Page 53 of Juke
Buck froze the frame on Rio’s face, then glanced at me.
“I’m taking her home,” I told him. “I’ll get up with y’all later.”
“Bet.”
Before we left, her pops stepped in front of us. “Baby girl, you call me if you need anything. I mean anything.”
“I will, Daddy,” she said, hugging him tight.
“You make damn sure she’s safe. Don’t make me regret trusting you with my baby girl.”
I met his stare without blinking. “Ain’t nothing happening to her on my watch.”
We held that look for a beat, then he gave me a short nod and stepped back so we could go.
By the time we hit the hall, my mind was already gone from the room. I got the confirmation I needed, and I wasn’t stopping until Rio was gone for good. Sophi’s safety wasn’t just important to me. It was everything.
13
Kamerio ‘Rio’ Hughes
sometime earlier…
It hasn’t been long since I touched down in Cannon Hills, but every day feels heavier. I didn’t come here to relax. I came here for one reason. To get my woman back and remind her the kind of nigga she was dealing with. She has a lot of nerve. While I was locked up, I thought about her every damn day. I expected her to hold me down; wait like she was supposed to. But instead, she bailed—no letters, no visits, nothing. And now I find out she’s out here smiling in another man’s face like I never existed? The last time I saw her plays in my head like it happened yesterday.
I came in from handling business, and she was in the kitchen, hair tied back, moving around quietly like she always did whenI was home. “Something smells good,” I said, sliding my arms around her from behind.
She gave a small smile. “Dinner’s almost ready.”
We sat down to eat. She barely spoke unless I asked her something first. I asked about her day, and she told me little things, keeping it light like she knew I liked. Then she shifted the mood. Her voice was soft, careful. “Rio… maybe we could spend more time together.”
“You feel like what?” I set my fork down slow.
“I just… miss how we used to be.” Her eyes flicked down to her plate.
I leaned back, studying her. “Don’t start making it sound like I’m not here enough. You got everything you need, don’t you?”
“Yes.” She nodded quickly.
“Then don’t ruin the night talking ’bout things you don’t need to be worried about.”
“Okay,” she mumbled.
I got up, walked to her side, and tipped her chin up so she had to meet my eyes. “You know I take care of you, right?”
“Yes,” she whispered. My grip tightened just enough to make sure she got the point.
“Then stop acting like I don’t.” I let her go, and she stayed quiet, dropping her eyes back on her plate.
That was one of the last nights we shared before everything went sideways. Not long after, I caught a case. I thought she’d be there when I got out., but instead, she disappeared. Now she’s out here with somebody else, acting like I never mattered? Nah… I’ain letting that shit happen. She’s gone remember exactly who the fuck she belongs to.
The anger from that day still sits in my chest like it never left. That’s alright. I got time, and I got help. Boom’s been putting me up on game since I got here. Even introduced me to his sister, Nessa. She’s been a nice… distraction. Like now, she wason her back, nails biting into the sheets, eyes locked on me like she couldn’t decide if she wanted to curse me out or pull me deeper. Her breath kept catching every time I pushed into her, her thighs tightening around my waist like she didn’t want to let me go. “Mmm… just like that,” she breathed out, head tipping back when I shifted my angle.
“Right there?” I taunted as I gripped her hips and dragged her closer to the edge of the bed. My voice was low and rough, and my chest was slick with sweat as I leaned over her. She hooked her leg over my shoulder, arching up.
“Don’t stop,” she panted.
“Wasn’t planning on it.” I slowed just enough to make her whine before snapping my hips again, drawing a sharp gasp from her.
