Where There's Smoke (7 page)

“You don’t like white people?”

“No, don’t trust’em.” Her response fast, adamant.

“You know there’s a word for that.” Laughter underlay his words.

She dismissed his amusement and lapsed into silence.

“What happened?” He prodded.

“What?”

“What happened to make a nice white girl like you dislike white folks?” He’d turned sideways while waiting for an answer. Her jaw clenched.

“I'm no gringa,” she snapped.

“No? What are you then?” She heard the smirk in his voice.

“I'm Mexicana-Americana.” She was proud of the lilt in her voice.

“Yeah.” He smiled. “I believe the census would say Caucasian with Latin or Hispanic flavor.”

“Whatever.” She rolled her eyes, knowing he wouldn't understand.

“Seriously, what happened?” He was persistent, she wasn't sure how she felt about that. The root of her dislike for white people went deep. From the time she was a small child, she’d been taught not to trust them. So of course, she went about making best friends with all the white kids at school. Until she got burned. She debated how much to tell him. Her experience was personal and not funny in the least. She decided to tell him about one hard lesson.

“In college I had a friend from high school; at least I thought we were friends until I overheard her talking about me to someone in a Sorority she wanted to pledge. They had problems with the big Latin girl and she all but told them I was her servant,” she spat the mocking words from her lips. The pain of Anna’s duplicity dissipated over time, but it had been the last straw. She’d walked over to Anna and the other woman and sneered at them. Anna’s red face and look of shame was the only thing that saved her from an ass-whupping that day.

He whistled. “Did y’all talk about it?” She rolled her eyes at the preposterous question.

“Hell no,” she snapped. “By the time she returned to the dorm, all her shit was in the hall. I don’t know where she went, how she got there or what the fuck she’s doing now. I do know she didn’t pledge that sorority. She sent me an email apologizing and left that nugget of info.”

“So because of one fucked up incident, you don’t like a whole race?”

“That wasn’t the first, it was the last. My family was hit, I had bad personal experiences. Dealing with them left a bad taste in my mouth.” Smoke nodded, but the shit-happens look on his face, egged her on.

“I dated white guys in high school until I found out I was a trophy thing for them. ‘Look I got a Hispanic girl’ that type thing. Shallow, egotistical and greedy.” She laughed. “I just gave a description of most men.” He snorted but didn’t interrupt.

“At Texas A & M it got worse. The snobbery, the jokes and innuendoes. I have a lot of pride in my people, who we are, what we've accomplished, and I refused to laugh at the bullshit jokes or backstabbing that went down at work or play.” Righteous indignation scorched her tone. “Same thing in my line of work, every last one of them are self-serving, arrogant. I’m not saying all white people are corrupt assholes, I’m sure a lot of them are cool. I simply choose not to deal with them intimately for any reason.”

“A white guy broke your heart?” His voice lowered. She recognized what he really wanted to know.

“Puh-lease,” she scoffed. “Not even. Once I realized what they were up to, how fake they were. I flipped that shit and used the hell out of them. My heart was never in any danger.” She shrugged. “After a while the bogus games got old and I didn’t want to fake things anymore. I don’t deal with them unless I have to, that’s all.” The next few miles, silence punctuated the car.

“What about Blacks?” He asked after a while.

She shrugged. “What about them?”

“You prejudiced against us too?”

She laughed. “No. Most of my friends are black.”

He didn’t laugh at the common rejoinder. Instead, he frowned. “What’s wrong?” she asked.

“You should’ve told me this before we struck the deal,” he said.

“What difference does it make?” Frowning she glanced at him.

“My
white
partners are my best friends. We have keys to one another’s places, and vehicles. I trust them with my life and I’m glad as all fuck they don’t have the same hang-ups about Blacks as you have about Whites.”

His comment stung. Rather than let it go, she challenged him. “How do you know they aren’t faking it?” She threw out, her tone defensive. “They could be prejudiced and hiding how they really feel.”

