Where There's Smoke Read Online Free Page A

earlier message. If his boy didn’t call him back this time, he knew there was a problem. No sex was strong enough to stop Smoke from sending a text to ease his mind. Until he heard from his boy, he wouldn’t be able to sleep. Heading downstairs to his office, he hoped he was overreacting because of the recent upheaval, but he couldn't help it. A glance at the clock, two-thirty-two am. He booted up his computer and search for Julio’s number. When that call went to voice mail, Ross leaned back in his chair, staring at the ceiling. One question reverberated through his mind.
    Where the hell was Smoke?
    An hour later, Cherise walked into his study. Her purple boy shorts and matching tee did little to pull him out of his dark mood. Her hand trailed along his chest, settling on his nipple.
    Catching her hand before she went further, he placed a kiss on her palm. “Not now, baby, I’ve got some things on my mind.
    “What’s wrong?” She yawned and sat on his lap, placing her head on his shoulder. He inhaled the lavender scent of her lotion and closed his eyes. The fragrance soothed rough spots within him he’d been unaware he had until she’d come into his life.
    “Smoke,” he growled, pissed and scared, an unacceptable combination for him. “He hasn’t returned my calls.” She leaned forward and stared at him, searching.
    “You think something’s wrong, don’t you?” Her fingertip traced the furrows in his forehead, smoothing the lines before dropping a kiss on his lips.
    “Yeah, I do.” He watched her expression to gauge her agreement. Women in general were intuitive and Cherise had it in spades. “It’s not like him to ignore the calls or texts I send.” She frowned.
    “When was the last time you talked to him?” Their eyes met. He sensed she understood his urgency.
    “When I left for class Saturday morning. The instructor—” He snapped his fingers before exhaling. “I can’t remember his name. Anyway, he said he’d give Smoke our papers and allow him to take notes so we could make the wedding. The last thing Smoke said to Red was to do it right this time. I assumed he was talking about the proposal Red was going to spring on Denise after the wedding.”
    Cherise nodded. Her eyes troubled. “I haven’t known him as long as everyone else, but one thing I know, he would’ve called if he could’ve.” She rubbed his face and kissed him gently, before enfolding him in her arms.
    Lord knows he needed her right now to tell him everything would be okay. That Smoke was on a hot date and didn’t check his cell. Anything but the alternative, that someone had snatched his best friend or he was lying hurt somewhere. She didn’t lie to him and he loved her even more for it.
    “I love you, babe. Never doubt that.” He squeezed her waist before dropping a kiss on her shoulder.
    “Okay, if you’re about to tell me you’re going to do something I’m not going to like, save it.” She leaned back and stared at him. “I didn’t fall in love with a perfect man. You have a code I’m not familiar with. I get that. I’ll never be down with you hurting or killing people, you need to know that and weigh it. Some things you’ll need to keep to yourself if we’re going to make it. No blow by blows, no asking me if I have a problem with things that cross legal lines. In all probability I will.”
    “But—“
    She shushed him. “I love you, warts and all. I’ll hang as long as I can. If things get too hot, then to save my sanity, I’ll step. I know to you and your boys murder and killing are different. I’m not there yet.” She shook her head, eyes watering as she pushed against the wall of his chest and stood.
    “Although, if they hurt you or Smoke, or Red, or Denise, or the girls.” Her face tightened. “I’d probably see the difference real damn quick. See, that’s what I’m trying to explain. I have mixed feelings on the lines of right and wrong in this situation. It’s so personal, these