Double Trouble Read Online Free PDF Page A

partner. He had been expecting this confrontation for a day or so. When he entered the room, Ross sat at one end of the long table while Smoke paced on the opposite side. Once Red took a chair a few seats from Ross, Smoke stopped, looked at him and then Ross.
    “Why haven’t either of you responded to Julio’s dinner invitation?”
    Although the question was couched in a semi-polite, conversational tone, Red knew by the tic in Smoke’s jaw, his friend was pissed. Red glanced at Ross who stared at Smoke.
    Clearing his throat, Red drew Smoke’s heated gaze. “You and I both know there’s been some extra stuff happening on the street. Word is the cartel has an interest in Detroit, and folks are attributing it to Julio moving back. I got a wife and kids, man. I don’t want them caught in the crossfire.” Strange, his words sounded weaker now than when he’d rationalized his position a few days ago. With everything going on with his brothers finding out they had a son and that the kid was in the program, perhaps he should rethink his opinion. If his nephew hung in the streets, he definitely did not want to be on Julio’s bad side. Damn, he wished he knew more about the kid.
    “What the…” Smoke’s mouth tightened and then he looked at Ross. “You too, this how you feel? That sitting down at a meal with the man who saved your life and your damn livelihood would somehow put your wife and kids in danger?”
    Red flinched at the reminder of what they all owed Julio. He had been too hasty.
    “Yes. Pretty much,” Ross said in a low voice.
    Smoke leaned forward and placed his hands flat on the table. “Let me go on the record saying this… that’s a douche move. Only a bitch with no memory would slap the face that made it possible for your wife and children to see you every night. Or did you forget about the assholes gunning for our asses?” He stepped back and pointed at them. “They stole our company name, did all kinds of trifling shit. Almost shut us down. And you sit here and say you don’t want your family in the crossfire? There would be no damn families if it were not for Julio,” he said in a tight voice.
    Red nodded. “I know he’s your friend –”
    “Damn right he’s my friend. I’d take a bullet for him. I’d take a bullet for both of you. That’s how I roll for my boys. I don’t judge you and get caught up in bullshit.” Smoke paused. A vein throbbed in his forehead. “Damn, now you got me wondering.”
    “Wondering?” Ross asked, watching their partner carefully. Typically it took a lot for Smoke to burn or get riled, but when he did…there were usually fireworks. The man could be unpredictable.
    “If I do something you don’t like or think might corrupt your family or place them in danger, would you just write me off. I mean you haven’t even said hi to the man. You don’t know if the shit you heard is true. You didn’t even give this man, your friend, the fucking benefit of the doubt.” He slapped his chest. “So…I’m wondering how you . . .” He pointed at Red and then Ross. “How you’d treat me.” He nodded repeatedly, his hot gaze pinned Red to his chair. “We been through some shit together, but seeing how you handle this, someone you owe big time, it’s got me wondering.”
    Ross sat forward in his seat with his hands clasped. “You’re right. It was a douche move. I fucked up. My daughter had a dance recital the night he invited me to the first dinner and I should have accepted the invite the moment it came. I owe the man and Cherise would be pissed as all get out if she knew I hadn’t accepted.” He paused. “But you’re wrong to think I would treat you the same or differently for any reason. When you disappeared, Julio wasn’t the only friend about to tear down this city to find you. He had different resources, can’t argue that, but we did things that we all agreed we’d never discuss again. You my boy and there’s very little you could do that