Page 9 of Juke (DeLuca Brothers #4)

Sophi

I blinked slowly, taking in the unfamiliar ceiling.

The scent of linen and cedarwood filled my nostrils.

The space I was in wasn’t mine, but I still felt safer than anywhere I’d been in a long time.

The events of the night before came back to me in pieces.

I sat up in Rashad’s bed, pulling the covers around me and trying to shake the uneasy feeling that was trying to consume me.

Rio was out, and even with Rashad’s arms wrapped around me just hours ago, the thought of Rio finding me again made my stomach twist.

“Aye,” Rashad’s voice rumbled from the doorway. I turned to find him standing there, fresh from the shower with a towel around his neck and his ball shorts riding low on his hips, exposing a part of him I shouldn’t be thinking about. “You good?” he asked, stepping into the room.

I nodded, but he saw through it.

“Talk to me.”

I took a breath. “I’m just… thinking. Still tryna process it all.”

Rashad crossed the room and sat on the edge of the bed. “You scared he gone come lookin’ for you?”

Silence.

“I’ain gone lie to you,” he started. “He might try, but that’s gone be the worst decision of his life.” I heard the underlying message loud and clear. I knew he wouldn’t be locked away forever, but knowing he’s out made it real. It made me realize that he could have access to me.

“You wanna come to the gym with me? Keep your mind busy.” Rashad’s deep timbre broke me from my terrifying thoughts.

I shook my head. “No… I just wanna go home and try to get myself together.”

He didn’t push it. Just grabbed his keys and gestured toward the door. “Come on. I’ll follow you.”

The ride back to my place was quiet. Rashad trailed behind me, on guard as always. When we pulled up, he walked in first and did a sweep of the condo like a man on a mission. Once he was sure everything was in place, he came back to where I stood in my living room.

“You good now?” he asked.

“Yeah. Thanks.”

He stepped in closer and leaned down, pressing a kiss to my forehead. That kiss wasn’t like the others… it lingered.

“I’ll check in later,” he assured before he left.

I nodded, too stunned to speak. He left without another word, and the door clicked behind him. I stood there still feeling the press of his lips on my skin. That kiss felt way more than protection. It made me feel wanted, and that scared me even more than Rio ever could.

***

Mel glanced at Nic’s midsection, eyes narrowing like she knew something we didn’t. “So… you gone tell them or should I?”

Nic shot her a look. “Mind your business.”

Kasha perked up. “Tell us what?”

I blinked. “Wait… tell us what?”

Nic sucked her teeth. “Don’t act like y’all don’t already know.”

“You’re pregnant?” I gasped.

Nic sighed and threw a chip at Mel. “Yes. And before y’all start—Buck already knows. That man has been acting as if I sneeze hard my water gone break.”

Mel cracked up.

“He tried to tell me not to go to the store by myself the other day. I said, ‘Boy, I’m seven weeks pregnant, not seven months.’ His response was, ‘Don’t piss me off, Goldie.’”

We all laughed.

“You must’ve forgotten who you’re married to,” Kasha laughed.

“He’s stupid,” Nic said. “He’s already thinking of baby names. Talking about Benny needs a brother.”

“He kinda do, though,” Mel said.

“Well, how about you have him another cousin and stay out my uterus,” Nic fussed, causing us to laugh.

“I’m really happy for you, Nic. For both of you.”

She softened. “Thanks, Soph. It wasn’t planned, but… it feels right.”

For a little while, the fear faded, and all that was left was sisterhood. My phone buzzed again, and when I saw Mama flash across the screen, I stepped out into the hallway to take it.

“Hey, Mama.”

“Hey, baby girl. Just wanted to hear your voice. You alright?”

“Yeah,” I said, pushing a little smile into my tone. “I’m good. The girls are over. We’re just hanging out.”

“I figured. I know they keep you lifted. And how’s Rashad?”

“He’s doing okay,” I simpered.

“You sound different when you talk about him,” she announced, like she was teasing but also like she knew something. “You like him?”

“Mama…” I groaned.

“Alright, alright. I won’t pry.” She giggled.

There was a bout of silence before her voice dropped a little.

“Listen, I… I didn’t wanna upset you, but Kamerio came by the other day.”

Everything inside of me went still. “What?” I rushed out.

“He showed up yesterday. He said he just wanted to talk to you. Said things ended messy, and he wanted to clear the air.”

“Mama,” I whispered, my throat tightening. “What did you tell him?”

“That you moved to Cannon Hills. He seemed… I don’t know, sincere.”

Tears blurred my vision. “He’s not, Mama. He’s dangerous.”

“What? Sophi, what you mean?” she questioned.

