Page 83 of Vapor

Vapor’s smile dies on his lips. He goes still, his gaze locked on me.“Have you changed your mind about staying with me?”

“No.” My voice is firm, unwavering.“But I’m worried, Vapor. I don’t think I’ll ever be free of my father. He has eyes and ears everywhere, and I’m scared of what he might do when Lacy tells him I’m staying with you.”

His face softens, and he reaches out to cup my cheek, his thumb brushing away the tears that have welled up in my eyes.“I’ll protect you. Eventually, your father will have to let you go.”

“What do you mean by that?” I ask cautiously.

“It’s simple,” he replies, his eyes darkening.“If he does anything to harm a single hair on your head, I won’t hesitate to get rid of him for good.”

My breath catches in my throat. I never thought Vapor would consider killing my father. Do I want my father dead? Could I be with a man who murdered my father? The thought sends an uncomfortable shiver down my spine. As I grapple with the implications of Vapor’s words, another idea comes to mind.

“Maybe I’m not worth it. Maybe I should ask you to put me into the underground railroad system so I can disappear.” But even as I say it, I know it’s a terrible choice I’m not ready to make.

“That’s not happening. You’re worth more than anything in the world to me. I’m not letting you go. Ever.” Vapor’s voice is low and intense.“I don’t trust your sister to keep our secret. As soon as your father finds out we’re together, he’ll try to break us apart. We need to be ready for whatever he decides to do.”

“How will we do that?” I ask.

“I’ll alert all the club members and we’ll be extra cautious when we’re out together.” His jaw clenches.“No one is going to take you from me. Not unless you want to leave. Do you?”

“No,” I murmur.

“Get on. We’re going home.”

My heart clenches, torn between fear and the fierce love that binds me to this man who has shown me what it means to truly live. Can we survive the storm on the horizon? Or will my father’s grip prove too strong for even Vapor to break?

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.

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