In Dealing With Smoke Vol. 4: The Precursor Path, Nicole takes control of the narrative and reveals the hidden story that forged her into the fierce woman readers know. From a childhood poisoned by betrayal to the night that changed everything, her journey is one of pain, resilience, and dangerous choices.

Through moments of rare kindness, brutal violence, and the influence of a man known only as Uncle V, Nicole learns that survival requires more than strength—it requires transformation. Each chapter peels back the layers of who she was and why she became the woman willing to walk through fire without fear.

Told in her own voice, this short story pulls readers into the raw, unfiltered truth of Nicole's past. Both heartbreaking and relentless, The Precursor Path is a gripping companion to the Dealing With Smoke saga that dares to ask: what makes us who we are—the pain we endured, or the power we claimed afterward?

Fans of military romance, crime thrillers, and stories of strong women facing impossible odds will not be able to put this down.