Page 19 of Juke (DeLuca Brothers #4)

Kamerio ‘Rio’ Hughes

sometime earlier…

It hasn’t been long since I touched down in Cannon Hills, but every day feels heavier.

I didn’t come here to relax. I came here for one reason.

To get my woman back and remind her the kind of nigga she was dealing with.

She has a lot of nerve. While I was locked up, I thought about her every damn day.

I expected her to hold me down; wait like she was supposed to.

But instead, she bailed—no letters, no visits, nothing.

And now I find out she’s out here smiling in another man’s face like I never existed?

The last time I saw her plays in my head like it happened yesterday.

I came in from handling business, and she was in the kitchen, hair tied back, moving around quietly like she always did when I was home. “Something smells good,” I said, sliding my arms around her from behind.

She gave a small smile. “Dinner’s almost ready.”

We sat down to eat. She barely spoke unless I asked her something first. I asked about her day, and she told me little things, keeping it light like she knew I liked. Then she shifted the mood. Her voice was soft, careful. “Rio… maybe we could spend more time together.”

“You feel like what?” I set my fork down slow.

“I just… miss how we used to be.” Her eyes flicked down to her plate.

I leaned back, studying her. “Don’t start making it sound like I’m not here enough. You got everything you need, don’t you?”

“Yes.” She nodded quickly.

“Then don’t ruin the night talking ’bout things you don’t need to be worried about.”

“Okay,” she mumbled.

I got up, walked to her side, and tipped her chin up so she had to meet my eyes. “You know I take care of you, right?”

“Yes,” she whispered. My grip tightened just enough to make sure she got the point.

“Then stop acting like I don’t.” I let her go, and she stayed quiet, dropping her eyes back on her plate.

That was one of the last nights we shared before everything went sideways.

Not long after, I caught a case. I thought she’d be there when I got out.

, but instead, she disappeared. Now she’s out here with somebody else, acting like I never mattered?

Nah… I’ain letting that shit happen. She’s gone remember exactly who the fuck she belongs to.

The anger from that day still sits in my chest like it never left.

That’s alright. I got time, and I got help.

Boom’s been putting me up on game since I got here.

Even introduced me to his sister, Nessa.

She’s been a nice… distraction. Like now, she was on her back, nails biting into the sheets, eyes locked on me like she couldn’t decide if she wanted to curse me out or pull me deeper.

Her breath kept catching every time I pushed into her, her thighs tightening around my waist like she didn’t want to let me go.

“Mmm… just like that,” she breathed out, head tipping back when I shifted my angle.

“Right there?” I taunted as I gripped her hips and dragged her closer to the edge of the bed. My voice was low and rough, and my chest was slick with sweat as I leaned over her. She hooked her leg over my shoulder, arching up.

“Don’t stop,” she panted.

“Wasn’t planning on it.” I slowed just enough to make her whine before snapping my hips again, drawing a sharp gasp from her.

Her hands roamed my back, nails scratching down as she panted, “God… you’re tryna ruin me.”

“Pretty much.” I smirked, grinding into her until her lips parted and that shaky sound slipped out of her throat. The air in the room was thick with heat and her breathless little sounds mixing with my own low groans. She kept twisting beneath me, muttering between moans.

“Don’t stop… shit don’t stop,” she moaned

I was just about to answer when I was interrupted by someone banging on the door.

BANG! BANG! BANG!

The door rattled, followed by Boom’s voice blasting through.

“Nessa! Tell that nigga to come holla at me!” Her whole body stiffened under me, eyes wide.

I pulled back slow, jaw tightening as I looked toward the door.

Boom’s voice had barely finished echoing when I looked back down at Nessa.

Her brows were pulled tight, her chest rising fast.

“Don’t stop,” she whispered, almost pleading.

My smirk deepened as I braced my hands on the mattress and drove into her harder, sharper, making the bed frame slam against the wall with every thrust. Her gasp turned into a high, broken moan while her nails raked my arms.

“Mmm… oh my God, Rio,” she cried out, her voice climbing each time I bottomed out. I kept my pace brutal on purpose, knowing Boom could hear every damn thing.

“Shut all that damn whining and take this dick,” I growled, sweat dripping down my back.

Her head tossed back, lips parting in a shaky scream as her body trembled under me. “Shit… I’m about to cum,” she whimpered.

I leaned down, my mouth brushing her ear.

“The fuck you waiting for? Give me that shit.” That was all it took before she broke apart.

A loud, raw cry ripped from her throat as her nails dug into my shoulders.

I followed right after, groaning deep, emptying into her while she pulsed around me.

