Page 27 of Juke (DeLuca Brothers #4)
Sophi
sometime later…
It’s been about two weeks since the new reported Nessa’s death.
I couldn’t get the headline out of my head.
Local woman found dead in rental home. No suspects.
No leads. That’s what the news kept repeating, but I knew better.
Deep down, I knew exactly who had done it.
This had Rio written all over it. With that explosive temper and that reckless, ugly side of him that I’d spent years trying to escape.
He didn’t need a reason… he was the reason, and because they wanted to dance with the devil, she was gone.
I tried not to let the thought swallow me whole as I sat in Kasha’s living room with her, Nic, and Mel. We were knee-deep in planning Rashad’s birthday party at Stacks’ club, and Denver Richmond was already lined up to handle the decorating.
“We’ll need her to work overnight,” Kasha said, scribbling notes on a yellow legal pad. “That way the setup won’t mess with business hours.”
Mel nodded, sipping on her wine. “And I can handle the cake situation. There’s a girl I know. Her stuff is good, and she does custom designs. We can get it in the boxing theme that’ll blend in good with the aesthetics.”
“I’ll deal with the guest list. Family and close friends only. Maybe a few fans who want to show their respect.” Nic mentioned as she leaned back against the arm of the couch.
“Sounds good,” I said, jotting a reminder in my phone. “He’ll love that.”
Kasha smiled at me knowingly. “Girl, listen to you. ‘I know him.’ Somebody is head over heels.” She bumped me with her shoulder.
“Just focus on the party.” I simpered.
That caused the girls to laugh before the conversation turned back to planning. Stacks said we could use the club’s DJ, and Denver promised the entire space would be everything that we envisioned. After a while, Mel turned to Nic. “So how are you feeling? You’re not sick anymore, right?”
Nic set her phone down, rubbing her small belly. “Not like I was in the beginning. The morning sickness had me miserable for weeks. Now, I’m just tired. Benny keeps me busy enough, and this one’s already acting like their daddy and brother.”
“Girl, you gone have your hands full. Buck and Benny already have you by the edges; add this new baby, and you gone need the authorities,” Kasha laughed.
“Buck swears he’s ready.” Nic smirked. “Talking about if this one is a girl, I’ll be pregnant again before my six weeks is up. I told him he’s a gah damn lie. I’m not letting him or his dick anywhere near me.”
We all laughed, the tension breaking for a moment. It felt good to be surrounded by them, talking anything instead of the shadow that kept hovering over me. Still… somewhere deep down, I couldn’t shake it. I know he was still out there watching and waiting for the right chance to make his move.
“I’m thinking black, gold, and deep red,” Mel said, holding her phone out so we could all see the mood board she’d put together. “Something classy but still Juke. You know he wouldn’t want all that soft and frilly shit.”
Kasha nodded. “Facts, and Denver can work with that. She’s the best when it comes to flipping a room. You want people to walk in, and the vibe just hits them.”
“We could even have his boxing highlights playing on the big screen.” Nic grinned.
“Mmm… he’ll love that.”
They all gave me that look.
I smirked. “What?”
Kasha leaned forward with her chin in her hand. “You’re just cute,” she simpered. “Planning a party for your man.”
I bit my lip and looked down at my notes, trying to hide the smile tugging at my lips. That’s when it slipped out.
“I’m pregnant,” I blurted.
The words hit the room like a bomb. Silence fell so heavy you could hear a pin drop. All three of them froze with wide eyes.
“Pregnant!” Nic squealed, damn near jumping off the couch.
“Oooh, bitch!” Mel clapped her hands together.
Kasha gasped and reached over to grab my arm. “Soph, are you serious?”
“Yeah. I found out last week.”
“When are you due? Did you go to the doctor yet?” Mel asked, firing off question after question.
“Not yet,” I admitted. “It’s still early. I just… I’ve been holding it in.”
“Why?” Nic squinted in my direction. “You haven’t told him yet?”
“No… not yet.”
“Why not?” Kasha asked, her voice gentle but firm.
I sighed, rubbing my palms on my thighs. “Because I don’t know if he even wants kids. I don’t want to spring this on him, and it not be what he wants.”
They all looked at me like I’d lost my mind.
Mel spoke up first. “Girl… did y’all ever use protection?”
“No…” I shook my head slowly.
“Then what the hell are you scared of?” Mel threw her hands up. “If he wasn’t ready, he wouldn’t be fuckin’ you raw. So, he better get ready. I’ll tussle with his big ass.”
“I’m just happy somebody’s pregnant with me this time.” Nic grinned.
That made us all laugh, even though my nerves were all over the place.
“Sophi, listen to me.” Kasha squeezed my hand. “You are not alone in this. No matter what happens, we’re family, and we got you. We’re walking with you through all of it.”
I blinked fast to keep the tears I’d been fighting all week from finally falling.
These women… my cousins… my friends, weren’t letting me face this by myself.
Even though fear still twisted in my gut, for the first time since I saw those two pink lines, I didn’t feel so alone.
But what if they were wrong? What if Rashad saw me as baggage now, weighed down with more than he bargained for?
I tried shaking the thought off, but it still lingered.
The what-ifs were still dangling around me.
***
I’ve been home for a few hours now, and I was currently curled up on the couch with the TV on but not really paying it any attention.
My mind was too loud to focus. Every tick of the clock felt like it was dragging me closer to a truth I couldn’t keep from him forever.
The door opened, and Rashad swaggered in looking like he knew he was that nigga.
He dressed simple in a pair of gray sweats and a white t-shirt, but he made it look good.
He dropped his bag by the couch before he leaned down, pressing a kiss against my lips like he’d been waiting to do that all day.
“Missed you,” he murmured.
“I missed you too,” I countered, as a small smile spread across my face.
“How was your day?”
“It was aight.” He shrugged. “It was busy for a minute. Worked with a couple kids before I got some rounds in myself. After that, I stopped by my mama’s before I came home. She asked about you.”
That made my cheeks warm. “That’s sweet.”
“Yeah… you’re out here making good impressions and shit.” He smirked.
While he was still rambling about his day, all I could do was nod, and pretend to listen, but my head was somewhere else. The girls’ words were weighing heavy on me. I couldn’t take it anymore, so I just blurted it out like I did with the girls.
“I’m pregnant.”
He froze mid-sentence, staring at me like he wasn’t sure he heard right. The silence stretched, while my heart was pounding a mile a minute.
“You’re not happy?” I whispered.
His eyes softened while his chest rose with a shaky breath, and then he shook his head quickly.
“Am I happy? Lovie, I’m—” his voice cracked as he pulled me into his arms, holding me like I might disappear.
“I’m happy as hell. You just caught me off guard.
I’ain never been this fuckin’ happy in my life. ”
Hearing him admit he was happy about this baby had me releasing the breath and the tears I was holding before I circled my arms around his neck and buried my face into his chest. He pulled back just enough to look at me, his thumb brushing away the tears sliding down my cheeks.
“We’re about to have a family,” he said low, voice thick. “You’on even know what that means to me.”
I kissed him, slow and lingering, letting the moment sink into both of us.
As his lips pressed against mine, I melted into the warmth of his embrace and the unspoken vow between us.
I kissed him again, deeper this time, and he rested his forehead against mine, breathing me in like he needed the moment just as much as I did.
His hand stayed on my stomach, firm, protective, like he was already claiming what was ours.
For the first time in a long time, I didn’t feel fear pressing in from the outside. I felt safe. I felt wanted.