Page 6 of Juke (DeLuca Brothers #4)

Cardell ‘Boom’ Marshall

I was sick of Juke thinking he was untouchable.

I was gone show his ass. I knew where his stash house was on Manley, and I was gone hit that shit and anybody that was in that muthafucka.

I recruited my boys. Petey, Rico and Dre to go with me.

When we got there, we pulled up around back and parked.

I told Rico to cut the lights, and we all filed out.

Petey kicked the back door in with one swift kick.

Old ass door didn’t even stand a chance.

Once inside, we noticed vacuumed sealed bags of weed in the corner and a cash box on the table, along with a few packs of coke.

On the counter, a burner phone sat on a charger.

Dre started grabbing the dope while Rico hit the cash.

I turned quickly when I heard movement behind me.

Without hesitation, I let off one shot, hitting him in the head.

He didn’t even see the shit coming, dropping him instantly.

“We need to get the fuck outta here,” I ordered.

By the time we pulled off, the entire stash was in our bags. Since Juke wanted to act like I wasn’t shit, let him get this shit back in blood. I left the scene and went straight home, where I had to hear Nessa’s mouth. She always had some shit to say, especially about that nigga. Fuck Juke.

“You need to let that shit go, Cardell.” Her voice cut sharp through the air, same tone she used when we were kids, like she was the oldest and not the other way around.

“Didn’t I tell you not to call me that shit?”

“Nah,” Janessa snapped. “Boom is that dumbass persona you wear around your boys that’s always getting you into dumb shit. Cardell is what Mama named you. The one with a temper, and a death wish if he keeps fuckin’ with Juke.”

“You don’t know what the fuck you talking ’bout.”

“I know enough, and people are already talking. That was you, wasn’t it?”

I said nothing.

She rolled her eyes, disgust thick on her face. “You keep doing dumb shit, and you gone get yourself killed.”

“He took everything from me, Nessa! You forgot that?”

“He whooped your ass three years ago. That’s what the fuck happened. Move on.”

“He took my shine… my title… my respect.”

“No,” she shot back. “You lost all that the minute you started acting like the streets owed you something. Juke didn’t steal shit… you gave it away.”

Before I could snap back, the front door creaked open.

“Ain’t this a pretty picture. My babies in the same room. Somebody mark the fuckin’ calendar.” Our mama, Val, stumbled in, reeking of liquor and funk. Her wig was crooked, and her jeans were stained.

“You need to go lie down, Ma.” Janessa sighed.

“I need a drink,” she slurred. “And a ride to Joe’s. He said he misses me.”

“Joe don’t even like you,” I muttered.

“Still better than your sorry-ass daddy,” she snapped, then laughed like it was funny. “What’s this? A family reunion?”

Janessa ignored her, but I could see it… she was trying not to go off on our mama. The same way I was every time this woman showed up.

Mama turned to me. “You still mad at that Juke boy? Thought you two was friends. You were always following him around like a damn puppy.”

“Shut the fuck up, Ma,” I growled.

“There he go. My lil gangster.” She smiled slow. “Keep barking, baby. Maybe one day you’ll actually bite.” She laughed like the shit she just said was the funniest shit ever.

I walked out before I did something I’d regret and forgot she was my damn mama.

Shit wasn’t always like this. Me and Juke were actually boys.

You saw one; you saw the other… until shit changed.

Juke had my back more times than I could count.

We came up throwing hands in alleyways together before we ever stepped foot in a ring.

So when he hit me with the truth that night…

it cut deeper than any punch he ever threw.

“You moving too fuckin’ sloppy,” he said, voice low. “I’ain gone let you drag me down with you.”

I was leaning on the hood of my car, blunt half-burned in my hand. “The fuck that’s supposed to mean?”

“It means keep my name out that petty shit you got going on,” he snapped. “You out here robbing niggas, doing dumb shit, and telling muthafuckas they know better than to fuck with us? Nigga, who the fuck is us?”

“So you think you better than me now?” I laughed.

He stepped closer. “Nah, but I’m better than this shit.”

“You act like you ain’t never got yo’ hands dirty.”

He stared at me, jaw locked, but he didn’t say nothing. He looked disappointed… like I was beneath him now. That’s what broke me. It wasn’t even what he said… it was how he looked at me. Like I was just another lost nigga from the block… not his brother… not his day one.

“Oh, so you switching up now?” I growled.

He shook his head and stepped back. “Nah, I just ain’t tryna carry dead weight no more.”

I stepped to him. “Fuck you say?”

He didn’t flinch.

“I said I’ain carrying no fuckin’ dead weight,” he repeated before he walked off, leaving me standing there with my fists clenched.

That was the last night we spoke like brothers. After that, I stopped looking at him like family. He wasn’t my brother no more. He was competition… the opps.

***

The moment I stepped into Vault, flashbacks of my first fight with Juke came flooding back.

