Page 23 of Vapor

“If I don’t, he’ll throw me out and disown me. Or worse.”

“He’d actually hurt you?” I furrow my brows.

“Honestly? I don’t know. I’m not sure what he’s capable of. Last month, if you’d told me he’d be involved in human trafficking, I would have thought you were joking. But I’ve heard too much. Now I know the truth.”

“How is he involved?”

“He and Broussard launder the money they make when they sell girls they brought in from Mexico. Did you get the money too?” She cocks her head and flashes her glittering green eyes at me.

“What money?”

“Well, they were trading the girls for something. Either money or drugs.”

“Fuck.” I stand and pace back and forth across the concrete floor.“We didn’t check the fucking boats. It didn’t even occur to me to check. The crash happened and then—”

“Crash?”

“One of the cartel men shot out a tire on the van we were using to get the girls out of there. It was their ride, but we stole it.” I pull my phone out of my pant’s pocket.“Hang on a second.”

“I’m not going anywhere,” she says softly, making me even harder.

Focus!

“Ice,” I say as soon as he answers.“I need you and the others to go back to the shack. There’s either cash or drugs in one of the boats. Probably the smaller one since they were there to get the girls.”

“Seriously?” Ice asks.“Another round of swamp ass?”

“If that’s what it takes. Get the cash or drugs and get out of there. Bring Bones and Tank with you. It’s probably gone by now.”

“How the hell did we miss this?”

“We were focused on getting the girls to safety. I didn’t even think about what else they could be hiding in those boats. It’s remote enough that we might get lucky, and no one’s found them yet.”

“On it. I’ll let you know what we find.”

“Text me. I’m still at Broussard’s party.”

“Did you get a chance to look around his office yet?”

“Working on that.” I slide my gaze to Blue, who’s watching me intently.

After I end the call, I return to my seat beside her. This time I’m sitting close enough that I can feel her warmth.

“We thought you set us up,” I say, gauging her reaction.

“No. Never. Why would I do that?” She looks hurt.

“I don’t know anything about you. Didn’t even know the engagement wasn’t your idea.”

“There’s no way I’m marrying him, but I don’t know how I’ll get out of it either.” She shakes her head while dropping her chin toward her chest.

“We’ll figure something out.”

“We?” She raises her head. When her eyes meet mine, I feel like I’ve been gut-punched.“You’ll help me escape?”

“Are you being held prisoner?” I ball my fists at the thought. I already want to pummel Broussard for being involved in trafficking, but now I want to kill him. What kind of man does that to a woman?

“Not exactly. I can come and go. It’s not like my father keeps me locked up in a tower or anything. But his guards are always watching me. Whenever I leave the house, they follow me. He tells me it’s for my own protection. He’s been paranoid about kidnapping ever since someone tried to take me and my sister when we were kids.”

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