Page 24 of Juke
Everything within me went still. “When?”
“My guy just called me. He got out on Monday.”
I stared at him. “And you just now telling me this shit?”
“Nigga, didn’t I say I just found out?” he snapped. “As soon as I confirmed it, I came straight here.”
I tossed the towel down. My fists clenched without me realizing it.
He gave me a knowing look. “So… how you wanna move?”
“I want eyes on him. Wherever he goes… whoever he talks to. If that nigga so much as breathes in the wrong direction… I wanna know.”
Deion nodded. “You got it.”
New Grove wasn’t but an hour and some change from here. It wouldn’t take shit for him to ask a few questions, and those questions led him to Sophi. He may have put the fear of God in her but ain’t a nigga walking gone bitch me. I’d have that nigga begging to go to hell instead having to deal with me.
“So… that fight with Boom. Y’all got a date locked in yet?” he questioned, changing the subject.
I grabbed my towel off the ropes and wiped my neck. “Not yet. His bitch ass ain’t hit MJ back yet.”
Deion raised a brow. “Damn. How he the one pushing for the shit but acting like he’s scared?”
“Boom likes the attention… not the action.” I smirked, but it didn’t reach my eyes. “He gone get what the fuck he’s been asking for, though.”
“You still taking that nigga’s money?”
“Hell yeah,” I chuckled. “He wanna put up twenty to get his ass beat? I’ll damn sure take that shit.”
Deion didn’t say anything else. He bumped my fist and headed toward the front doors. For the rest of my session with Malik, my mind was on Rio and how I was gone break the shit to Sophi. I didn’t want to tell her that shit, but I couldn’t keep it from her either. What I did know was that she didn’t have to worryabout that pussy ass nigga doing shit to her. Not as long as I was walking this Earth.
***
I dropped my bag by the door and kicked off my shoes. The house was dark and quiet except for the light above the stove and the low hum of the refrigerator along with the weight of my own thoughts. The shit Deion laid on me earlier was heavy as fuck. I knew it was bound to happen, and now that it has, all I could think about was keeping Sophi safe. I sat on the couch, elbows on my knees, while my thumb hovered over my screen for a second before I tapped her name. Phone barely rang twice before she answered.
“Hey,” she answered, softly.
“You good?” I asked as I leaned back. Somehow, her voice seemed to settle me.
“Yeah. I was just in here folding my clothes. You?”
“I been at the gym most of the day, so I’m not too long ago getting home.”
“Oh… okay.” I could tell she didn’t know what else to say.
“Yeah.” I rubbed my hand over my face. “Wanted to check in and make sure you were good.”
“I’m okay,” she responded. “You don’t have to worry about me, Rashad.”
My chest got tight every time she said my name. “I wanna see you.” I blurted.
Silence.
“Tonight?” she whispered.
“Yeah, if that’s cool with you.”
I could hear the shift in her breathing. She was nervous.