I knew them niggas had that shit rigged some kind of way.

I just know they did. I didn’t even bother asking where that nigga Buck was.

If he wasn’t downstairs, then I would go find his office.

I made my way to the underground set-up, and it was just my luck that he was down there, and so was Juke’s bitch ass.

Buck’s voice cracked through the air before I stepped inside good. “I know you done lost yo’ gah damn mind. The fuck you on?” He snapped when he saw me approach them.

“I came to talk to you ab—”

“―I’on give a fuck what you came for. You’on walk in my shit like you own this muthafucka.”

This nigga was pissing me off, but I kept my cool. “I came to talk to you ’bout the fight.”

“Nigga, you’on have no representation? You out here free balling?” Buck snarled.

Juke let out a breath that almost sounded like a laugh.

“I’on need another muthafucka talking for me.” I cut my eyes at Juke. “I can handle my own business,” I stated confidently.

“Oh, shit. Sounds like he’s throwing shots outside the ring,” Buck instigated.

Juke chuckled and finally spoke up. “Those gone be the only shots his pussy ass gets to take.” He stood from the wall.

“Hit me up when this nigga can secure my bag.” I watched as he dapped Buck before leaving.

His eyes bore into mine the entire time…

not blinking. Almost like he was taunting me.

The tension sat heavy as he disappeared down the hallway.

“You really wanna die in front of a crowd, huh?” Buck quizzed as he shook his head.

“I’ain worried ’bout that nigga.”

“You should be.” He smirked.

I turned to leave, but not without leaving a message behind.

“Tell ya boy he better hold tight to everything he loves,” I uttered. “This shit don’t stop at the ring.”

“But yo’ life could,” he countered without even looking up.

***

I pulled up to Tina’s around midnight. The lights were on, so I knew she was up waiting for me.

I’ve been dealing with Tina off and on for about five years.

She wasn’t the only chick I was fucking, but she was the main chick I was fucking.

When I walked inside, she was on the couch with her legs tucked underneath her, TV on low, and a big-ass tee sliding off one shoulder.

Her eyes went straight to me as soon as I stepped in.

“Cardell…” she called out.

“Wassup, mama?”

She sat up, stretching a little. She searched my face like she was looking to see what was wrong. “Everything okay?”

“Nah.” I sat down next to her.

“What happened?”

I leaned forward, placing my elbows on my knees. “Ain’t shit for you to worry ’bout. Shit, just fucked up my mood.”

“This got to do with Juke and that rematch?”

Silence.

“Cardell…” she said softer, sitting up. “You really gone go through with this fight?”

I looked her dead in her eyes. “This ain’t no fucking exhibition match, Tina. He’s been walking ’round like I don’t exist. Like I ain’t ever meant shit to his bitch ass. Like my name don’t make noise in this city.”

“Y’all need to let this shit go. Neither one of you has shit to prove. Y’all just on some street nigga ego shit,” she fussed.

I pulled her onto my lap and let my hands grip her bare ass that was barely covered under her shirt. I kissed her lips, and she moaned soft when I bit her neck, rolling her hips against me.

“Take that shit off,” I demanded. I was tired of talking about that nigga.

Doing as she was told, she tossed the shirt to the side. When she was done, I stood and turned her around, pushing her over the back of the couch.

“Tell me who this pussy belong to.”

“You… Cardell—fuck!”

I pushed in deep with no warning. She gasped loudly as I invaded her slick walls.

“That’s what I thought.”

Her moans turned into cries real quick. I gripped her hips, pounding her from behind. I leaned forward and whispered in her ear. “You like the way I fuck you, huh?”

“Yes… fuck… Cardell… yes!” She cried out.

“Say my name again.”

“Cardell… shit!”

“Louder.”

“Cardell! Fuck… please,” she begged.

I flipped her over right before I grabbed her throat and slid back in.

“Take this shit,” I groaned.

“I’m trying… fuck. You feel so good, daddy.”

“Good-fuckin-girl.” I smirked and gave her what she begged for. Deep, aggressive strokes, slamming my hips into hers like I had a point to prove. Our bodies were drenched in sweat, and her screams filled the room.

“Fuuuck!” I grunted through my release.

We lay there breathing heavy, trying to get our breathing under control. Her body stretched across the couch like I’d wrecked her whole soul. While she lay there quietly, I went to get cleaned up and came back, pulling on my jeans while she rolled up.

“You staying?” She asked, not looking at me.

“Nah. I got some shit to move in the morning.”

“Just don’t get yourself killed, Cardell. I mean it,” she voiced right before she lit the blunt.

I grabbed the blunt, took a pull, then passed it back. “Ain’t no nigga killing me, Tina. They know fuckin’ better.”

She nodded, but her eyes said more. I grabbed my hoodie, kissed her cheek, and dipped. I had to get my mind right and be prepared for this war with Juke… in and out the ring.