Chapter 22 Vapor
I lean against the railing of the back porch of the clubhouse, trying to figure out my next move. It’s been over a week since we ran into Lacy at the bakery. So far, nothing has happened. I don’t like it. Her father isn’t the type of man to give up easily. Blue told me that Lacy would rat us out, and I believe her. Why hasn’t he tried to contact her?
“You look like you’ve got a lot on your mind,” Ice says, joining me outside.
We’re alone because everyone else is either at work or somewhere inside. Solitude is hard to come by around here, but I’m glad Ice is around. He’s a good sounding board when I’m trying to figure shit out. Usually, I know exactly what to do, but Blue means so much to me that I don’t want to do anything that will fuck shit up. I’ve never felt like this before, and I don’t know how to deal with it.
“I can’t shake this feeling that something’s about to go down with Blue’s father,” I tell him. “The wedding is supposed to take place tomorrow and he still hasn’t contacted her. The social media frenzy is getting out of control. She hasn’t been seen in public in weeks, so people are trying to find out where she’s been. They’re demanding answers and her father doesn’t seem to be responding. None of this is like him.”
Ice nods, understanding my concerns. “How’s Blue holding up?”
“Feels like she’s pulling away from me,” I admit, frustration seeping into my voice. “She’s getting quieter. She’s afraid to leave the clubhouse. We haven’t been out in days. She won’t even go to the market with Babet.”
“Maybe you should take her out of the clubhouse for a while, help her relax a bit,” Ice suggests. “After tomorrow, the wedding bullshit will be over. You’ll both be able to move on. Tonight, take her somewhere to get her mind off everything. Somewhere fun.”
“Fun, huh?” I frown because I should have thought of that myself. “What do you have in mind?”
“You’ve got so many options. Has she ever been to the Audubon Zoo?”
“Not sure if she’d be into that.”
“Ask her. And if she doesn’t want to do that, then what about going on a ghost tour of the French Quarter? You could visit the Garden District or take her on the steamboat Natchez Dinner Cruise.”
“Hmm,” I muse, considering the options. Each one has its merits, but I’m drawn to the last one. “I think Blue would love the steamboat Natchez Dinner Cruise. Good food, music, and the city lights might help her unwind a bit.”
“Sounds perfect,” Ice agrees.
“Thanks, brother,” I say, clapping him on the shoulder before heading inside.
As I walk through the clubhouse, I can’t help but think of Blue and the growing distance between us. I’m determined to close that gap, to remind her that we’re in this together and that our love can survive anything. But first, I need to make sure she has a night to remember on that steamboat cruise.
I find Blue sitting in my bedroom, her coppery red hair cascading over her shoulders as she stares at the floor. Her emerald-green eyes are filled with a sadness that weighs heavily on my heart.
“Hey, you doing okay?” I ask softly, sitting down beside her.
She looks up at me, worry etched across her face. “I’ve been thinking… maybe I should go to my father’s house and try to talk to him.”
“Do you think he would actually listen? Would he ever let you be with a biker?” I question, trying to gauge how deep her father’s hatred goes.
“No,” she admits softly. “That’s why I’m so worried. I don’t want you to get hurt because of me.”
“Babe, don’t worry about me,” I reassure her, placing a hand on her shoulder. “I can take care of myself, and I’m going to protect you too. I’ll make sure nothing happens. Okay?”
She hesitates for a moment before nodding slowly. I can tell she’s still not entirely convinced, but I’m determined to prove it to her.
“Listen, we need to get out of this clubhouse for a while,” I say, standing up and offering her my hand. “We’ve been cooped up here for too many days. You need some fresh air.”
“I’m sure my father has men watching the clubhouse. The wedding’s tomorrow.” The fear in her tone makes me want to throttle her father.
“We’ve got prospects stationed around the neighborhood,” I assure her. “So far, they haven’t seen anything suspicious. After tomorrow, none of this will matter. We just need to get through the next twenty-four hours, and this will all be over.”
“Will it?”
“It has to be. Your father’s obsession will have to end. I’m sure there will be blowback because you didn’t show up to the wedding, but he’ll finally realize you’re serious about not marrying Broussard.”
“I hope so.”
“Besides, I’ve got something special planned for us tonight—the steamboat Natchez Dinner Cruise. There’ll be an amazing dinner, a jazz band, and great views of the city.”
She looks at me hesitantly but finally takes my hand. “Getting out of here might be good.”
“It will be fun, and we need some of that right now.”
“Okay, I’ll go with you.”
“Come here,” I say, pulling her into a gentle embrace. “We’re going to have a great night tonight. You’ll feel better once you’ve had some good food and time to relax.”
“I suppose so.”
We leave a couple of hours later, taking my bike and heading toward the French Quarter. The area comes alive at night. Tourists sit on balconies, holding bright red hurricane drinks and yelling down at passersby. A bachelorette party runs past us. The women giggle and run up to random people, asking them to complete some silly tasks off a list.
As we stroll hand in hand toward Toulouse Street Wharf, the city pulses with a vibrant energy that’s impossible to ignore. The joy and revelry are contagious. I glance over at Blue. A hesitant smile plays across her lips. She’s trying to be present, but the fear in her eyes is like a knife twisting in my gut.
