Chapter 10 Blue
As my gaze darts around Vapor’s warehouse, I feel like I’m going to faint. The oppressive silence is broken only by the distant hum of machinery and the occasional drip of water from a leaky pipe.
The air feels heavy, charged with the weight of unspoken threats and the echoes of anguished cries. The entire space is a testament to the violent dominion of the motorcycle gang, a place where they exact their brutal justice and enforce their code of silence.
Every surface, every object in the warehouse speaks of violence and intimidation. It is a place designed to break spirits and shatter wills, where the motorcycle gang asserts its dominance with ruthless efficiency. The very air seems to vibrate with menace, a constant reminder of the dark deeds done within its confines.
“Please don’t kill me,” I whisper, turning to Vapor to plead with him.
“That’s not why you’re here. Don’t worry. If we wanted to hurt you, you’d already be strapped down.”
“If that’s supposed to make me feel better, it doesn’t.” I press my hand against my belly to stop the wild fluttering of nerves.
The man who jumped into my car right before Vapor has a patch on his leather vest that says ‘Ice.’ I know it’s not his real name, because who would name their kid something like that? It’s got to be his club name.
After I met Vapor, I went online to find out about his club. There wasn’t much information available, so I looked up general characteristics of motorcycle clubs. That’s how I know about the patches.
Ice’s piercing blue eyes study me until I shiver and look away. It’s not cold at all in the warehouse. Instead, it’s sweltering. I highly doubt they have air conditioning in it, given its obvious purpose.
The rumble of motorcycles causes the three of us to turn toward the door. Three more men walk in, all wearing their names on their vests.
Fang looked like a computer nerd. It’s the thick, black-rimmed glasses, the male equivalent of the sexy librarian look. He’s hot, but nothing like Vapor. Fang’s wearing a graphic T-shirt that reads ‘If all else fails…’ and then it depicts the Ctrl, Alt, Del keys on a keyboard. It would be kind of cute if I wasn’t afraid that he might be here to help delete me from being alive.
The second guy is Diablo. His ruggedly handsome face, with a prominent jawline and intense brown eyes, would be enough to make any woman swoon. There’s more than a hint of danger smoldering in those eyes. It’s unnerving. His short, tousled black hair falls perfectly over his forehead, adding to his brooding, mysterious vibe.
And the last man to join the group is Tank. He’s built like a linebacker, all solid muscle that strains against the white wife-beater he’s wearing. It’s almost laughable how the fabric struggles to contain his powerful chest.
His face is something else entirely. It’s the kind of face that defies age. He could be anywhere from fifteen to forty. There’s an ageless quality to his features, a blend of youth and experience that makes it hard to pin him down, though I suspect he’s on the younger side based on how smooth his skin is. He’s also hot, but he can’t compare to Vapor.
I turn my attention back to the only man I wanted to see tonight. “I was trying to go to you tonight because I needed to warn you.”
“About what?” Vapor asks.
No one sits. There are a couple of unsoiled folding chairs in the corner, but nobody moves to unfold them. They all stand around with their beefy arms crossed over their chests.
“I overheard my father talking to Broussard tonight.” I swallow the lump forming in my throat.
“And?” Ice prompts.
“They’re furious about what happened with the girls. They were speculating about who might have rescued them. Broussard’s worried that it could be connected to a motorcycle club. Your club, specifically.”
“Damn,” Tank mutters.
“What else?” Diablo asks in a low, gravelly tone.
“My father sent some men to ask the locals if anyone saw anything. Someone saw a bunch of bikers leaving the area.”
“But they don’t know it was us, right?” Fang asks, pushing his glasses further up his nose.
“No. Not yet. But they have their suspicions.” I pause to make sure they’re all listening to what I’m about to tell them. “Broussard told my father that he’s working with Vapor from the Underground Vengeance MC to launder money. He’s going to try to trap Vapor. Broussard wants to know if your club was involved.”
“So, they don’t have anything solid?” Vapor asks.
“No. Just suspicions based on what some locals told them.”
“I can work with that.”
“When’s your next meeting with Broussard?” Ice asks.
“We don’t have one set up yet. I was expecting to hear from him in a few days. We didn’t discuss business at the charity gala.” Vapor stroked his beard, and all I can think about is how scratchy, but in a sexy way, it felt against my chin when we kissed.
“There’s one more thing,” I begin. “While they were in the office, they called another man. He sounded Hispanic. Juan-something. I can’t remember his last name.”
“Vasquez? Juan Vasquez?” Vapor asks, taking a step closer. The dark look in his eyes frightens me enough that I shrink back from him. “Was that the name you heard?”
