Page 79 of Vapor

After paying for admission and changing into our bathing suits, we head into the water park. Vapor scans the throng of people, looking for his friends from the Montana club.

“Oh, Reaper’s here too,” Vapor says, waving at a man across the pool.

“Who’s Reaper?” I ask.

“The Enforcer of the Montana club. Scary dude, but good at what he does.”

“And what’s that?”

“Uh… club business.”

“Welcome to the splash zone!” Reaper shouts, grinning as we step onto the sun-warmed concrete surrounding a child-friendly pool.

I squint against the bright Louisiana sun as three more people join us. Vapor introduces Scar, the president of the Montana chapter. Julia, his wife. And then Reaper’s wife, Lexi. They all seem very nice and friendly, which immediately puts me at ease.

Everyone is dressed casually in bathing suits, clearly ready to enjoy a few hours of fun before getting back to the serious business at hand. Even Reaper, who is kinda scary, looks more approachable in his swim trunks and dark sunglasses.

“Hey, Blue,” Julia calls warmly, waving me over.“Come meet Eli and Ricky. Eli’s Scar’s and my son. And Ricky is the boy we’re helping.”

Her smile is infectious. I can’t help but grin back as we all settle into lounge chairs near the edge of the pool. Eli and Ricky are splashing around together in the shallow water, their laughter mixing with the sound of cascading fountains and excited squeals from other children.

“How are things going since Blackstone’s death?” Vapor asks Scar and Reaper, his voice low and serious despite the lighthearted atmosphere.

“Everyone’s been sleeping a lot better, that’s for sure,” Scar replies, watching his son play with a mixture of pride and protectiveness.“The bastard got what he deserved.”

“Damn right,” Reaper chimes in.“The FBI officially closed Blackstone’s case, but they’re still looking into his associates. They’re trying to connect them to other child trafficking rings.”

“Matrix and Daisy are working with the FBI unofficially to try to help track down all of Blackstone’s associates,” he adds, nodding towards Vapor.“We’ll get’em all eventually.”

“Good,” Vapor says, clenching his jaw.“They deserve nothing less.”

I make a mental note to ask Vapor to tell me more about what happened with Blackstone. I’d heard he was a presidential candidate, but I hate politics, so I didn’t even realize he’d died. It sounds like everyone’s happy about it, which is interesting.

The guys go on to talk about the circumstances around Ricky’s case. His father sounds like a monster. I’m glad they’re helping him escape his situation. As I watch the kids play, my heart swells with empathy for Ricky. This day of fun feels like a small victory amidst the darkness.

“Hey, Lexi,” Vapor asks, turning his attention to her.“How are Nitro and Holly doing?”

“Busy, of course,” Lexi chuckles, brushing a strand of hair from her face.“They’ve got their hands full with Trent and Robert, but they’re happy.”

Julia chimes in, smiling as she watches Eli and Ricky splash each other.“And Talon and Jessica are more in love than ever. You should see them. It’s like they’re still in the honeymoon phase. Oh, and Loki, their miniature schnauzer? Still as crazy as ever.”

“Sounds like things are going well for everyone back home,” Vapor muses.

“Let’s hope it stays that way,” Scar says, his tone sobering. We all share a knowing glance, understanding the fragile nature of peace in our world.

“All right, everyone!” Reaper exclaims, breaking the momentary tension.“Who’s up for some pool games?” He produces a blow-up plastic ball from his bag. After filling it with air, he tosses it into the water.

“Count me in!” I say eagerly, getting to my feet.

The others follow suit, and soon we’re all splashing around in the pool, laughter filling the air as we play together. I watch Vapor interact with the kids, tossing them the ball and encouraging them to try new swimming techniques. His eyes sparkle with genuine joy as he helps them, and I’m amazed at how good he is with children.

As the laughter and splashing continues around me, I can’t help but steal glances at Vapor interacting with the kids. He seems so natural, so comfortable in this role, that it’s hard to reconcile this version of him with the dangerous outlaw I know him to be. The incongruity of it all tugs at my heart, and a question forms in my mind. It’s one I can’t resist asking.

“Hey,” I call out, pulling Vapor aside as the others continue their poolside games.“Can we talk for a second?”

“Want to sneak off and find a place where we can be alone?” he asks with a lascivious look in his eye.

“No, silly.” I take a deep breath, suddenly feeling vulnerable. I try to sound casual as I ask,“Have you ever thought about having kids?”

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