Once I had my breathing under control, I pulled out slow, slapped her thigh, and slid off the bed.

“Stay here.” I grabbed my boxers, headed to the bathroom, and cleaned up, letting the water run cold across my face until my heartbeat calmed.

After I got myself together, I left the room and went to see what Boom wanted.

When I stepped into the kitchen, he was there leaning on the counter, arms folded, face twisted like he was ready to fuck some shit up.

“I’ain say you could fuck my sister,” he said flatly.

“I’on remember asking you for permission on where I could stick my dick,” I shot back, leaning against the doorway. His jaw flexed.

“You real comfortable in my house, huh?”

“Comfortable enough,” I said, my tone cutting. “But fuck all that… what’s up with the plan?” He studied me for a beat, then pushed off the counter.

“I’m ready to move,” he said.

“I’m not,” I said

His brow shot up. “The fuck you mean you’re not?”

“I’m not ready to grab her yet. I wanna put fear in her first… let her see me, feel me around. Make her nervous. When I finally make my move, I want her head already fucked up.” I shrugged.

Boom’s lip curled into something between annoyance and respect. “You a fucked up nigga.”

“I might be?” I smirked again. “She’s mine, and I’ll take her when I want her.” I grabbed a bottle of water off the counter, twisting the cap. “Matter fact… I’m going to the fight.”

Boom arched a brow. “The one at Vault?”

“Yeah,” I said, taking a long swig. “Nobody knows me here. I’ll blend right in with the crowd. She won’t see me coming until I want her to.”

He thought about it for a second, then nodded slow. “Do that… and hopefully Rell knocks Juke on his ass while you’re there.” I laughed under my breath.

“You really don’t like that nigga, huh? What’s your issue with him?” Boom’s face went cold.

“Nigga thought he was bigger than the program.” That was all he said before pushing off the counter and walking out of the kitchen, leaving me there, thinking about just how easy it was gonna be to get her back in my reach.

***

The casino upstairs was loud and flashy, but down here…

this was different. The air changed as soon as you hit the bottom of the steps.

The underground arena wasn’t huge, but it was clean and tight, and the setup was nice.

The ring was dead center, with the crowd wrapped around, allowing standing room on all sides.

The lighting hit just right, bouncing off the ropes, and those glass VIP boxes up top gave a perfect view for the ones who didn’t want to sweat in the crowd.

Boom’s boys were posted near the front, while Nessa stayed close to him, but my eyes were moving around the room.

I wasn’t here for the fight. I was here for her.

“You not sliding up here?” Boom jerked his chin toward the ring.

“Nah,” I said, eyes still scanning. “I can see everything I need to from back here.”

While he moved closer to the front, I stayed back, away from the crowd and chaos.

It didn’t take long to find her, and when I did, I didn’t take my eyes off her.

She was ringside, looking like she didn’t have a care in the world.

I didn’t miss the way her shoulders were relaxed, like she felt safe.

She didn’t have that when she was with me…

and now she was giving it to somebody else.

The crowd roared when Kendrick Lamar started blasting through the speakers.

That nigga Juke walked out, slow, and steady, head bobbing, and the whole place fed off it.

I’ain even gone hold you. The nigga was good.

I’on know what Boom was thinking about wanting to fight this nigga…

again. Muthafucka was a beast in the ring.

I would definitely have to shoot his ass.

I let my eyes follow him, and I noticed the moment he locked eyes on her like nobody else existed and went straight over and kissed her right in front of everybody.

She smiled, leaned into it, and that shit did something to me.

My jaw flexed. “Yeah… you forgot that quick, huh?” I spoke to no one in particular. “I got something for that shit, though.”

The fight started, and the rounds moved fast. I caught glimpses of the ring, but my focus stayed on her.

The way she clapped when Juke’s hits landed.

The way she lit up every time he looked her way…

it was like watching her give away something that was mine.

When Rell hit the mat in the middle of the fourth round, the crowd lost it.

Juke soaked it in for a second, then turned toward her again.

That’s when she looked away… right at me.

Her entire expression flipped.

I tilted my head, letting the slowest, coldest smirk crawl across my face, and mouthed, “Baby, I’m back.”

I saw the fear flash over her face immediately and that alone satisfied me. I stepped forward so she could really see me, as I kept my eyes locked on hers, and added silently, “I came to take you home.”

Boom made his way back to me. “Aye, let’s get outta here.

You doing too much, and the plan wasn’t to start no shit tonight.

” He slapped my chest before walking off.

I gave Sophi one last look before I followed behind Boom and his entourage.

Before Juke could make it to her, I was gone.

She knows I’m here now, and for now, that’s all I needed.