Page 34 of Juke
“That’s what it looks like.”
He leaned forward, with his elbows on the desk and his voice low and clipped. “I fuck with you, Juke, but you so much as blink wrong with her, I’ll rearrange yo’ fuckin’ jaw. You got that?”
“Loud and clear,” I said. “But if you think you the only one willing to rearrange some shit for L and about her, you got me fucked up.”
“Oh, shit,” Stacks instigated.
Buck leaned back, lips twitching like he wasn’t sure whether to respect me or fight me. “So you claiming her? You got to be since you giving her nicknames and shit.”
I thought about it for a moment. Was I claiming her? Or was I just looking out for her?
“I’m just looking out for her right now,” was all I said.
Buck smirked. “Well, just make sure you keep us updated on that Rio nigga with yo’ looking ass..”
Stacks laughed.
Buck’s expression shifted again, getting back to business. “You heard about that nigga Rell, right?”
“What about him?” I questioned.
“Heard he’s the topic of discussion over in Urbanton.”
“The fuck that gotta do with me?”
“I’m having a fight night here in a few weeks, and I want you and Rell to be the main event. You know, get the people talking, and it’ll be good promo for your rematch with Boom.”
“And if you knock him out, you get bragging rights in both territories,” Stacks added.
“Fuck that nigga, but get with MJ.”
I stood, dapped Stacks, and gave Buck a nod. As I walked out, all I could think about was Sophi, and how much I’d risk just to keep her safe.
***
I sat in the car outside the gym, letting the quiet settle before I made my next move. My thumb hovered over her name for a second before I hit the FaceTime button. Sophi answered on the second ring, and the camera flipped to her face. Her long black hair was in a messy bun, so her pretty ass face was on full display. She was in Buck and Nic’s living room, curled up on the couch, looking comfortable… at peace.
“Hey,” her soft voice greeted.
“Wassup?” I replied, voice lower than I meant.
“You good?” she asked, studying me like she was trying to figure out what was going on behind my eyes.
“Yeah.” I nodded. “I just wanted to check on you.”
She shifted on the couch; one leg tucked under her. “I’m fine. Benny’s been running me crazy, but I’m good.”
Right on cue, the camera shook, and I saw a blur before Benny’s bad ass head popped into the frame. He was grinning hard, breathless like he’d just finished running a marathon.
“Juke! I beat the dinosaurs, and I punched the pillow, and I—”
“Benny,” Sophi warned, trying not to laugh.
“—and I told Auntie Sophi I’m stronger than my daddy.”
“Oh, yeah?” I chuckled.
“Uh huh. I got strong muscles. Wanna see me jump off the couch?”