“We’ve been partners for over thirteen years. Known each other longer. That’s a long time to fake stuff.” He shut his eyes, shaking his head. She hated he dismissed her before she proved her point.

“Not really. Wait until you start making big money—“

“I’ve been making big money for years.” His voice hardened. “Listen, I’m not going to argue this with you. Red, Ross and their families are a part of my life. What
you
have to decide is this ~ do you really want to hide in Lapeer with my partners and me?” She felt his stare on the side of her face and burned in embarrassment.

“When did this become a package deal?”

Smoke stared at her sexy profile. Damn, how'd he wind up with someone prejudiced and opinionated? She saved his life, and would've saved the woman had she been alive. As far as he knew, the prostitute had been white. Maybe she had lapses, it didn't really matter. They'd be living together for the next few weeks and he planned to have her in a sexual marathon as soon as they settled. But she needed to understand a few things.

“The moment you chose a small place like Lapeer. If you are in town for more than a day and staying at Ross’s or my place, you
will
meet Red and Denise. Like bread and butter, the two go together. Meeting them is a given. Understand these men are closer to me than my own brother is, and that’s my choice. No way will I return to town and not have a private discussion to explain your presence to them. Forget that. Instead of having one set of extra eyes, you’ll have five.”

“Is this up for debate, or is it etched in Smoke?” Her lips curled. He liked her sense of humor.

“Vianca, saving my life comes with privileges. You can have my condo for as long as you need. I’ll get you a ‘pay as you go’ credit card with any amount you think is necessary, supply you with an untraceable phone and be the conduit your partner asked of me.”

“Thank you,” she murmured.

“Don’t thank me yet,” he said, staring out at the darkness. “There’s no way to hide what happened, or who you are, or the situation you’re in. I told y’all my company is having problems and we are. Each of us has been targeted with the death of some woman. I hit the daily double. The men who planted me in that room are involved in some type of conspiracy that impacts my entire company.”

“I see.”

“No, I doubt you do. When those bodies were discovered and I wasn’t in the room, whoever put me there started searching for me. By now, they’re aware of the cameras. They’re wondering if you have the faces of the men who killed those women,
and
the faces of the men who dragged me in afterward. Either way, it was orchestrated and all of them are involved in my abduction and the murders.”

“I thought of that.” Red crept up her face, her fingers tightened on the steering wheel.

“That means when I return,” he continued schooling her, “someone’s going to think I know more than I do. I haven’t seen those pictures and have no idea who those seven men are.” He looked at her. “Seven men. Think about it. Seven men who’re linked to two brutal murders. Any one of them will be hunting for you through me.”

Her sharp intake of breath mollified him somewhat. She needed to understand the bigger picture, the danger that landed on his doorstep. Since living was important to him, he definitely appreciated the risks she took and didn’t begrudge her actions. They simply couldn’t afford her cavalier attitude.

“Hadn’t thought it that far through. I knew they’d be searching for me…but coming after you and your friends.” She exhaled. “I’ll set up an alternative location after I drop you off—“

“It won’t matter,” he snapped. “The connection’s been made. It’ll be assumed you rescued me and I know where you are. No matter what, those men have too much at stake not to find me. And you.”

“What if I turn over the pictures?”

“Yeah, that might work, take some heat off. The cops will be looking for the men and that’ll buy us some time. We need to talk to our attorney, check the legal avenues.” He paused. “If you don’t mind, I’d like to see the faces of the men before you turn the pictures over to the cops.”

“Hmmm. Can we negotiate?”

“Sure.” He settled in his seat and faced her.

“First off, are you sure I have to meet your inner circle?”

“Yes.” His tone deep and inflexible. “That’s non-negotiable. It’s for your safety as well as theirs.” His jaw tightened and his nostrils flared.

“Okay, okay, calm down. I get that now. Obviously, we didn’t think through much beyond our dilemma. We thought, a few days to negotiate with the judge and then I’d get my life back. Listening to you, that doesn’t seem likely.” She glanced at him. “I propose we work together to end this as quickly as possible.”

