Page 30 of Juke (DeLuca Brothers #4)

Juke

sometime earlier…

Buck’s living room was loud as usual with laughter bouncing off the walls, and liquor bottles scattered across the table like confetti.

Sophi was curled up next to me on the couch, looking too damn good laughing with Nic, Kasha, and Mel.

I was used to being with my people, but now that Sophi is a permanent fixture in my life, I’ve been kicking it with her people just as much as she kicks it with mine.

“So what you got planned for your birthday, nigga?” Stacks asked, leaning back with Kasha cuddled close to him.

“Nothing big.” I shrugged. “Probably just chill with Lovie and keep it low-key.”

“Nigga, who the fuck is Lovie?” Buck asked.

“Who the fuck you think?” I frowned.

“Nigga, talking ’bout some Lovie. Ol’ pussy-whipped ass. It’s okay if you want to come out and play. You want me to ask for you?” He laughed. “Lovie, can Rashad come out to play?” he joked.

“Goldie, you gone let this nigga come chill with a nigga?” I countered.

“Get fucked up,” he shot back.

“Fuck outta here,” I shot back, smirking at him.

Before Buck could get another word in, Stacks raised his glass. “Y’all niggas sound old. Look, Juke… don’t be sitting in the house. Come through the club for your birthday. I’ll set up a section, and everything’ll be on me. Just on some chill shit.” Stacks offered.

I hesitated, glancing at Soph. “I don’t know, man. I ain’t really pressed.”

“You ain’t gotta be pressed,” Stacks said. “Just slide through. One night. Just family and fun.”

“Aight. I’ll think about it.”

“Ain’t nothing to think about,” Stacks grinned. “Bring yo’ ass, nigga.”

Before I could answer, my phone lit up on the table. The name on the screen made me sit and answer with urgency.

“Wassup?”

“We got eyes on Rio. Just spotted him.”

My whole demeanor shifted. “Where?”

Poke was one of our soldiers that we had looking for Rio. After the other nigga lost his life for letting Rio get this far without telling us, Poke knew how serious this situation was. He gave me the location before I told him I was on the way and hung up.

I slid my phone back into my pocket and turned around with Kilo eyeing me.

“Wassup?” he asked.

“It’s time to move,” was all I said.

“Bet,” Buck said as he stood to his feet.

“Let’s get to it,” Stacks added, already moving.

The girls looked up then, catching the shift in energy. Nic narrowed her eyes at Buck. “Where y’all going?”

“We’ll be back,” Buck said, leaning down to kiss her.

I turned to Sophi, pulling her aside near the hallway. She searched my face, already knowing.

“Be careful,” she whispered, her hands on my chest. “Please… I love you.”

I kissed her slow, steady. “I love you too. Both of you.” My palm pressed against her stomach before I stepped back. “I’ll make it back.”

She nodded, tears threatening, but she didn’t try to stop me.

By the time we hit the front door, I was already dialing. Deion picked up on the first ring, MJ right behind him.

“We got movement,” I said. “Meet me there.”

“Aight,” Deion answered. “We’re on it.”

I hung up, slid behind the wheel, and felt the fire in my chest burn hotter.

Tonight I was putting an end to all this shit.

***

The ride was quiet except for the low hum of the engine.

Buck and Stacks were in the back, while Kilo rode shotgun, but I wasn’t really hearing them.

My head was somewhere else—back on all the shit Sophi told me about Rio.

How he would put his hands on her for the simplest shit.

The fear in her voice when she talked about how he made her feel trapped.

The nightmares that still had her waking up crying.

Every word she gave me about him was all the fuel I needed to eliminate that nigga from her life forever.

I gripped the wheel tighter until the headlights cut across the lot where we were supposed to meet. Two cars were already there… Deion’s and MJ’s, and parked close was a van I ain’t recognize.

I slowed, eyes narrowing. “Who the fuck is that?”

Stacks leaned forward from the back. “That’s my homie, Stone. I hit him up on the way. I figured another set of eyes wouldn’t hurt.”

“Long as he don’t get in the way.”

“He won’t,” Stacks said firmly.

I killed the engine, and we all stepped out. Deion and MJ were already posted up, and Stone stepped out the van, and toward us.

I scanned the building, a rundown spot with boarded windows and a back alley that looked like it ain’t seen light in years. The perfect hideaway.

“Aight,” I said. “We go in here and get this nigga. If any of y’all get to him before I do… save him for me,” I instructed. I didn’t care what else happened here tonight, but if anybody was gone kill Rio… it was gone be me.

Everybody nodded in agreement.

We moved in tight, front door splintering under Deion’s kick.

The air inside was thick, stale—smelled like blood and sweat.

When we walked inside, we saw Rio standing near Boom with a bloody knife in his hand.

I froze just long enough to watch Boom’s knees buckle, his eyes wide as he hit the floor.

His chest rose once, then nothing. Just like that he was gone.

Rio smirked, letting Boom’s body slide down like trash before his hand darted toward his waistband.

Click.

