Read When the Smoke Clears (Deadly Reunions) for Free Online Page A

the pretty lady.” He turned his eyes back to Alexia. “So, as I was asking before I was so rudely interrupted . . .”
    Alexia sighed and placed a hand on Chad’s forearm. “Why don’t we walk as we talk?”
    His countenance lightened and he followed her like a giddy puppy. She shot a glance at Hunter and the thunderous expression on his face made her gulp. She wasn’t sure if his look was directed at her or the drunken Chad. Nevertheless, he kept his mouth shut and followed them.
    Chad moaned and cupped his head. “I’ve got a headache.”
    “I know,” she soothed, slipping into first responder mode for the second time that night. “Why don’t you sit here and we’ll see if we can get that taken care of.”
    Without further protest, Chad slid into the backseat of the car and Hunter activated the child locks. He shut the door and did the same to the other one. “Should have done that to begin with.” He shook his head in disgust. “As much as he’s had to drink, I didn’t think he’d wake up for hours, much less be able to walk.” Hunter gave her a slow smile. “Thanks for getting him back in the car. I was going to have a fight on my hands.”
    Alexia shrugged. “I thought you might be mad at me for stepping in.”
    “No. Just mad at myself for not locking him in when I got here. Hopefully, he won’t be aware enough to climb over the seat and get out that way.” He took a deep breath, glanced one more time at the once-again snoring Chad, and said, “Now, can we finish our discussion about Devin and how often you’d been in touch with him?”
    She pulled in a deep breath and blew it out between pursed lips, looking back at the house. “Devin used to call every once in a while, just to talk and catch up. Like twice a year or something. Lately, it was more often—around every other month. I’m not sure why he felt the need, but I know he kind of looked in on my mother because he would ask if I’d called her lately.” Guilt pierced her. Devin had certainly done more than Alexia over the years when it came to caring for her mother.
    But her mother hadn’t wanted her care, she reminded herself. After a while, she’d stopped trying. A person could only take so much rejection.
    “When was the last time you talked to him?”
    She thought. “April. Sometime a little before Easter. He said he and my mother were now going to the same church and they’d love it if I’d come home for the Easter service.” Alexia wrinkled her nose. “I really can’t see either one as a churchgoer.”
    Hunter nodded. “I didn’t know Devin that well. Why’d you two break up?”
    Was it really any of his business? The previous doubt in his eyes still stung and she wasn’t feeling real chatty at the moment. However, she reined in her initial response and simply said, “He hit me. I wasn’t going to give him the chance to do it again.” Even at the age of fourteen, she knew she wasn’t interested in giving a guy another chance to beat on her. She got enough of that at home.
    Hunter’s jaw firmed and his eyes narrowed as he assessed her. Then his countenance softened. “Good for you then.”
    Serena exited the house and Alexia felt her stomach clench once more. She hadn’t realized she’d started to relax in Hunter’s presence—in spite of his questions.
    The ME came straight to Alexia and pulled her into a hug. “I’ve missed you,” Serena whispered in her ear.
    “I know. I’ve missed you too.”
    Serena had come to visit whenever they could coordinate days off, but it hadn’t been nearly often enough.
    Alexia looked at her friend. “Why was Devin here, do you know?”
    A hint of embarrassment dusted Serena’s cheeks. “Your mother was letting him live here.”
    “No.” Shock held her almost speechless. “When did that start?”
    “About a month ago. He lost his job and she kind of took him in, I guess.”
    “Why didn’t you mention it?”
    Serena’s flush deepened. “I don’t know. I