Page 75 of Juke
“You son of a bitch,” I growled, charging straight at him.
Rio barely moved, just smirked like he already knew what was coming. “That temper gone get you killed.”
I had Rio pinned, fists flying, blood on my knuckles and rage burning through me. Every swing was for Nessa. Every crack of bone was me trying to put her spirit back to rest.
“You killed my sister!” I roared, slamming him against the car. “I’ma kill you, bitch!”
“Bitch should’ve kept her mouth shut.” He laughed through his busted lip.
That snapped what little control I had left. I drew back for the kill shot, but he was quicker.
Steel flashed, then fire ripped through my gut.
I gasped, staring down at the knife buried deep in my ribs. My body locked while breath caught in my throat. He leaned close, twisting it slow, whispering like he enjoyed watching me fold.
“Guess you ain’t built for this either.”
He yanked the blade free, and the world tilted. My knees hit pavement hard. Blood poured fast, soaking my shirt, slipping between my fingers no matter how tight I pressed. Rio wiped his mouth, smirked through split lips, and faded into the shadows like death itself. That’s when headlights cut across the block, and I heard car doors slam. I blinked, but I saw him clear as day. Juke, and he wasn’t alone. Deion, MJ, and about three more niggas I couldn’t recognize because they stayed back. Figure he’d show up now. Not when Nessa needed saving. Not when I needed backup. Only when the lights were going out on me.
I toppled sideways, chest heaving, every breath shorter than the last. My ears rang, drowning out their footsteps as they closed in. And my last thought was that it always came back to him… Juke. Every loss… every failure… every reason I was dying here on this cold ground. Even in death… I blamed that nigga.
Fuck Juke was the last thought that I had before everything around me went black.
24
Juke
sometime earlier…
Buck’s living room was loud as usual with laughter bouncing off the walls, and liquor bottles scattered across the table like confetti. Sophi was curled up next to me on the couch, looking too damn good laughing with Nic, Kasha, and Mel. I was used to being with my people, but now that Sophi is a permanent fixture in my life, I’ve been kicking it with her people just as much as she kicks it with mine.
“So what you got planned for your birthday, nigga?” Stacks asked, leaning back with Kasha cuddled close to him.
“Nothing big.” I shrugged. “Probably just chill with Lovie and keep it low-key.”
“Nigga, who the fuck is Lovie?” Buck asked.
“Who the fuck you think?” I frowned.
“Nigga, talking ’bout some Lovie. Ol’ pussy-whipped ass. It’s okay if you want to come out and play. You want me to ask for you?” He laughed. “Lovie, can Rashad come out to play?” he joked.
“Goldie, you gone let this nigga come chill with a nigga?” I countered.
“Get fucked up,” he shot back.
“Fuck outta here,” I shot back, smirking at him.
Before Buck could get another word in, Stacks raised his glass. “Y’all niggas sound old. Look, Juke… don’t be sitting in the house. Come through the club for your birthday. I’ll set up a section, and everything’ll be on me. Just on some chill shit.” Stacks offered.
I hesitated, glancing at Soph. “I don’t know, man. I ain’t really pressed.”
“You ain’t gotta be pressed,” Stacks said. “Just slide through. One night. Just family and fun.”
“Aight. I’ll think about it.”
“Ain’t nothing to think about,” Stacks grinned. “Bring yo’ ass, nigga.”
Before I could answer, my phone lit up on the table. The name on the screen made me sit and answer with urgency.
