Page 52 of Juke
“Aight.” He nodded. “Y’all meet me in my office.” We watched as he walked off and headed in the direction of his office.
We made it back to the little room I’d been using before the fight; the door shut behind us to muffle the crowd. My gloves were still taped tight, knuckles itching from how bad I wanted to put them through something. “MJ, unwrap me,” I said, dropping into the chair. He didn’t ask questions, just started peeling away the tape. My leg bounced the whole time with my eyes locked on Sophi. She was sitting on the small couch that was on the other side of the room with hands twisting in her lap, looking like she wanted to disappear. The second the last bit of tape was off; I stood and crossed the space between us. I pulled her up, bringing her to my chest. She let out a shaky breath before she broke out into sobs. “Hey, hey,” I murmured, tightening my hold. I glanced over her head at my cousins. “Gimme a minute.” They exchanged a look but nodded and stepped out, shutting the door behind them.
“I’m sorry,” she whispered against me. “I didn’t wanna—”
“Don’t.” I pulled back just enough to look at her. “You ain’t gotta apologize for that shit.” She swiped at her face, but the tears kept coming. “You’re sure it was him?” I asked again. She nodded, eyes locking with mine.
“Yeah. Same eyes… same face. He was just standing there… staring. I’m positive it was him.” My jaw tightened at the fear in her eyes.
“Aight. Wait here. I’m gone shower and change real quick.”
“Can I come with you?” she asked quietly. It hit me in the chest, the way her voice shook. She wasn’t just spooked—she was scared all over again. My irritation wasn’t with her, but with the fact that somebody made her feel like that.
“C’mon.” I held my hand out as she slid her fingers into mine, and I led her into the small bathroom that was in the back of the room. I turned the water on and let the steam fill the space as I stepped under it. Heat rolled over my shoulders, but it didn’t burn near as much as the thought of that nigga being that close to touch her. My mind wasn’t on the fight I’d just won—it was already on the one I knew was coming. By the time I stepped out and toweled off, I was dressed and ready to bury a few niggas.
We were halfway down the hall when I slowed and caught her hand. She looked up at me, brows pinched. “What’s wrong?” she asked.
I stepped in closer, tilting my head so it was just us in our own little space. “You trust me?”
Her eyes softened, and she nodded.
“I need to hear it, Lovie.”
“Yes,” she said, voice steady this time. “I trust you, Rashad.”
I kissed her slowly, holding her jaw just long enough for her to feel it. “You’re safe with me. Remember that shit.”
When we stepped into Buck’s office, everybody was already there… her cousins posted up with their wives close by, along with Robin and CiCi. The second they saw her, the women were on their feet, pulling her into hugs, rubbing her back, whispering to her. I went straight to the corner where Buck and the guys were, eyes on the monitor as they scrubbed through cameraangles. Behind me, I heard a deeper voice. “Sophi, why you ain’t tell us what you been dealing with, baby girl?”
It was her pops, Horace, standing next to her Uncle Grant, both of them looking at her like they were ready to go to war for her. Her mouth opened, but nothing came out. Her eyes glossed over causing tears to spill before she could stop them. That was it for me. I was across the room in seconds, pulling her into me.
“She’s in good hands. I’m gonna take care of him myself. Personally.” I spoke directly to her pops.
Her pops studied me for a second, then nodded. “Make sure you do.”
“You got my word.”
I tipped her chin, so she’d look at me.
“I love you,” I told her, low but firm.
For a second, she just stared at me like she wasn’t sure she heard right.
“You…” Her voice was soft, almost shaky. “You love me?”
I didn’t flinch. “Damn right.”
Her mouth parted, and I swear I saw the exact moment it hit her. “I love you, too.” I was about to kiss her again when Buck’s voice cut through.
“Aye, lovebirds, save that shit for later,” he called from the other side of the room, smirking. “Come look at this shit.”
Sophi turned in my arms, but I still kept my hand at the small of her back as we walked over to where Buck was posted up in front of the monitors.
“Take a look,” he said, rewinding the footage and slowing it down until the crowd filled the screen.
She leaned forward, scanning the sea of faces, and I could feel her tense the second she saw him.
“That’s him,” she said, pointing.
