Page 91 of Vapor

Blue pushes the door open to escape the church, and just as I reach her, someone tackles me from behind. We tumble through the doorway and land hard on the concrete sidewalk, the impact jarring every bone in my body. The gun flies out of my hand, landing somewhere in the bushes.

I scramble to my feet, adrenaline surging through me as I face off against LeBlanc. His eyes are filled with unadulterated hatred. He’d love nothing more than to see me dead, and I feel exactly the same way about him.

“Let’s do this,” I snarl, throwing myself at LeBlanc, fists flying.

Our blows connect with flesh and bone, each hit fueled by animosity and our shared resolve to bring the other down. The sound of gunshots echo from within the church, a reminder that my brothers are still fighting the cartel members.

As we trade savage punches, I remember how much pain this man has brought into my life. He’s used his daughter as a pawn, furthering his criminal enterprise with no regard for her happiness or safety. He killed one of the club girls. He blew up my home. My rage intensifies, lending strength to my next blow which connects squarely with LeBlanc’s jaw.

As we struggle, the door to the church bursts open and Broussard storms out, fury etched on his face. He charges at me, but I manage to land a solid punch to Broussard’s gut before LeBlanc takes the opportunity to slam his fist into my face.

Suddenly, Ice appears beside us, launching himself at LeBlanc, tackling him to the ground. While they roll and fight for supremacy, Broussard lunges at me. I sidestep him and use his momentum against him, tripping him and sending him tumbling across the ground. He growls, leaping to his feet and glaring at me.

“We’re not done. I’m coming for you,” Broussard hollers before turning tail and running toward the parking lot.

“Leave him to me,” Ice growls. He’s standing over LeBlanc, who is struggling to get to his feet.

“Kill Broussard,” I order.

“On it.”

As Ice runs after Broussard, my eyes fix on LeBlanc. He’s gasping for breath and holding onto his waist. Finishing him will be easy. I spot my gun underneath a bush and squat to retrieve it. It’s just out of reach, so I lean in, my fingers struggling to find it while I keep my eyes on LeBlanc.

LeBlanc staggers toward me. My fingers graze steel. I grab my gun, and as I rise, LeBlanc rushes me. A glint of sunlight catches my attention. I realize a second too late that he’s holding a knife. He lunges at me, and before I can react, the cold steel plunges into my chest.

Pain explodes through me. I reflexively squeeze the trigger. LeBlanc crumples to the ground. Blood pours out from the hole in his chest. His glassy eyes roll up to the sky, and that’s the last movement he’ll ever make.

Darkness comes for me. Right before I go under, Blue’s gorgeous face hovers over me. Her lips are moving but I can’t hear anything but the sound of my breaking heart. I always knew I’d be willing to die for her. I just never expected it to happen today.

Chapter 25: Blue

Blood seeps between my fingers as I press against Vapor’s wound, but it doesn’t stop. It’s relentless, like the flow of the Mississippi River coursing through New Orleans. If he doesn’t get help immediately, he’s going to die.

“Ice!” I scream, my voice cracking with desperation.“Call 911! He’s bleeding out!”

“Got it,” Ice answers, his usual calm demeanor replaced by urgency. He quickly dials then explains that a man has been stabbed and is losing blood fast. He gives them our location on the sidewalk behind the church.

Bones, Diablo, and Tank appear beside us, their faces etched with concern as the sound of gunshots still rings out from inside the church. The wail of police sirens fills the air, bringing with them the hope of help or maybe just more chaos.

“Vapor, don’t you dare die on me,” I plead, tears streaming down my face.“I love you, and I want to be with you for the rest of my life. My father’s dead… We’re free now.” I can’t believe that the words have left my lips, but they feel right.“You have to hang on until the paramedics get here.”

The distant sound of an ambulance siren grows louder. Relief washes over me as it comes into view. Ice waves frantically until they see us. The paramedics jump out, barking orders at one another as they take over. They work furiously to control the bleeding, loading Vapor onto a stretcher and then into the ambulance.

“Let her in,” Ice orders, and without waiting for permission, I clamber into the ambulance. I’m ready to fight if they try to kick me out, but thankfully, they’re too focused on Vapor to worry about me.

As the ambulance doors close, I catch a glimpse of a police officer checking my father’s pulse. He shakes his head, and I realize that my father is truly dead. But instead of feeling grief, all I feel is pity. His obsession with power cost him his life.

“Please hold on, Vapor,” I whisper, reaching out to touch his hand as the ambulance speeds toward the hospital.“We have so much left to do together. An entire lifetime to live. Please don’t leave me now. Not after everything we’ve been through.”

The hospital looms before us like an ominous fortress, its cold exterior sending shivers down my spine. Nothing good ever happens here. I just hope they can save him, because if he dies, my heart will die with him.

As the ambulance screeches to a halt, a couple of male nurses rush out with urgency in their eyes. They work seamlessly with the paramedics, transferring Vapor’s limp form onto a gurney and pushing him through the sterile halls. A set of double doors marked“No Admittance” slams shut behind them, leaving me standing there, heart pounding in my chest.

“Ma’am, you’ll need to wait in the waiting room,” a nurse instructs me, her voice gentle but firm.“We’ll have someone come out and update you as soon as we know more.”

My legs feel like they’re made of lead as I make my way to the waiting room. The walls seem to close in on me, making it hard to breathe. I can’t bear the thought of sitting down, not when Vapor’s life hangs by a thread. Everyone around me looks somber and distraught, a reflection of my own turmoil.

Just as I’m about to crumble under the weight of my despair, Ice bursts into the waiting room. Bones, Fang, Diablo, and Tank follow closely behind, along with a dozen other men sporting Underground Vengeance MC cuts. I recognize many of them from inside the church. Their faces are etched with concern, mirroring my own.

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