Smokeshow (Smoke #1)

by Abbi Glines

I had nowhere else to go. Mrs. Miller barely made it on her monthly check from the government. Staying with her had been temporary. I had been planning on getting a third job in hopes I could afford a place to live. I was a legal adult. I wouldn’t stay with the Houstons that long. Just until I could save enough money to live on my own.

She hadn’t gone topless, but I wasn’t surprised. I swallowed hard, then took a long drink from my glass. A body like that didn’t belong on a nineteen-year-old. Holy fuck. Sax and Trev were gonna end up beating the hell out of each other over her. It would be a complete waste of Trev’s time and energy. They didn’t know who she was. Not really. I did.

I felt eyes on me and lifted mine to see Melanie watching me with a strange look on her face. She seemed confused and concerned. That didn’t help me calm down at all. Why did she look like that? I didn’t understand the way these people chose seating, and I hoped this made sense to her. From the look on her face, it didn’t appear to.

“Either you lead the way to your room or I’ll find it,” he replied in a clipped tone. Whatever this was, I decided to just let it play out. Maybe he’d leave if I did what he said. I wanted him to leave. A knot in my stomach, however, said another thing. The part of me that wanted him around was growing. I was obviously deranged and needed counseling.

I had needed that. It was the face slap that I’d needed to get out of the haze he’d put me in. “Just leave! Why are you still here? Why did you …” I stopped, unable to finish that question. He shook his head slowly. “I won’t be leaving without you. Not sure I can do that again,” he replied. “I don’t want to be here, but I can’t fucking stop it. And, baby, now that I’ve had you on my mouth, it’s about to get much worse. That sweet pussy just became mine.”

“Madeline.” He said my name and took a deep breath. “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.”

“Do you have a phone?” I asked her. Gina raised her eyebrows at me and smirked. “Yeah, and I’m not handing it over to you so you can call the Houston kid to come get you.” I smiled, impressed she was so close to my idea. “I wasn’t going to call him. I was going to call Trev,” I replied.

“This is mine. All of it. I’ll die before I let you leave me,” he said in a hoarse whisper. The possessiveness of that comment should have terrified me. Warning flags should have gone off. Instead, I wanted more of him. I wanted to sink into this world of his and get so wrapped up in this man that I could never leave. I didn’t want to leave. I could think of nothing that he could do to make me leave him. Was this love? Or was it obsession? Or were they the same? If I had known what was to come, would I have still felt this way?

“Yes?” was my short reply. “The next time you want to leave Moses Mile, I need to know beforehand. I’m not there, Madeline. I can’t make sure you’re okay unless I know in advance.” He sounded irritated. “Blaise, I am going to get tacos and watch a movie with friends. I am not headed to the inner city to hunt down drug dealers and ask them if they want to play ball,” I pointed out.

This wasn’t the life I wanted her to get. She deserved to be given the perfect family. The family she never had. Then, in one second, my plans for her changed. It was to save her, and I swore I would keep my distance. Saxon was a good choice. I’d fucking chosen him for her. He was in the family but far enough removed that she could enjoy life without this darkness.

Blaise looked like he hadn’t slept in days. He was looking at me like he would do anything I asked. There was pain and relief in his eyes. It wasn’t clear, everything that had happened, but pieces were coming to me as I looked at him.

“No. That wasn’t a coincidence. I kept things from you. Things I didn’t think I could tell you yet. And my fear was that I’d lose you if you knew before …” He paused and took a deep breath. “Before I could get you to fall in love with me. I thought you’d leave. I doubt I will ever forgive myself for that. If you’d known then, this wouldn’t have happened.” I was listening to him, but the words fall in love with me were the ones that kept replaying in my head. We hadn’t talked about love. There hadn’t been enough time for that, had there? “You want me to love you?” I asked him. “If you love me, then you won’t leave me,” he said.

What about you? You’re not only beautiful, sexy, and wealthy. You will also have power. You already do. Women are drawn to that. They’ll throw themselves at you. I see them do it now. I should be the one worried about you falling in love with me.” An arrogant smile curled his lips. “You think I’m beautiful and sexy?”