Page 18 of Juke (DeLuca Brothers #4)

Juke

Tell ‘em, be humble (hol’ up), sit down (hol’ up, lil’, hol’ up, lil’)

Be humble (hol’ up), sit down (hol’ up, sit down, lil’, sit down, lil’)

Be humble (hol’ up, hol’ up), sit down (hol’ up, hol’ up, lil’)

Be humble (hol’ up), sit down (hol’ up, hol’ up, hol’ up, hol’ up)

It was fight night at Vault, and the crowd was already thick.

Anytime I stepped in the ring, I was guaranteed to bring the crowd and the bag.

The lyrics of Kendrick Lamar’s HUMBLE. blared through the speakers as I made it through the tunnel and into the arena.

Voices filled the arena. Some yelling my name, some talking shit, others hyped to see me.

Lights were hot, and cameras flashing. This was the shit I lived for.

I spotted Sophi right away. She was in the front row; legs crossed, with her eyes locked on me like she couldn’t see nobody else in the room.

Shit made my chest feel heavy in the best way.

I made it halfway to the ring before I stopped and motioned her over.

She looked around like she wasn’t sure, then stood up and stepped close.

I leaned down, one glove under her chin, and kissed her slow enough for the whole place to catch it. “For good luck,” I told her, and the smirk she gave me damn near made me forget there was a fight to win.

Once I was in the ring, bouncing on my toes, Rell’s music hit—T.I.

’s Bring ‘Em Out . His people went crazy, hyping him up as he strutted down, mean-mugging like we already didn’t know he was here to prove something.

I couldn’t wait to knock that shit off his face.

The ref brought us to the center of the ring and rattled off the rules I’d heard a thousand times over.

My eyes never left Rell’s. Once the rules were recited, we tapped gloves before going back to our respective corners.

The bell rang, and the first round started.

Rell came out swinging heavy—trying to set the tone.

I kept my guard high, made him miss, then worked his ribs when he got close.

His jab was fast but predictable. Every time he stepped left, I tagged his body.

By the end of the first round, he’d started breathing heavy.

The second round started, and I turned it up a notch. I doubled my jabs and slipped his hooks all while peppering his face until I saw evidence of the damage I was causing. He caught me once on the chin—enough to catch my attention. All that shit did was piss me off.

We were down to the third round, and I knew I had this shit.

While my right hand kept finding his jaw, my left was digging into his ribcage.

The crowd was on their feet, cheering and groaning with every punch that landed.

Rell’s corner was screaming at him to move, but his legs were slowly giving out on him.

Once we were started the fourth round, I was ready for this shit to be over.

I could’ve taken his ass out in the first round, but I wanted to give the crowd their monies worth.

I feinted low, caught him with a clean uppercut that snapped his head back.

I followed that up with a right hook that put him on his back.

The ref started the count, but it was a waste of time.

Rell was still trying to remember where he was by the time the ref made it ten.

The bell rang, and the crowd erupted in a wave of cheers and insults as the ref lifted my hand to declare the victory.

I looked over to where Sophi was now standing, clapping with that proud, dangerous smile that made me want to win every…

single…time. The ref was still holding my wrist in the air when I caught her eyes again.

Only this time, that proud smile was gone.

Sophi’s face had gone stoic, and she was staring past me like she wasn’t even in the room anymore.

The crowd noise faded in my head as I slipped out of the ring, ignoring MJ and Deion calling my name, and pushed through a couple of people until I was right in front of her.

“What’s wrong, L?” My gloves were still on, so I held her arms as best as I could.

She shook her head at first, eyes darting like she was trying to decide if she should even say it. Her hands were trembling, and that shit had me tight.

“Sophi,” I pressed, lowering my voice. “Talk to me, mama.”

Deion and MJ came up behind her, catching the vibe instantly. “What’s going on?” MJ asked, glancing between us.

Finally, her voice cracked. “I saw him.”

“Saw who?” I frowned.

Her eyes met mine, and my stomach dropped before she even said it. “Rio,” she whispered. “He was in the crowd. Just… staring at me.”

I searched her face. “The fuck? You sure?”

She nodded, slow but certain. “It was him.”

My eyes scanned the crowd—faces blurring together under the lights, but I didn’t see him.

My jaw locked, and I looked toward Buck.

He was posted up near the back, counting bills with a grin on his face.

When he noticed me staring, he called out over the noise, “The fuck you all in my face for, nigga? I got yo’ gah damn money. ” He smirked.

When I didn’t return his banter, his eyes darted between me and Sophi. The grin slid off his face and replaced with a sinister look. He finally read the shift in the room. “What happened?”

“Sophi said she saw that nigga in the crowd. I need you to check the cameras,” I revealed.

His head snapped in Sophi’s direction. “You sure it was that nigga?” he asked her.

She nodded.

“Aight.” He nodded. “Y’all meet me in my office.” We watched as he walked off and headed in the direction of his office.

