Page 11 of Juke (DeLuca Brothers #4)

Juke

sometime later…

Mornings with her felt like something I wasn’t used to but didn’t want to lose.

Sophi moved around my condo like she belonged there.

She was just comfortable in a way that crept under your skin.

She was at the stove, cooking something in a skillet, the smell already filling the space.

Her hair was up in a loose knot, a few strands falling near her pretty face.

She looked over her shoulder and smiled when she caught me watching.

“I didn’t know you were up,” she uttered.

“I’ve been up for a minute,” I murmured, walking toward her. “I didn’t wanna interrupt you.”

The moment settled there for a beat. Her back against my chest. The scent of vanilla and butter drifted through the air.

I hadn’t planned on this… on her being here this long, but I didn’t want her to leave, either.

Having her here was beginning to feel natural.

She plated the food and handed me one like she’d done it a hundred times before…

with no hesitation. We sat at the counter, eating in silence, but it wasn’t awkward.

It was that kind of quiet that made you feel grounded.

Like shit didn’t need words to be understood.

“I’m taking you to Buck and Nic’s before I head out. I got some shit to handle today.” My fingers drummed lightly against the side of my cup.

“That’s fine. I could use the female energy.” She nodded, chewing her food slowly.

I studied her for a second. She looked calm, maybe even peaceful, but I could still see the tension buried behind her eyes. She was holding it together, but I knew the weight she carried hadn’t disappeared just because she woke up in my bed.

“You aight?” I asked, as I studied her face.

“Yeah. I’m okay.” She confirmed.

I wasn’t convinced, but I didn’t press her.

When breakfast was done, she started cleaning up.

I leaned back against the wall, watching her rinse the plates and wipe down the counters like she did this every morning.

Like she wasn’t just visiting… like this was her shit, too.

That shit did something to me. I pushed off the wall and walked over.

“You didn’t have to do all that,” I said, taking the towel from her hand.

“I know, but I wanted to,” she replied, looking up at me.

I held her gaze for a moment, then leaned down and kissed her forehead. “Let’s get ready so we can get outta here.” She nodded before following me into my bedroom to get dressed.

Once we were both dressed, she grabbed her bag, and we walked out together. As we headed down to my truck, I couldn’t shake the feeling that was settling in my chest. I wasn’t just looking out for her anymore… I was keeping her. Whether she realized it or not…she was mine.

***

Leaving Sophi at Buck and Nic’s hit harder than it should’ve.

It wasn’t her being gone—it was the way she stayed posted at the door, like she didn’t want to let go but didn’t know how to say it.

I pulled her in before kissing her slow…

dragging it out longer than I meant. Nic swung the door open mid-kiss, with a smirk stamped across her face.

“Mhm,” she said. “Y’all just gone give my neighbors a show this morning?”

Sophi laughed and tried to play it off, but I could tell she was feeling the same thing I was.

“I mean… if they wanna see some shit―”

“Rashad,” Sophi called my name, and I awarded her with another kiss.

“Aight, I’m gone. Call me if you need me.”

“Okay.”

I kissed her again, quicker this time. As bad as I wanted to stay in her presence, I had business to handle.

When I pulled up at DeLuca Enterprises, it was quiet when I walked in. Rachel waved me through like she was expecting me, with a small smile. “They’re in Lincoln’s office.” I nodded and headed in that direction.

Buck’s office door was open halfway, smoke floating through the air like a blanket. Stacks sat on the couch with his legs stretched out, while Buck was behind his desk scrolling on his phone.

“Speak of the devil,” Buck said, glancing up. “Where my cousin at, nigga?”

I stepped in and closed the door behind me. “I’m pretty sure you on the phone with yo’ wife, so why the fuck you asking questions that you already know the answer to?” I smirked.

Before he could say something ignorant, Stacks cut in. “So, what y’all doing?”

“We’re just chilling… that’s all. L’s been through a lot, and I’m just tryna get her to open up to me.” I revealed.

“Who the fuck is L and open up, how, muthafucka?” Buck glared at me.

“However the fuck you think,” I shot back before I ran a hand over my beard. “Her mama called the other day. Apparently, Rio showed up at her parents’ house and asked about her. Her mama ain’t know what he did to her, so she told him where she moved.”

Stacks shook his head. “Fuck.”

“Dude put his hands on her. Shit fucked her up mentally. She came here because she felt like this was the safest place for her to be.”

Buck’s face shifted. “So she was running from that nigga?”

“That’s what it looks like.”

