Page 34 of Vapor's Blaze

He opens his mouth to say something, but I cut him off. “If the Hounds are attacking the Legion’s clubhouse tonight, why aren’t you there?”

“We heard King planning it and called in a couple of allied clubs for a clandestine meet up. My club brothers had it all in hand, I was listening over my earpiece when you suddenly appeared on the road. Let’s just say it didn’t go the way they planned and leave it at that.”

“Did any of my family get hurt?”

He snorts a laugh. “Of course not. They never get close enough to the battle to risk their own neck. They watch from high ground and give directions.”

“I never would have suspected that,” I say.

“I guess since you’re never going back, there’s no harm in telling you that one Hound was shot in the head and five were taken hostage.”

Any idea who’s died?” I ask, suddenly worried that Jamus might have gotten shot.

“Does it matter?” He asks gruffly.

“Yeah, it most certainly does. I hate most of the Hounds but there a few I love like family.”

“The one who died, was called Mal according to the patch on his cut.”

“He was an asshole. Still, he didn’t deserve to die.”

“Then he shouldn’t have come to the Savage Legion clubhouse looking to spill blood.”

I sense real anger behind Vapor’s words. “I agree with you on that point. What about the others?”

“My club brothers rounded up five Hounds—Bandit, Cyclone, Skid, Blade and an older brother by the name of Jamus.”

My relief was short lived. “The last one is my friend. He’s like family and pretty harmless.”

“You like him a lot, don’t you?”

“Yeah, he’s a bad shot but can talk your ear off if you’re not careful. Is there anything I can trade to get him released.”

“I don’t think that’s a very good idea right now. If he gets released but the others don’t it’s going to look like he turned spy for us.”

That made me tear up. Before I could plead my case further, Vapor came to sit beside me.

“Look, I know this whole situation must be really traumatizing for you, but I want you to know that our club officers are working on a solution that might secure your freedom and get those Hounds released together. It all depends on how reasonable King is willing to be.”

“What kind of deal?” I ask. I can’t imagine my grandfather accepting any kind of trade with the Savage Legion. He hates the Legion with a burning passion.

“I’m not sure. Our club officers are playing this one close to the vest. We’re supposed to show up there tomorrow and talk to them. That is unless you want to skip town. I’m willing to take you any place you want to go.”

“That’s a nice offer,” I say as I think it over. I could leave right this minute and forget about the lot of them. But Jamus’ smiling face rises in my mind, and I just can’t run out on him. If he lost his life because I chose to put myself first, I’d never be able to live with myself. “I guess, I’ll stay and try to help him if I can.”

“You look exhausted,” he says as he looks me over.

“I’ve been locked in a cell for five days. It was cold, uncomfortable, and Jamus was my only company, so we chatted.”

“He didn’t try and spring you free?”

I glare at him, for a member of a motorcycle club he seems pretty damn naïve, though I guess the Savage Legion really are different to outlaw clubs. I spell it out for him, “If he cut me loose, we’d both have targets on our backs.”

“What did you talk about,” Vapor asks curiously.

“Old times. I caught him looking at an old photograph album, he had some pictures of my mom.” I pause, remembering those faded old photos, my mom smiling and happy, she was with my dad in some of them, but in one she was with Jamus and she looked so carefree. Jamus was a good man, looking out for his best friend’s wife. Sometimes, I wondered why he had never gotten married, he was different in many ways from the other Hounds. I continue, “He was mainly trying to get me to straighten up, fly right and accept one of the men my grandfather has lined up for me. Saying that you had to make the best of what life throws at you.”

Vapor gave me a small smile. “He’s a loyal brother. Can’t blame him for that.”

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