I give her hand a reassuring squeeze. She smiles up at me, but there’s still a shadow lurking beneath the surface. Damn her father for making her live in fear like this. I find myself wondering if I should confront him. If I should put an end to his reign of terror once and for all. Blue shouldn’t have to live like this. She deserves more than a life spent looking over her shoulder.
As we board the steamboat, I resolve to face her father, regardless of the consequences. It’s time for this nightmare to end. One way or another, I’ll make him see that she’s mine now. She’s never going to marry Broussard and she’s never going to leave my side. Not unless she wants to. I hope like hell that never happens.
We find a table next to the window. Glittering city lights paint a dazzling picture against the night sky. Blue can’t seem to tear her gaze away from the view. As the tension leaves her shoulders, I breathe a silent sigh of relief. Ice was right. We needed to get out for a while.
“Are you hungry?” I ask, hoping to coax her into eating something.
“I could eat,” she admits, though her tone suggests her appetite is still lacking. Lately, she hasn’t been eating enough, and that’s not good.
As we make our way to the buffet, the mouth-watering aroma of Louisiana cuisine wafts through the air. Blue surveys the options before her: a tossed salad, chicken and sausage gumbo, top round, Louisiana fried chicken thighs, crawfish étouffée, herb roasted sweet potatoes, corn maque choux, Creole creamed spinach, assorted dinner rolls, and for dessert, New Orleans bread pudding. She hesitates before placing a few items on her plate. I load mine up as much as I can.
“Take some more,” I encourage, concern gnawing at me. She’s been eating so little lately, and it’s clear she’s struggling with everything that’s happened.
“I can always come back for more later,” she says, though I’m not convinced she will.
When we retake our seats, I can’t get rid of a nagging worry that has plagued me the last few days. I’m afraid that Blue is thinking about leaving me. She’s been so silent and contemplative. I don’t know what she’s thinking, but I wouldn’t put it past her to give up her life to try to save mine. It should be the other way around. I’d give anything to protect her. I hope she knows that, but I wonder if she believes it.
The thought of losing her fills my chest like a heavy stone. I swallow hard, vowing to do everything in my power to keep her safe. Our love can withstand anything as long as we stay together.
The jazz band strikes up a lively tune. Blue’s eyes light up, as if the music has awakened something within her. She sways gently to the rhythm, and I can’t help but smile at the sight of her finally enjoying herself. As the song continues, she softly sings under her breath. It’s been so long since I’ve heard that magical voice of hers. Hearing her sing again helps to calm some of my fears.
“Your voice is amazing,” I say, leaning in closer. “You should sing more often.”
She blushes slightly, but her smile grows wider.
“Maybe I will,” she murmurs, still lost in the music.
Several hours later, the steamboat makes its way back to the dock. As far as I can tell, tonight has been a success. Blue is smiling and talking to me again. I shouldn’t have let her hide out in the clubhouse for so many days in a row. Anyone would get depressed if they felt trapped like that. I never want her to feel that way again. She had already endured enough of that feeling living with her father.
Blue turns to me with gratitude in her eyes. “I’m really glad you took me out tonight.”
“Anytime, beautiful.” I brush a soft kiss across her lips. “Babe, we need to talk to each other more. I won’t know how you’re feeling unless you tell me.”
“Okay,” she says, taking a deep breath. “It’s just… I’m worried about my father. What if he tries to come after us?”
“Let me handle your father,” I reassure her, my tone firm. “I promise, I’ll do everything I can to protect you.”
“I know you will.”
We disembark from the boat, making our way to my motorcycle parked near the dock. Just as I’m about to climb on, my phone buzzes with a new text message.
“Wait a sec,” I tell Blue, pulling out my phone.
The message is from her father, and it sends a shiver down my spine.
I know you’re with Blue. Give her back, or I’ll hunt down anyone who survives.
“Survives what?” I mutter, trying to make sense of the ominous warning.
Blue reads the text over my shoulder and pales. “What do you think he means?”
“I don’t know,” I admit. “But it definitely sounds like a threat. We need to get home, make sure everything’s okay.”
I rev the engine of my motorcycle as we pull away from the dock. As we speed through the darkened streets of New Orleans, Blue’s body presses against mine. Her arms wrap tightly around my waist. It’s a comforting sensation, but it also serves as a reminder of what I stand to lose if I can’t protect her.
We’re almost there, just a few more turns until we reach the safety of our home and family. But as we turn onto the final stretch, my instincts scream at me that something is very, very wrong. The street is too empty. Too quiet.
I’m about to park when an explosion shatters the night, sending a deafening boom echoing through the air. The force of the blast flings us into the air. I hit the ground hard, the breath knocked out of me.
“Blue!” I gasp, struggling to regain my bearings.
Through the haze of pain and disorientation, I spot her lying nearby, her body limp and motionless. Panic grips me. I crawl towards her as fast as my battered body will allow, desperate to shield her from whatever danger still lurks in the shadows.
“Don’t move!” I cover her body with mine as flaming pieces of wood rain down around us. Intense heat sears my skin, but I refuse to budge. I’m not moving until I know we’re safe.
As chaos continues to unfold around us, I cling to Blue. I have no doubt that her father’s behind this. He thinks he can tear us apart, but I’ll never let that happen. He may be a powerful, vengeful man hell-bent on destruction, but he’s never met someone like me. Putting his daughter in mortal danger was the final straw. He’s a dead man. He just doesn’t know it yet.