He leaned forward, with his elbows on the desk and his voice low and clipped. “I fuck with you, Juke, but you so much as blink wrong with her, I’ll rearrange yo’ fuckin’ jaw. You got that?”

“Loud and clear,” I said. “But if you think you the only one willing to rearrange some shit for L and about her, you got me fucked up.”

“Oh, shit,” Stacks instigated.

Buck leaned back, lips twitching like he wasn’t sure whether to respect me or fight me. “So you claiming her? You got to be since you giving her nicknames and shit.”

I thought about it for a moment. Was I claiming her? Or was I just looking out for her?

“I’m just looking out for her right now,” was all I said.

Buck smirked. “Well, just make sure you keep us updated on that Rio nigga with yo’ looking ass..”

Stacks laughed.

Buck’s expression shifted again, getting back to business. “You heard about that nigga Rell, right?”

“What about him?” I questioned.

“Heard he’s the topic of discussion over in Urbanton.”

“The fuck that gotta do with me?”

“I’m having a fight night here in a few weeks, and I want you and Rell to be the main event. You know, get the people talking, and it’ll be good promo for your rematch with Boom.”

“And if you knock him out, you get bragging rights in both territories,” Stacks added.

“Fuck that nigga, but get with MJ.”

I stood, dapped Stacks, and gave Buck a nod. As I walked out, all I could think about was Sophi, and how much I’d risk just to keep her safe.

***

I sat in the car outside the gym, letting the quiet settle before I made my next move.

My thumb hovered over her name for a second before I hit the FaceTime button.

Sophi answered on the second ring, and the camera flipped to her face.

Her long black hair was in a messy bun, so her pretty ass face was on full display.

She was in Buck and Nic’s living room, curled up on the couch, looking comfortable… at peace.

“Hey,” her soft voice greeted.

“Wassup?” I replied, voice lower than I meant.

“You good?” she asked, studying me like she was trying to figure out what was going on behind my eyes.

“Yeah.” I nodded. “I just wanted to check on you.”

She shifted on the couch; one leg tucked under her. “I’m fine. Benny’s been running me crazy, but I’m good.”

Right on cue, the camera shook, and I saw a blur before Benny’s bad ass head popped into the frame. He was grinning hard, breathless like he’d just finished running a marathon.

“Juke! I beat the dinosaurs, and I punched the pillow, and I—”

“Benny,” Sophi warned, trying not to laugh.

“—and I told Auntie Sophi I’m stronger than my daddy.”

“Oh, yeah?” I chuckled.

“Uh huh. I got strong muscles. Wanna see me jump off the couch?”

“Boy, if you don’t sit yo’ little wild ass down somewhere.” Sophi pulled him back before he could do whatever dumb stunt he had planned.

He groaned and shuffled off, muttering something about how nobody lets him have fun.

I looked back at her. “You sure you straight?”

She nodded slowly, then looked away for a second before meeting my eyes again. “I’m alright. Tired, but alright. I’ve been helping Nic with Benny and tryna keep my mind from wandering too far,” she confessed.

I leaned back in my seat, watching her closely. “I’m on the way to my mama’s right now, but soon as I leave there, I’m coming to get you.”

“Rashad—”

“Nah. I already told you I got you. I meant that shit.”

Her lips parted like she was about to argue, but then she just nodded. “Okay.”

There was a pause between us, not uncomfortable, just heavy with everything that didn’t need to be said.

“Be ready when I call,” I added.

“I will be.”

I stared at her for another beat. “Sophi?”

“Yeah?”

“I know this ain’t how you planned none of this, but… you got me now, so don’t trip about what’s next. Let me handle it. Aight?”

She nodded slow like she heard every word I said and was holding on to them. I needed her to because I meant every one of ’em.

“I’ll see you in a bit,” I said before I ended the call.

I dropped the phone in my lap, ran a hand down my face, then started my truck. I had one stop to make. Then I was going back for her.

***

When I pulled up to my mama’s house, I stayed in the car for a minute just to collect my thoughts. I didn’t even know what I wanted to say, but I knew I needed to hear my mama’s voice. She was always my voice of reason.

When I finally got out, I walked up the steps and knocked twice out of habit even though I didn’t need to.

“It’s open!” she called.

Inside smelled like… home… always did. Mama was in the kitchen with her hair wrapped and one of those house dresses she called a moo moo.

“Well, damn.” She smiled. “Look who came to check on his mama.”

“Don’t act like that.” I kissed her cheek.

“You eat?”

“I could.”

She pointed towards the table. “Sit down. I got some chicken left.”

I sat while she moved around the kitchen, fixing a plate like it was second nature.