“Define work together.” Although he liked her quick wit, and wanted to screw her brains out, he took few chances with his partners and his business.

Her lip did that curling thing again. “I’ve been an investigator, digging and deciphering information for the past decade. I think I might be of assistance to your company in some small way. Besides, the sooner we clear everything up, the sooner you get rid of your house guest.” Her comments made sense, but he didn’t like her talking of leaving just yet. They hadn’t become as acquainted as he fully intended them to.

“What makes you think I’ll be in hurry to get rid of you?”

“What makes you think I
won’t
be in a hurry to be rid of you?” she fired back.

“Very few women are in a hurry to be rid of me.” He grinned, as he rubbed his hardening cock. He gave her cool points for not mentioning his action.

“Must be your willingness to keep them around.”

“No, that’s one thing that’s understood at the door. I date, not cohabitate.”

“Aw.” She nodded. “It must be the challenge you present. The unconquerable Smoke. Does that really work?” she mocked.

“So far.” No need in playing games, she’d understand the rules of engagement before he took her to bed. Freaky hot sex for the duration of the visit, at the end of the deal, she had to leave.

“Do we have a deal?”

“I get to see the pictures if I agree to let you work the case for free?” He said to be sure they were on the same page.

“Free? I didn’t say free.” She sounded shocked. Good, he liked keeping her on her toes.

“You’re the one bored who wants something to occupy their time. I didn’t offer you a job.”

“I’m not that bored.”

“Discount?” He threw that in since it was a moot point. She’d work the job to save her life and assist them.

“Possibly.”

Chapter 8

Ross sat in the front seat of his truck, pouting.
How the hell had he agreed to wait until Tank called with the all clear sign
? The men presented a unified front, waving everyone’s family and his responsibility under his nose. His mind had flashed to Cherise and Lenore. Still, he’d been hard pressed to allow his employees enter the warehouse without him, but as they said, he needed to save the bravado bullshit for when there was no alternative. Nevertheless, he seethed with impatience waiting a few miles away with Red.

“This is a bunch of crap.” Red looked out the window, jaw and fist clenched. The cameras at the college hadn’t been clear enough for them to see the features on the faces, but they were able to make out Smoke and another man walking side by side toward a car. Smoke’s body language screamed something was off. He’d never allow a man to walk that close to him.

“Yeah.” Ross sighed. “But they have a valid point. I promised Cherise I’d be careful. If I take someone out, I need to be sure it’s worth what it’ll cost me. My business, my home and possibly my family. So as much as I hate waiting like a neglected child in the parking lot, it’s all good ‘cause I’m gonna take it out later on somebody’s ass when the risk isn’t as high.”

“I know. I’m sure Denise wouldn’t believe I’m waiting like this—” He stopped, looked at his cell and smiled. “Hey baby, Ross and I were just talking about you.”

He laughed. “Of course good things, and all true.”

Ross stared out the window, glad things had finally stabilized between the volatile couple. Denise handled Red in a way that made the big man want to be more, be better. Like a proud papa bear, he'd watched his partner earlier handling the meeting with the employees. No one would’ve guessed that was his first time. It was easier flying to the moon than to get Red to step up to the plate and take control the way he had today. Inwardly, he cheered and vowed not to allow his partner to backslide. It’d be great if all three of them handled more of the administration of the business. He’d have more free time with his family.

“Okay babe, I’ll let Ross know. Tell Miss Connie it’s all good. Go take care of her husband. Thanks babe, I’ll see you when I hit the office.” Ross waited until he disconnected.

“What’s up?”

“Mr. Grimes is having some problems with his breathing, Denise had called the office to ask for an address or something and Ms. Connie told her about it. She’s headed to the office to relieve Ms. Connie.” Red smiled.

“Denise is going to work at the office?” Ross had to be sure he’d heard correctly.

“Yeah, until we find out what’s going on
she
doesn’t think we should bring in any more temps.” Red’s lips spit into a face-wide grin.