Smokeshow (Smoke #1)

by Abbi Glines

How often the line fades that stands between love and hate.

Home wasn’t a place. Home was a person. If you were lucky, it was more than one person.

“And that’s the Hughes family,” he said. “Wealthy, powerful, arrogant, and sometimes terrifying.”

“This is a real fucking thin line you’re walking. You’re gonna leave with me. You’re gonna stop fighting me. There were other paths for you. Better fucking choices. But if another man ever touches you now, I’ll have to kill him.”

“So young and sweet. I tried to protect you from me. I fucking tried so hard.”

“You want me to love you?” I asked him. “If you love me, then you won’t leave me,” he said.

“Baby, I’ve been in love with you for fucking years. I fell in love with you before you ever laid eyes on me. Truth is, I was in love with you when you were jailbait.”