Page 39 of Vapor

“How do you know?”

“I saw her through that window up there.”

My gaze darts from the window to the front door. A second later, it cracks open, and she slips out. She runs around the side of the house.

“Go around back. Don’t lose her,” I tell him.

Jogging toward the house, I keep my head on a swivel. Instead of going up the steps, I circle around the side of the house where she disappeared. Up ahead there’s a detached garage with several cars inside.

Out of the corner of my eye, I spot Ice running toward the garage. He vanishes into the dark interior. I’m a few steps behind him when red brake lights flare to life.

Without hesitation, Ice yanks open the passenger side door of the sedan. He points his gun at the driver. It’s Blue.

“Get in,” Ice yells at me as he slides in beside Blue.

“Put the gun down,” I tell him, pulling the back door closed as quietly as possible.“Start driving, Blue.”

“I—I was going to see you,” she stammers.“I have to tell you something about my father and Broussard.”

“Tell me later. Right now, I need you to get us out of here before someone inside the house comes out to investigate.”

“Okay.” She pulls the car out and drives without her headlights on.“Where should we go?”

“NOLA.”

Her terrified eyes meet mine in the rearview mirror. I try to give her a reassuring smile, but it comes out a grimace. This isn’t how I expected tonight to go at all.

“What about our bikes?” Ice asks.

“Fuck! Call Bones and get him to go with a couple of prospects to get our rides.”

“Prospects?” Ice makes a face.

“I want the others at the warehouse when we get there.”

“Not the clubhouse?”

“The warehouse. Text Bones about the bikes. Then text Diablo. Tell him to grab Fang and Tank. They can meet us there.”

“On it, Pres.”

While Ice taps away at his phone, I watch to make sure she’s getting on Interstate 10 toward NOLA and not Baton Rouge.

“Why were you coming to see me?” I ask.“Do you even know where I live?”

“I searched online before I left.”

“We’re not exactly listed on any online map,” I say.

“No, but there was an article about the bust at Lulu’s and it had a photo of the outside of your house. I recognized the area from Katrina. The 9thWard.”

“Smart girl,” Ice says, still with his head down staring at his phone.“Bones is on his way with a couple of guys. The others left for the warehouse.”

“Good.”

“Why aren’t we going to your house?” Blue asks in a timid voice.

I don’t want to tell her the truth because it’s embarrassing. With all the club sluts half-naked and guys with their dicks still out, our place resembles a whorehouse. It’s not something I want her to see. She’s too good to be subjected to our trashy lifestyle. It never bothered me before, but Blue’s unlike any woman I’ve ever met, so things are different with her.