“I—I think so.” A sharp look passes between the men. Clearly, they know this man. “Who is he? I mean, I know he works with the cartel, but—”
“Los Serpientes de Cristal,” Vapor spits out each word. “We suspected that they were trafficking the girls.”
“Sounds like you were right,” I say softly.
“Anything else?” Fang asks.
“I think I overhead something about the cartel putting a hit out one of the members of your club, but before I could catch the name, I heard one of the servants walking up the stairs. I had to leave before they caught me snooping outside the room.” I hang my head, wishing I had better information for them.
“Hey,” Vapor gently lifts my chin and looks deep into my eyes. “You did a brave thing coming to us with this. We didn’t know the cartel was on to us. As far as we knew, there weren’t any witnesses in the bayou. Apparently, we were wrong.”
“I’m sorry my father’s doing this to you. Broussard, too. They’re equally responsible.”
“Nothing to be sorry about.”
“I need to get home before someone realizes I’m gone. Taking the car was a huge risk, but I had to warn you.”
“You didn’t give her your phone number?” Fang asks, shaking his head. “Luddite.”
“What’s that mean?” Tank asks.
“It’s someone who doesn’t like technology,” I say.
“Impressive. Not everyone knows that.” Fang smiles. “I like her. You should bring her to the clubhouse sometime.”
“Uh…” I slide my gaze to Vapor, who looks uncomfortable.
“We need to get you home,” he says. “I’ll take her. The rest of you should head back to the clubhouse. If the cartel put a hit out on one of us, I want us to stay together as much as possible. We must watch each other’s backs until we’re sure the cartel isn’t suspicious of us anymore.”
“That might never happen,” Diablo says.
“Maybe not. But for now, I don’t want anyone going anywhere alone. Go in groups of at least two.”
“How are you going to get back?” Fang asks.
“I’ll follow her on my bike. I won’t get too close to the house. Don’t want them to know I’ve been in the area, especially tonight.”
“Who’s watching your back?” Ice asks.
“Nobody. I’ll be fine.”
“You’re the most obvious person to be on the cartel’s hit list. Let’s do this instead. You ride with her in the cage, then I’ll ride behind you guys. On the way back you can drive my bike, and I’ll ride bitch.” Ice holds up a hand before Vapor can protest. “Don’t try to talk me out of it.”
“Okay,” he relents. “But stay out of sight.”
“Will do, Pres.”
As we walk toward the door, I take one last look around the club’s chamber of horrors. I hope I never see the inside of this place again.
Once we’re back inside my car, with him in the driver’s seat and me in the passenger seat, I turn to him. “Why did you call my car a cage?”
“That’s what we call anything that’s not a bike. When you’re riding, you’ve got freedom all around you. In a car, there’s nothing. It’s like being trapped in a cage.”
“Makes perfect sense to me,” I say softly.
“I’m going to get you out of there.”
“My sister took me wedding dress shopping earlier today. Well, I guess yesterday now that it’s after midnight.” I’m babbling because being in a confined space with him is doing all kinds of crazy things to my body. My panties are wet, and he hasn’t so much as touched me.
“How’d it go?” he asks, even though I doubt he actually cares.
“Terrible. I wanted a pink one, but my sister forced me to buy a white one instead. Well, I didn’t purchase it. My father did.”
“Why did you go along with her choice instead of picking the one you actually liked?”
“Well…” I wring my hands in my lap. “I don’t actually intend to wear it.”
“Good. You won’t have to.”
“I’d feel a lot better if I knew what you had planned. I don’t understand how you could stop the wedding. And even if you did somehow manage to do it, you’d make two enemies for life.”
“Broussard and your father.”
“Exactly.”
“I’m not letting them push you into a sham marriage. It’s not right.” He glanced at me before returning his gaze to the road.
“It’s been planned for years.”
“That long?” He frowns.
“Since I was much younger.”
“You’re twenty, right?”
“Yes.” I wonder if that’s a problem for him. I’m not sure how old he is, but he’s definitely not in his twenties anymore. My guess would be closer to thirty-five, but I’m too afraid to ask.
“Do you even want to get married? Ever?” he asks.
“One day. If I find the right man.”
“And you’d wear a pink dress?” Even in profile, I can tell his smile lights up his face.
“Is that too weird?”
“No. It’s you.”
“What do you mean?”
“You’re very feminine and beautiful. Pink would suit you.”
“I’m a girly-girl,” I admit, smiling. “If I did get married, I’d wear the pink dress I saw at the boutique.”
“What did it look like?”
“Well, it’s embroidered lace with an organza overlay. It’s long with a bustier top.”
“I’m trying to picture it.”
