Page 78 of Vapor

As we approach a water park just outside of Baton Rouge, I can’t help but be surprised. This doesn’t seem like the kind of place where we’d be making such an important pickup. I expected something more… covert.

“Vapor,” I say, raising my voice to be heard over the roar of the engine,“I thought we were picking up the kid and leaving. What’s with the water park?”

He grins, his piercing blue eyes dancing with mischief.“We wanted the kid to have a fun day at the park before we send him off to his new home.”

“Isn’t it dangerous for him to be seen in public?” I ask, my concern growing.

“No,” Vapor reassures me.“No one would think to look for him in Louisiana since he came from another motorcycle club chapter. He’s not from the Montana chapter either. He’s from another one, but I’ll never know which chapter because that’s kept secret. That way nobody will be able to track down the kid. That’s the beauty of our system. No one knows where the kid ended up.”

“Couldn’t someone work backward from chapter to chapter until they found the kid’s original family?” I press, my mind racing with potential issues.

“It’s highly unlikely. If that ever happens, then the club members lie and say they don’t know anything about the kid. The trail is impossible to follow because we never keep a kid in the same area. Once we decide to put them in our network, there are at least a couple of degrees of separation between the club that rescued the kid and the one that finds them a new home.”

“That’s good,” I say, breathing a sigh of relief.

“It’s what we do, babe. Help those who can’t help themselves, especially the ones the cops either can’t or won’t help.”

“You’re doing a good thing.” I hug him tightly.

Before we enter the water park, we meet up with Diablo. His gruff voice is clipped as he tells Vapor his plan.“I’m going to look around and make sure everything’s safe. Text me when you’re ready for me to take Ricky to his new home.”

“Sounds good,” Vapor nods.“We’re planning on letting the kids play for a few hours before we take him.”

“No problem. I’ll keep an eye on things from afar to make sure we’re all safe.” Diablo wanders off, leaving us behind.

“I brought your bikini,” Vapor says, grinning at me.

“Is that even allowed in a water park?” I ask, grabbing the scandalous slip of fabric from him. Wearing it on the island was one thing. Wearing it in public around other people is another.

“Yep. As long as it’s not a G-string or thong, it’s all good.”

“Oh, my God.” I glance down at the tiny thing.

“You’ve got a beautiful body, babe. Own it.”

“What are you wearing?”

“Board shorts.”

“Ugh!”

“What’s wrong with board shorts?” he asks.

“Nothing. I just didn’t realize we’d be going to a water park. Did you bring sunscreen?”

“Of course, and I fully intent on rubbing it all over your hot little body.”

While I appreciate the way he referred to me as‘little,’I’m not entirely thrilled to be in a bikini in public. Modesty was always drilled into me as a teenager and as a young lady. My father would freak out if he saw me wearing something like this.

“Hmm, on second thought, I’m glad you packed it,” I tell Vapor.

“Oh, yeah?”

“My father would have a fit if he saw me in this. He only ever let me and my sister wear one pieces.”

“Prude.”

“Totally.”

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