that no one had any factual information only rumors—things they’d heard over the years. However, New York’s cousin confirmed once every six months a flesh auction was held among some of the most powerful businessmen and leaders in the country. And apparently Senator Decker was the man in charge. Although it always changed locations, this month it took place close to Savage Order’s territory. Hopefully the Sinners could bust it up before anymore girls were sold including, Lila.
That’s if she hasn’t already been sold.
Did I think it was a coincidence Lila went missing after being assigned to work with Owen Decker? Fuck no. Monica said her sister was supposed to be one of Owen Decker’s interns, one of the top men in the political world. And the last place Lila had been seen was in Baton Rouge, at the State House. I had no doubt he had something to do with her disappearance.
“When’s this auction supposed to take place?” I asked.
“Antonio says in a week.”
“Fuck that’s close. It doesn’t give us much time to plan, but we have to work with what we got.”
Antonio Rizzo Jr, Don of the Rizzo Family, and capo di tutti i capi also known as boss of bosses and New York’s connection was our way into the exclusive auction.
When New York started hanging around the club, I had a deep dive done on him because of his recognizable last name. I needed to make sure since there was a connection to the infamous crime family what that meant for the Sinners. Once he started prospecting, New York and I had a long talk to make sure him becoming a Sinner wouldn’t cause problems with the Cosa Nostra. That was the last thing we needed. After that long conversation with him and a follow up with the Don himself, New York had been patched in after he finished prospecting. It was a beneficial arrangement for both organizations.
“This invite wasn’t easy to get because the Rizzo’s don’t deal in the skin trade which a lot of people know,” New York said. “A lot of questions were asked. So, you know it’s going to cost the Sinner’s big time, right?”
“Of course, but we can discuss that later. Right now, we just need to make sure Savage Order isn’t involved in this shit, so they don’t tip anyone off.”
“God will be with you in a minute,” the burly prospect said, as he closed the door to the room we had been escorted too.
“God will be with you in a minute,” New York mocked, shaking his head.
It was just like that arrogant prick to keep us waiting when we were here on fucking time. If I could bypass this motherfucker, I would.
New York sneered and rested his forearms on the table. He was the only one I brought with me. If Savage Order were to do anything stupid, they’d have to deal with the Sinners, and they weren’t that dumb.
Our weapons were taken away, as I expected, since we were in another motorcycle club’s territory. I would have done the same thing, but I still didn’t like it. It made me uncomfortable not to have any kind of protection. The Sinners and Savage Order weren’t on bad terms, but we weren’t exactly friends either. At least not here in Louisiana. It was different for the Oakland chapter.
“This arrogant motherfucker,” New York, said. “We’re here when the fuck we’re supposed to be and where is he? This is fucking disrespectful.”
I ran my hand over my face in frustration. Yeah, he was fucking arrogant, and he was wasting my fucking time, which I didn’t like it. I had shit that needed to be done before this auction, and this visit was a fucking courtesy, not an obligation. He should be happy I came at all.
God mistakenly thought he had more power than he had. The Sinners were the biggest one percenter club on the west coast, and without my help and the okay from Grimm, our national president, Savage Order wouldn’t have been able to establish a chapter in Louisiana. Currently, I was second-guessing my decision to even fucking take it up with Grimm.
Just as soon as I started to tell New York let’s get the hell out of here, the door swung open and in walked the man I wanted to punch in the fucking face flanked by two other men.
“Oh, how nice of you to grace us with your presence,” I said with sarcasm in my voice.
With a smirk, he pulled out the chair in front of me. The two men positioned themselves next to the door, like they were protecting him from us or going to keep us from leaving.
“You should be happy, I’m even sitting down with you, Loki.” Leaning back in his chair, God crossed his arms over his chest. “What do you want?”
I gritted my teeth and tried my best to ignore the attitude. I had to remind myself I was doing this for Monica and there was the possibility a young girl was getting hurt as we speak.
“We’ll be in or around your territory in a week. We don’t want trouble, just giving you the heads up.”
Anger quickly overtook his expression as he vigorously shook his head. “That’s not happening.”
I let out a tired sigh. “Look, I came to you out of courtesy. Prez to prez. But I can go over your head if you want me too. I’m sure Eros will step in if he needs too.”
Although we didn’t establish a truce with this chapter of Savage Order, we maintained a mutual beneficial relationship with their Mother Chapter in San Francisco. Their President, Eros, the national president for Savage Order, had the final say in any decision made by any Savage Order chapter. I didn’t want to go above God because I wouldn’t want anyone contacting Grimm, the prez of the Sinners Mother Chapter about our shit. But this was way too important to let one man’s ego stop what needed to happen.
His angry gaze stayed locked on mine, but I wouldn’t waver on what I needed to do. We would do what needed to be done whether God approved it or not. I was more concerned about him not informing his brothers, and how they’d react if they came across a Sinner in their territory. Then it would be a problem.
“What’s goin’ on?” God asked.
“There’s a sex-trafficking ring happening in your territory,” I said without hesitation.
Shaking his head, he raised his hands. “Woah, woah, woah. We don’t deal in flesh.”
“What about any of your men?” I asked, arching my brow. “Would they do any of that shit on the side? You know for a little extra money.”
I didn’t think any of Savage Order would go against God, but I just wanted to get under his skin.
“None of my men would fucking dare!” he shouted, slamming his palm against the table. “They know I’d fucking gut them if they did some shit like that without my okay.”
“I didn’t think so, but that’s why I’m here. If we don’t do something, there’s the risk of the Feds getting involved, which is going to fuck all of us.”
I didn’t want to give away too much information because I didn’t know shit about him or his brothers. Loose lips sink ships as they say, and that could mess up everything which could cost Lila her life if she wasn’t already dead.
He looked at me for a moment and the silence in the room went on longer than I liked.
“When will you be around?” he asked.
“In a week. I don’t want any trouble, God. Just let your guys know.”
“Just a week. But if I get word you’re anywhere near our shit after that, we’ll have problems, Loki.” Sliding his chair back, he stood up, causing the metal chair to scrape across the tile floor. “Ox, show our guests out.”
When one of the guys standing at the door stepped forward, God, and the other man disappeared out the door.
“Well, I guess that’s it,” New York said when we stood. “We’ve been dismissed.”
Laughing, we trailed the man until we reached the outside of Savage Order’s clubhouse. Right when we were about to hop on our bikes, my phone started ringing.
“Yeah?”
“Prez, it’s Wires.”
“What’s up?”
“Bishop called. One of the girls is missing. When she didn’t answer his calls, he sent me by her place. It’s been destroyed and there’s blood everywhere. He’s tied up right now, so he wanted me to give you a call.”
My heart started pounding inside my chest.
“Fuck! Monica?” I asked even though I already knew the answer.
“Yeah,” Wires said. “How did you know?”
“Shit! I don’t have time to explain. I’m swinging by her place to see what I can find out,” I said then ended the call.
I sighed, pinching the bridge of my nose. This was going from bad to fucking worse.
“What happened?” New York asked as he straddled his bike.
I pushed my phone inside the front pocket of my jeans, then straddled my bike. “Monica’s missing. Let’s go by her place.”
He nodded and started his bike the same time as I did. Normally the rumble of my motorcycle brought me calm, but not now. Guilt was kicking my ass. Monica said someone was following her. I should have at least had a prospect sit on her place to keep an eye on her not just follow her home. This shit was going from bad to worse, and the Sinners were being pulled right in the middle of it.