His simple statement, the fact that he cares makes my heart melt. I struggle to find a way of describing it to someone who might not know all the fashion lingo.
“The top is heart shaped. Strapless.”
“Easier to take off.” He flashes me a wicked smile.
“I guess so.” I chuckle.
“How about the rest of it?”
“It’s got a tight waist to show off my figure without being obscene.”
“I’ve never understood why a woman would want to look like a skank in her wedding dress.” He shakes his head. “It’s weird.”
“I’m not sure either. But to each their own.”
“Yeah, I’m not judging. I’m just confused by it. That’s all.”
“It is sexy, though. But in a subtle way.”
“Tell me more.”
“It’s got a slit up the side to show off my leg when I walk.”
“See, that’s what I’m talkin’ about. Less is more. You know who the hottest chicks in a strip club are?”
“I wouldn’t know. I’ve never been inside one.” I press my lips together, hating the thought that he might frequent that kind of establishment.
“The waitresses,” he says. “Because they’re not naked like the dancers. They wear skimpy outfits, but there’s enough covered up that it makes you imagine what they might look like without clothes on.”
“I never would have guessed,” I say dryly.
“Sorry. I shouldn’t have gone there.”
“No. It’s fine.”
“Did it have a veil?” he asks, thankfully changing the subject.
“It had a matching cathedral veil with lace accents, just like the dress. They were made to go together.” I can’t keep the wistful tone out of my voice.
“One day you’ll find the right man and you’ll walk down the aisle in that dress.”
“You sound so sure of it.”
“I am. A woman like you won’t stay single long.”
He pulls over to the side of the road. The single headlight that has been following us stops a few yards behind my car.
“What are you doing?” I ask.
“This is as far as I can go. I can’t be in your car. Someone could be waiting for you. Do you know what you’re going to say if anyone realizes you were gone?” He rests his arm over the back of my seat and looks at me.
“I’ll tell them I needed feminine products.”
“Smart. No one will question that.”
“Exactly.”
His gaze drops to my lips. I lean toward him, wanting to feel his mouth against mine. When our lips meet, molten heat fills my entire body. I part my lips, luxuriating in the way his tongue tangles with mine.
Moaning, I reach for him, pulling him closer. I’ve never wanted to be this close to anyone before. If Ice wasn’t waiting for him, I might even be bolder. But we’re not really alone, so that’s my excuse for not crossing the line with Vapor.
When he finally breaks the kiss, I sigh. “When will I see you again?”
“Give me your phone.” I do, and he punches his number in then sends a text to his phone. “Now you can call me day or night. It’s always on.”
“I want to see you again.” I gaze up at him with longing.
“You will. We’re not done. Not at all.” He cups my cheek before brushing another soft kiss over my lips. “When you get safely inside, text me. We’re not leaving until I know you’re safe.”
“Thank you.”
“Be careful. Your father and Broussard will stop at nothing to protect their empires.”
“I know, which is why I wanted to warn you.”
“Night, Blue.”
“Night, Vapor.”
I get out and go around to the driver’s side. Vapor holds the door open. Before I get in, I hug him, pressing my face into his chest.
“Text me,” he murmurs before releasing me.
“I will.”
Driving up the road to the garage, I scan the darkness. I turned the headlights off when I got close enough, but there’s still a chance someone heard the motor.
I park the car in the spot I took it from, then head into the house. Standing at the bottom of the stairs, I listen. Nothing stirs.
Carefully picking my way up the stairs, I avoid the spots that I know creak. I’m halfway down the hall when the door to my father’s bedroom opens. Pauline, our housekeeper, steps out of the room, completely oblivious to me.
After softly closing his door, she starts to tiptoe away. Then her head raises, and she spots me. She freezes. I quickly put my finger to my lips. Her eyes widen, but she nods in unspoken agreement. I won’t say anything if she doesn’t.
I’m not a fool. Any time my mother goes out of town on one of her month-long trips, I know she’s cheating. My father’s just as bad, banging anything that moves the minute she’s gone. I don’t understand their marriage, but I know I don’t want mine to be anything like it. I crave loyalty and fidelity. Someone I can spend the rest of my life loving.
At this point, I doubt my parents even like each other, let alone love one another. It’s sad, but they seem to have mutually agreed on the arrangement. However, I don’t want to embarrass Pauline. It’s not her fault that my father’s a womanizing jerk. I’m confident she’ll keep my secret because I’m going to keep hers.
When I’m safely inside my bedroom, I lock the door and pull my phone out. I shoot a quick text to Vapor to let him know I made it home. Then I pad over to the window and glance at the road in the distance. I spot a single headlight making a U-turn before disappearing into the darkness.