We made it back to the little room I’d been using before the fight; the door shut behind us to muffle the crowd.

My gloves were still taped tight, knuckles itching from how bad I wanted to put them through something.

“MJ, unwrap me,” I said, dropping into the chair.

He didn’t ask questions, just started peeling away the tape.

My leg bounced the whole time with my eyes locked on Sophi.

She was sitting on the small couch that was on the other side of the room with hands twisting in her lap, looking like she wanted to disappear.

The second the last bit of tape was off; I stood and crossed the space between us.

I pulled her up, bringing her to my chest. She let out a shaky breath before she broke out into sobs.

“Hey, hey,” I murmured, tightening my hold.

I glanced over her head at my cousins. “Gimme a minute.” They exchanged a look but nodded and stepped out, shutting the door behind them.

“I’m sorry,” she whispered against me. “I didn’t wanna—”

“Don’t.” I pulled back just enough to look at her. “You ain’t gotta apologize for that shit.” She swiped at her face, but the tears kept coming. “You’re sure it was him?” I asked again. She nodded, eyes locking with mine.

“Yeah. Same eyes… same face. He was just standing there… staring. I’m positive it was him.” My jaw tightened at the fear in her eyes.

“Aight. Wait here. I’m gone shower and change real quick.”

“Can I come with you?” she asked quietly. It hit me in the chest, the way her voice shook. She wasn’t just spooked—she was scared all over again. My irritation wasn’t with her, but with the fact that somebody made her feel like that.

“C’mon.” I held my hand out as she slid her fingers into mine, and I led her into the small bathroom that was in the back of the room.

I turned the water on and let the steam fill the space as I stepped under it.

Heat rolled over my shoulders, but it didn’t burn near as much as the thought of that nigga being that close to touch her.

My mind wasn’t on the fight I’d just won—it was already on the one I knew was coming.

By the time I stepped out and toweled off, I was dressed and ready to bury a few niggas.

We were halfway down the hall when I slowed and caught her hand. She looked up at me, brows pinched. “What’s wrong?” she asked.

I stepped in closer, tilting my head so it was just us in our own little space. “You trust me?”

Her eyes softened, and she nodded.

“I need to hear it, Lovie.”

“Yes,” she said, voice steady this time. “I trust you, Rashad.”

I kissed her slowly, holding her jaw just long enough for her to feel it. “You’re safe with me. Remember that shit.”

When we stepped into Buck’s office, everybody was already there…

her cousins posted up with their wives close by, along with Robin and CiCi.

The second they saw her, the women were on their feet, pulling her into hugs, rubbing her back, whispering to her.

I went straight to the corner where Buck and the guys were, eyes on the monitor as they scrubbed through camera angles.

Behind me, I heard a deeper voice. “Sophi, why you ain’t tell us what you been dealing with, baby girl? ”

It was her pops, Horace, standing next to her Uncle Grant, both of them looking at her like they were ready to go to war for her.

Her mouth opened, but nothing came out. Her eyes glossed over causing tears to spill before she could stop them.

That was it for me. I was across the room in seconds, pulling her into me.

“She’s in good hands. I’m gonna take care of him myself. Personally.” I spoke directly to her pops.

Her pops studied me for a second, then nodded. “Make sure you do.”

“You got my word.”

I tipped her chin, so she’d look at me.

“I love you,” I told her, low but firm.

For a second, she just stared at me like she wasn’t sure she heard right.

“You…” Her voice was soft, almost shaky. “You love me?”

I didn’t flinch. “Damn right.”

Her mouth parted, and I swear I saw the exact moment it hit her. “I love you, too.” I was about to kiss her again when Buck’s voice cut through.

“Aye, lovebirds, save that shit for later,” he called from the other side of the room, smirking. “Come look at this shit.”

Sophi turned in my arms, but I still kept my hand at the small of her back as we walked over to where Buck was posted up in front of the monitors.

“Take a look,” he said, rewinding the footage and slowing it down until the crowd filled the screen.

She leaned forward, scanning the sea of faces, and I could feel her tense the second she saw him.

“That’s him,” she said, pointing.

Buck froze the frame on Rio’s face, then glanced at me.

“I’m taking her home,” I told him. “I’ll get up with y’all later.”

“Bet.”

Before we left, her pops stepped in front of us. “Baby girl, you call me if you need anything. I mean anything.”

“I will, Daddy,” she said, hugging him tight.

“You make damn sure she’s safe. Don’t make me regret trusting you with my baby girl.”

I met his stare without blinking. “Ain’t nothing happening to her on my watch.”

We held that look for a beat, then he gave me a short nod and stepped back so we could go.

By the time we hit the hall, my mind was already gone from the room. I got the confirmation I needed, and I wasn’t stopping until Rio was gone for good. Sophi’s safety wasn’t just important to me. It was everything.