Page 32 of Juke (DeLuca Brothers #4)

Epilogue

Sophi

two years later…

Today was Liberty’s birthday party, and the family was getting together for a small celebration. Mel wanted everyone there early, but my husband had other plans.

“C’mere, Lovie,” he murmured, pulling me back against him.

“Rashad…” I tried to sound firm, but it came out more like a plea. “We gotta get ready.”

“We still got time,” he said, already easing me onto my back. “I won’t even take that long,” he lied.

I bit down on my lip, trying to stand firm, but I was losing badly. “Dominic’s awake.”

“Then you better be quiet, mama.”

He didn’t waste any time sliding into me and making my body quake underneath him. He delivered deep, intentional strokes that had my body surrendering in no time.

“Relax… Lovie. You know how to take this dick so act like it.” He knew what he was doing, and my body did exactly what he wanted it to do.

“Ooh…Rashad…shit,” I whimpered.

“Shh,” he whispered. “Dommy gone hear you.”

I clung to him, muffling my cries against his chest, as he groaned low and deep, succumbing to his own release.

“Shit, Lovie,” he groaned.

When it was over, we lay tangled for a second, catching our breath before Rashad kissed my forehead and rolled away, heading toward the shower. “Now we can get ready.”

I sat up, smoothing my hair. “Mel’s gonna kill us if we’re late.”

“She’ll be alright. We’ll be there in time.”

***

By the time I padded down the hall to get Dominic dressed, She was sitting on the floor with her stuffed rabbit, Bunny.

leaned on the doorframe, admiring my baby girl, who looked just like her daddy.

We named her after our middle names, Dominic Nicole.

She has been the biggest blessing to the both of us, and she doesn’t even know it.

“Dommy girl, we gotta get ready for your cousin’s party. ”

Her head popped up, with her big brown eyes shining. “Mommy, Daddy do it.”

“Daddy’s in the shower. I can do it.”

“No.” She stomped her little foot and clutched Bunny tighter. “Daddy!”

I exhaled, half-annoyed, half-amused. “So, Mommy doesn’t know how to put clothes on you?” I asked.

“No, I want Daddy to do it!” she pouted.

Right on cue, Rashad stepped into the bedroom dressed in sweats and a tank top. Dominic squealed as soon as she saw him.

“Daddy!” she squealed, arms stretched high.

He smirked at me before crouching down to scoop her up. “What’s wrong with Mommy helping you out?”

“Mommy too slow,” Dominic said seriously, patting his damp shoulder.

“Excuse me?” I raised my brow at the two of them.

“You heard her,” Rashad laughed. “Now go get dressed while I get her straight. We already know you’re the slow one.” He smirked.

I shook my head, smiling as I headed into our room. “Fine, I’ll take my shower then. Y’all got it.”

By the time I came out dressed, Dominic was prancing around the living dressed like her daddy’s twin. He loved dressing her like a little boy, and I had no problem with it.

“Look who’s finally ready,” Rashad spoke as I entered the living room.

“Whatever. I see y’all twinning today.”

“I look like Daddy, Mommy!” Dominic expressed.

“I see, baby. You ready to go?”

She nodded her head and lifted her arms so her daddy could carry her.

Rashad strapped Dominic into her car seat while I slid into the passenger side.

She babbled the entire ride, singing some made-up song about cake and balloons.

I caught Rashad’s eye at a red light, and I knew we were thinking the same thing.

Life had changed. Slowed in some ways, sped up in others. But it felt right.

Mel and Kilo’s house wasn’t far, and as we pulled up, I could already hear voices and laughter spilling out onto the porch. It was Liberty’s big day. She was officially a teenager, and that was a big deal.

“Party!” Dominic clapped her hands.

Rashad killed the engine, chuckling. “Yeah, baby girl. It’s party time.”

When we walked inside, the living room was buzzing.

Mel really went all out for Liberty’s thirteenth birthday.

Their home was decorated in different shades of pink, and one of the walls were decorated with a picture of Liberty as a backdrop.

We walked closer inside and noticed the men were lined up at the sliding glass door like they were on a mission, eyes locked on the backyard.

“Why y’all look like the Secret Service?” I asked as I approached them.

Buck didn’t take his eyes off the yard. He jabbed Rashad in the shoulder with two fingers. “Didn’t I tell that lil’ boy not to bring his ass back over here? Juke, snatch his ass up.”

“Snatch who?”

“That lil’ muthafucka all in Liberty’s face,” Buck growled.

Before Rashad could even react, Nic’s voice cut sharp from around the corner. “Lincoln, don’t you start no shit. You step foot out that door and embarrass my niece on her birthday, I promise you won’t sleep in our bed tonight.”

“And if you hype Rashad up to do something stupid, I’ll drag both of y’all myself. Leave my damn daughter alone,” Mel fussed.

“Nic, you got me fucked up,” Buck started. “And Thugga, you shut up. When y’all asses ’round here being grandparents and shit, don’t call me and say shit because I’ma mind my business.”

“Lincoln, shut the fuck up,” Kilo snapped. “Why the fuck would you say that?” he frowned.

“Don’t talk to me. Talk to the lil’ nigga that has your daughter showing all thirty-two of her gah damn teeth.”

“How about y’all get from over there and leave those kids alone. Besides, Jace and Keenan are out there, and they won’t let too much go on,” Kasha input.

“Yeah, aight,” was Kilo’s response.

CRASH!

Stacks groaned, dragging his palm down his face. “Buck, I’m billing you for whatever that was. I know this was one of yours.”

“Don’t worry ’bout my kids, bitch.”

