Page 48 of Vapor

“You’re a smart man with your own resources. I thought maybe you’d heard something on the street.”

“Nothing about some missing women.”

“Have you ever been to Black Snake Bayou?” he asks casually.

“Can’t say that I have.” I scratch my beard.“Why?”

“Someone ambushed a bunch of the cartel’s men. Killed every one of them. Double tapped, in some cases.”

“That sucks.”

“Hmm.”

“If I hear anything, I’ll let you know.”

“Please do.”

“Have you considered the mob?” I ask casually.

“Why would you say that?”

“Officially, they don’t exist in NOLA anymore, but we both know they’re still here. If I’m not mistaken, they’re also one of your clients.”

“I never discuss my business associations.” Broussard’s smile seems even more sinister as shadows play across his face.“But I doubt they were involved.”

“Why?” I might be pushing my luck, but I want to target them to take the attention off us.

“Trust me.”

“Well, if you find out who did it, let me know. Now that we’re associates, we should share relevant information. If someone’s stealing another organization’s inventory, I want to know about it.”

“Of course.” He eyes me for several seconds before seeming to accept my ignorance.“I’ll be in touch once I funnel the cash into your accounts.”

“How long will it take?” I ask, because it’s an obvious question. Truthfully, I don’t care what he does with the cash. Most of it wasn’t ours to begin with. Still, I want him to keep up his end of this because it could get us closer to finding a way to eliminate the cartel forever.

“A few days.”

“Good.”

Broussard turns to leave but instead of walking away, he stops and glances back at me.“Tell Tank and Bones that they really should be more careful about revealing their stakeout locations. I’ll let it slide this time, but don’t fuck around in the future. You have no reason to suspect I’m anything other than a businessman. I’m giving you the same courtesy.”

My gaze darts around, but I don’t see my guys. They’d better still be alive.

When I look back at where Broussard and his associate were standing, they’ve disappeared into the darkness. I quickly pull my phone out of my cut.

Bones already sent a text.Fuck that guy. He has men hiding all over the cemetery too.

Meet me back at the clubhouse, I reply.

Got it.

I don’t blame Bones and Tank for being caught. Broussard’s been in business long enough to have developed a deep sense of paranoia. Hopefully I was able to get the spotlight off the club and onto the mob. The cartel has many enemies. We’re just one possibility. The mob’s another. But there are more.

Any one of them could have stolen those girls and taken the money. Broussard’s just grasping at straws. Fishing. He didn’t catch shit tonight, but he’s not an idiot. I’ve got to be careful about what I say to him. One slip up and I’m dead. And now that I’ve found Blue, death is the last thing I want coming for me.

Chapter 12: Blue

A knock sounds on my bedroom door a second before Pauline pushes it open. Startled, I press my palm into my chest. Fortunately, I’m partially dressed in a pink silk robe. I’m in the middle of applying my makeup for tonight’s performance at Broussard’s club, and I don’t have much time to spare.