Page 12 of Juke
“I’m positive.” I nodded.
Kilo leaned forward now. “Does she know?”
“I told her last night.”
“So how’d she take it?” Stacks quizzed.
“She ain’t say much at first,” I said, leaning forward with my elbows on my knees. “But I knew that shit was bothering her by the look on her face and the fear in her eyes.”
Buck frowned. “You think she even know what that nigga on? Like… what he’s capable of?”
“She knows something,” I said. “She might not have said it out loud, but she felt that shit. I saw it all over her face.”
“She ever tell you what he did?” Stacks asked.
“Nah,” I said. “I asked once, and all she said was he was a fucked up nigga.”
“So you just piecing shit together off of vibes?” Buck raised a brow.
“Shit, that’s all I got to go off of,” I shrugged. “But when I said his name, she damn near stopped breathing. You could see the fear in her eyes… like she just shut down. That’s a different kind of fear. You can’t fake that shit.”
All three of them sat quietly for a second, letting my words sink in.
“She moves like a woman that’s been through some shit,” I added. “I don’t know the story, but I know enough to take it seriously.”
“That’s all we need.” Kilo nodded.
We all sat in silence for a moment letting that shit sink in. I know they wanted their cousin safe, and as long as I was around, she would be. I don’t know why… I just knew that I was.
“Aye, how’s the gym holding up?” Kilo asked, shifting the conversation.
“Shit’s straight,” I said, grabbing my water. “Got a couple new heads, young and hungry. One of ’em fast, but he ain’t got no gah damn discipline. I keep correcting the shit, but since he thinks he knows more than me, I’m gone let his lil’ ass get knocked on his ass. Maybe he’ll listen then.”
“Sounds like Jet.” Stacks chuckled. “That lil’ muthafucka ran through the house last night butt-naked with Vaseline on his head.”
“A menace.” Kilo snorted.
“He ain’t even hit three yet,” Stacks added. “Kash done gave up tryna chase his bad ass. She just yells from wherever she’s at now and he stops, but that shit don’t even last long.”
Kilo leaned back. “I feel that. Between Mel and these damn kids, I’m lucky if I sleep past seven.”
“Don’t act like you’on love that shit,” Buck said. “Soft ass.”
“Ain’t shit soft ’bout me, nigga,” Kilo countered.
“Yeah, aight.” Stacks smirked.
“I’on even say shit no more. I let Mel run the show. I’m just there for moral support.”
“You just scared of her mean ass,” I added.
“I’ain scared of shit,” Kilo countered.
“Theo got you wrapped around his lil’ ass fingers already,” Buck said. “And Liberty be looking at you like you a bald-headed Jesus or some shit.”
“Nigga, did you just say a bald-headed Jesus?” Stacks laughed.
“You an ignorant ass nigga,” I co-signed.