Nic lifted her cup without looking up. “Not too much on my babies, but… yeah. That was probably one of ours.”

“Shaun plays rougher than all the boys put together. She don’t know her own strength.” Kasha cackled.

Buck and Nic named their daughter Nishaun since they didn’t name Benny after Auntie Shaunie like all of them were and the other kids.

We were still laughing when Dominic came barreling out of the playroom. Shaun was right behind her, dragging a toy truck with one wheel dangling.

“Mommy!” Dominic cried, tugging at my leg. “Shaun did it!”

Shaun’s little voice fired right back. “Nuh…uh! Dommy did it!”

“It wasn’t me this time, Dad, I swear,” Jet said with Theo following close behind.

Stacks just looked at Buck and said nothing.

“Fuck out my face, Jackson.” He waved Stacks off and went to pick up Shaun.

I loved when we all got together like this. We were chaotic yet peaceful and I loved every minute of it.

***

The whole house shifted when Mel called everybody into the living room.

Liberty sat front and center at the table with a pile of wrapped boxes stacked high.

She looked so grown with her braids styled and hanging down her back.

She had on a cute off the shoulder top that wasn’t too grown and a pair of ripped jeans and rose gold low Jordan 11s.

“Alright,” Mel announced, clapping her hands. “Y’all sit down and let her open these gifts in peace.”

Dominic and Shaun wiggled into the front row on the rug, clapping like they were part of the show.

Jet squeezed in with them, while Theo stuck close by his sister like he was Liberty’s personal bodyguard.

Liberty tore into her first few gifts—shoes, clothes, some lip gloss.

Every “thank you” came with a shy smile that made my heart smile.

She was turning into a little lady right before us.

She hadn’t been around that long, but she fit right in.

The moment lil’ Ky held out a small box with both hands, the room went quiet. Liberty opened it slowly, then gasped when she saw the necklace inside. It was a simple gold necklace with a heart charm embedded with small diamonds.

“Oh, my God…” she whispered. “Thank you, Ky. I love it.” She blushed.

The men reacted all at once.

“Hell nah,” Buck barked, standing halfway up. “Where the hell you get money for that, lil’ man?”

“That’s a good question.” Kilo input. “You ain’t even old enough to work, so where you get the money to get that?”

“My aunt helped me buy it.” he explained.

“Uh huh,” Buck cut him off, pointing a finger like a gun. “You better not be thinking that necklace comes with nothing more than a thank you.”

“Uncle Buck, please,” Liberty groaned.

Before it could calm down, Keenan piped up from the corner, smirking. “Man, he better not think she gone give him none just ‘cause he bought a necklace. Fuck ’round and get his ass beat.”

“Beat the fuck up, too.” Jace co-signed.

“Keenan!”

“Jace!” Mel and Kasha blurted at the same time.

Nic smacked Keenan upside his head. “Boy, you better learn when to keep them thoughts in your head.”

“Jace, don’t make me act up,” Kasha warned. “And Jackson, don’t you say nothing.”

“Nah, let ’em rock. He needs to know that they’ll be consequences to any ungodly actions,” Buck interjected.

Liberty buried her face in her hands. “Y’all are so embarrassing.”

“Pretty necklace!” Dominic yelled. My poor baby didn’t know what was going on.

That broke the tension just enough for laughter to spill out again. The boy sat down, and Liberty hugged him quick before the men noticed.

***

By the time we pulled into the driveway, Dominic was slumped in her car seat…

out cold. Getting her ready for bed was a tag-team effort.

Rashad carried her in while I grabbed her bag.

She barely stirred when I wiped her down and slipped her into her pajamas.

By the time we were done, she was mumbling about balloons and cake, fighting sleep with heavy eyes.

Rashad laid her down gentle, tucking Bunny under her arm. “Night, baby girl,” he whispered, kissing her forehead. She sighed once before rolling onto her side.

When we made it into our room, Rashad peeled his shirt, and I admired him with no shame.

“You staring, Lovie.” He smirked.

“Maybe I am,” I shot back.

He gave me a smoldering look before he came to join me.

“I love everything about you. You know that?”

I nodded.

He turned toward me, eyes steady. “Didn’t think I’d get this far. Back then… I figured I’d die with my fists up before I ever had a shot at this… with somebody like you.”

“But you did.” I simpered.

He leaned back against the headboard, tugging me with him until I was curled at his side. His arm settled over my shoulders. “You remember the first night? You ain’t even trust sitting in the same room with me.”

“And you didn’t say a word half the time,” I reminded him, laughing. “Just sat there giving me my space.”

“I was studying you. I knew if I made the wrong move, I’d fuck up my chance, but look at us now. Married with a beautiful baby girl like her mama and our whole lives ahead of us.”

“I never thought I’d feel safe again… laugh this much… or love this easy,” I admitted.

He kissed the top of my head. “That’s all I ever wanted to give you. I wanted to be your safe place.”

“And you gave me that plus more.”

His lips brushed mine, with a kiss that said everything his words couldn’t. When he pulled back, his voice dropped to a whisper. “You’re my peace, Sophi… my win. Better than any fight that I’ve ever won. You and Dommy are my everything.”

“And you’re my calm… my peace. I didn’t think I deserved it, but you showed me I did, and for that I’ll always love you,” I whispered.

“I love you more, Lovie,” he murmured back.

We didn’t start easy, but we built this… brick by brick… day by day. A life I used to only dream about, and I’ll thank Rio for that. Had he not made my life hell, then this man couldn’t have come in and made it my heaven.

The End!!!