“I gotta go,” I blurted, my hands already shaking. “I’ll call you back later. I promise.”

“Sophi—”

“I love you.”

I hung up before she could say anything else. When I stepped back into the room, I guess my face said everything.

“Who was that?” Kasha asked, focused on me.

“My mama,” I whispered, sinking into the couch. “She said Rio came by.”

“The fuck?” Nic snapped, eyes wide.

“He told her he wanted to talk… to make peace or some shit. She didn’t know what he did to me. She thought she was being helpful.”

Mel moved closer. “Did she tell him where you are?”

I nodded.

“Shit,” Nic huffed. “Let me call Lincoln.”

“No… don’t get them involved.”

Kasha’s hand slid over mine. “If you don’t want your cousins to know, then you need to let Juke know.”

Before I could even respond, my phone buzzed again. When I looked at it, it was Rashad FaceTime’n me. I tried to hide my fear, but it was no use. He saw right through it. His face filled the screen, damp with sweat, eyes sharp the second he saw me.

“What happened?” he asked, low and serious.

“My mama said Rio came by. He asked about me… and she told him I moved out here.”

His jaw clenched, and I could see the fire behind his eyes.

“She didn’t know. She doesn’t know that I didn’t want to see him.”

He stared for a second longer, then said calmly, “I’m on the way.

” He hung up before I could protest. I sat there, still holding the phone, heart pounding against my ribcage while the girls closed in around me, and for the first time since all of this started… I felt like I wasn’t facing this alone.

It wasn’t long before Rashad stepped inside my room like a storm dressed in all black.

He sported a nasty scowl on his face, jaw tight, and energy hot enough to shame the devil.

Even looking like he was ready to murder someone, he still looked fine as ever.

The girls turned as he came in, all going quiet. Not scared… just watchful.

“Hey, Juke,” Kasha said first, giving him a soft nod.

“Juke,” Nic greeted, her tone clipped but not rude.

“You good?” Mel added, eyes bouncing between the two of us.

He nodded once. “I’m straight.”

Mel stood, arms crossed. “Good. ’Cause if you gone be in her life, then you need to protect her better than the last man she trusted.”

Rashad didn’t flinch… just looked her dead in the eye. “She’s in good hands. Y’all got my word.”

They stared each other down for a beat before Mel nodded slowly, satisfied.

“Alright then.”

The girls hugged me tight before they left.

When the door closed shut behind them, Rashad turned to me. “What exactly did your mama say?”

I exhaled. “She said he came by and asked about me. He told her wanted to talk to me and to make peace or whatever the hell that means. She told him I moved to Cannon Hills. She doesn’t know what he put me through, Rashad. She was just talking, not knowing she just handed me over to the devil.”

“Pack a bag.”

I blinked. “What?”

“You coming to my house.”

I shook my head. “No, Rashad, I can’t—”

“Why not?”

“Because of Nessa,” I said, voice a little sharper than I meant. “I’m not trying to be in nobody’s way.”

His jaw flexed. “Fuck Nessa.”

My eyes widened. “You serious?”

“I don’t give a fuck what she thinks. You need to be somewhere safe. That’s with me. I can’t protect you from across town, Sophi.”

“But—”

“I’ain asking,” he grit with finality. “Pack a bag. You staying with me until this shit is dealt with. I mean that.”

I didn’t say another word… just turned and went to my room, hands shaking as I grabbed a bag and started packing. Because the truth was… I didn’t want to argue. Deep down, I wanted to go. Not just because I was scared, but because being with him felt like the safest place I’d ever been.

***

The ride to his condo was quiet. Not uncomfortable, but weighted…

like we were both thinking about everything that just happened.

Rashad kept one hand on the wheel, the other draped over his lap, fingers occasionally twitching like he wanted to hit something.

When we got there, he let me walk in first. I slipped my shoes off and stood awkwardly for a second, not sure what to do.

But then I felt his presence behind me… close but not pressing… just there.

“You good?” he asked low.

I nodded.

He waited until I set my things down and sat on the couch before he joined me… legs wide with his elbows on his knees.

“I wanna ask you something.” His voice echoed through his space.

“Okay.” I swallowed.

“You ready to tell me what happened?” His voice was even, but there was something beneath it. Like he already knew the story, just wanted to hear it from me.

I took a long breath. “His name’s Kamerio. Everybody calls him Rio. We were together for a while. At first, it was good… real good. But then the little things started—jealousy… control. The first time he hit me; I thought it was my fault. The second time, I knew it wasn’t, but I stayed.”

Rashad didn’t move or flinch. He just listened.

“I tried to leave a few times, but he always found me. He said I was his, and if I ever left for good, he’d kill me.”

His jaw ticked hard, but he didn’t speak right away.