Page 11 of Juke
“You stayed?” Deion raised a brow. “When the fuck you start doing sleepovers?”
“Chill out,” I cut in. “I slept on the couch. I’ain on that type of time with her.”
“But you care, though,” MJ interjected. “You don’t just crash on couches for every chick.”
“She ain’t every chick,” I said, without thinking.
“Uh huh,” Deion smirked. “So what is she?”
“None of your fucking business,” I snapped.
“Aight… just don’t start something if you ain’t ready to finish it. From the way you explain the shit, she’s clearly already been through enough.”
“I know,” I said, voice lower now. “That’s why I’m there. I ain’t tryna play her. I just… ain’t letting her go through this shit alone.”
We went quiet again for a moment before Deion broke the silence like his ignorant ass always did.
“I still think you a bitch, but at least this time it’s for a good cause.”
“Keep playing and I’ma put you on yo’ neck,” I warned.
“You wish, muthafucka.” He grinned. “I’ll even let you stretch first.”
MJ laughed as we walked toward the sparring mats.
I was always ready to fight… and now? I had a reason to more than I ever did.
***
I left the gym just after five, soreness in my shoulders and sweat still clinging to my back. The fight offer, the jokes, the weight of everything riding in silence beside me as I drove home. I pulled out my phone and hit up Buck.
“Yo,” he answered on the second ring.
“Aye, I need to holla at you.”
“You good?”
“Yeah… just need to go over some shit with you.”
“Pull up to Vault. I’ll be in my office.”
I hung up without another word and headed home to shower and change first.
When I pulled up at Vault, it was already busy. The night crowd was filing in while the ones from earlier were either wrapping things up or trying to win their money back. Security nodded me through, and I went straight upstairs, where Buck’s office was located. When I made it to his office, the door was cracked, so I knocked on the door before stepping in. Buck was behind the desk. Stacks was leaned back on the couch that lined the wall, arms crossed, while Kilo was posted in a chair that sat in the corner.
“The champ is here,” Buck announced when I walked in the room.
“Nigga got jokes,” I chuckled.
“Sit yo’ tight-lipped ass down,” Stacks said, kicking a chair out with his foot. “We were just talking ’bout yo’ ass.”
“The fuck y’all talking ’bout me for?” A lot of people wouldn’t dare question these niggas, but they bled just like I did. If it came down to it, I’d shoot my way out this muthafucka.
“Calm yo’ hostile ass down,” Buck interjected. “Ya people found anything out yet?”
I leaned back in my seat and rubbed my hand down my face. “Yeah, that’s why I wanted to talk to y’all. Deion found something the other day. That nigga’s parole hearing got bumped up. It’s in the next couple of days.”
“You sure?” Stacks asked as he sat forward.