Buck already had the cold steel pressed to the back of his skull before he could even think of his next move. “Don’t even fuckin’ twitch, pussy.” He warned. “I’on wanna hear this nigga’s mouth for killing you before he can.”

Rio chuckled low with no fear in his eyes. “You niggas swear you run shit. Truth is, you just men hiding behind guns.”

“Yeah?” Buck leaned in, the barrel digging deeper into his head. “I fillet niggas for fun and then go home and tuck my son in. Don’t temp me, bitch.”

“Do it then.” Rio taunted.

Buck’s jaw flexed, his finger twitching like he might really end it right there. He looked at me, eyes hard. “Aye, what you want me to do with nigga?”

“Take him to the spot,” I said, as I stepped forward.

Stacks was already pulling his phone out. “Stone, get in here. We got cargo.”

Stone came in without a word, his size alone enough to make Rio glance up. He yanked him by the arm, slamming him against the wall before cuffing his wrists with the zip ties Stacks handed over.

“Load him up,” Stacks ordered.

Stone shoved Rio toward the door, Buck still behind him with his gun steady just in case he tried some shit.

I looked down at Boom one last time. His body was lifeless, and his eyes were still open.

Even in death I could still see the hate he had for me in his eyes.

I could feel it in the way his face was stuck…

bitter to the end. Rio wasn’t getting no easy way out, though.

I was gone make him pay for everything he ever did to Sophi.

***

Stone dragged Rio in like trash and dumped him in the center of the floor.

Even with knowing he wasn’t leaving her alive, the nigga was still running his mouth.

“All this muscle just for me? I thought you was a tough nigga?” He spat blood and grinned.

“Sophi gone come running back when she see I ain’t scared of none of you niggas. ”

Buck slid his gun out and held it toward me. “Go ’head and end this shit ’fore I do.”

“Nah.” I shook my head. “He likes putting his hands on women, right?” I never let my gaze waver as I spoke. “I’ma return the favor.”

“You think you tough, nigga, ‘cause you got a couple wins in a ring? I been fighting my whole life.” He spat.

“Nigga, you been losing your whole life. Shut the fuck up,” Stacks snarled.

I peeled my chain off, then my shirt, laying it all on the table. The room was tense, but Deion leaned against a crate with a grin. “Go show him why you undefeated.”

“I’ll even give you a head start,” I told Rio. “Free that bitch’s hands.”

No sooner than his hands were free he rushed me. I sidestepped that shit, watching him stumble.

“Damn,” Buck cracked up. “Nigga ran past like he missed the exit on the freeway.”

Rio spun around and swung wild. I ducked, then snapped his jaw with a hard right. He stumbled again. This time with his teeth flying out his mouth.

“Gah damn!” Stacks barked out, laughing.

Rio staggered, tried to come again, but the shit was sloppy. I buried a hook in his ribs and felt a few crack under my fists.

“Damn, nigga. You good? You look like you need a timeout or some shit,” Deion joked.

I blacked out and tuned everything around me out as I unleashed everything I had on this bitch ass nigga. Hook after hook, his blood sprayed across the floor. His knees buckled, but I kept swinging.

“Damn, you gone at least pinch the nigga?” Buck taunted. I knew all the jokes were geared towards Rio because this nigga was no match for me.

“Nigga looks like roadkill,” Stacks added.

Rio crumpled to the floor, face a bloody mess. I didn’t stop until MJ barked my name.

“Juke!”

The sound of his voice brought me out of it. My chest was heaving, sweat dripping as I looked down. Rio wasn’t moving. All of Sophi’s fears were finally over.

The room went still before Buck muttered, “Nigga, you could’ve just shot his ass. Instead, you done played Rock ’Em Sock ’Em with his ass.”

This nigga couldn’t be serious for shit.

“You feel better now?” Kilo asked.

I looked at my bloody fists, then back at Rio’s broken body.

“I feel perfect,” I answered honestly.

By the time we left the warehouse, the adrenaline had burned off, but the fire inside me hadn’t.

It didn’t calm until we pulled into Buck’s driveway, and I was able to lay my eyes on Sophi.

She was on her feet the second I stepped through the door, moving so fast it was like she’d been holding her breath until I came back.

I caught her, my hands gripping both sides of her face, steadying her.

I pressed my forehead to hers, closed my eyes, and kissed her slow.

“It’s over,” I whispered.

Her chest hitched, and then the tears came. Not the broken kind I’d seen before, but ones of relief. She buried her face in my chest, sobbing into my shirt. My arms wrapped tight around her, rocking her, my hand smoothing her back.

The room was quiet for a beat, everyone giving us that space. Then Buck’s voice cut through, loud as hell.

“Aye, get your Rock ’Em Sock ’Em ass out my house before you break my shit!”

“This nigga,” I muttered.

By the time we stepped back into the condo, the mood was still light.

She hadn’t said much, but I could visibly see the burden and fear release from her body.

When I finally laid down with her that night, one thought kept replaying in my head.

Everything that was a non-factor was gone.

It was just me, Sophi, and the life we were building together, and I’d kill the entire world before I let anything, or anybody threaten it or take that away.