Page 12 of Tangled Hearts

The silence of the morning was deafening to Knycole.

All night she cried until the sound of sorrow could no longer leave her throat.

Her eyes were dry and puffy while her heart still ached beyond repair.

After Rock was hauled off, the police made her go home and Nick was nowhere to be found.

In her eyes, he was a coward unwilling to face her.

She powered her phone back on, even though she wasn’t ready to face the world and all its questions.

Bad news traveled faster than the speed of light in the hood, and she was certain everyone wanted to know what really happened.

Hell, she did too. With the weight of the world weighing her down, she got up, even though it was a struggle.

Knycole needed to ask her father a few questions.

“Nick!” she called out once she was over the threshold of her bedroom door. “I know your cracked out ass is here!” she called again.

Nick was sprawled out in his bed in pain from needing a hit.

After having Rock locked up, Hov had put out word for no one to serve him or be ready to face him.

He’d told them once before but needed to make sure they knew how serious he was this time around, and no one was willing to take the chance for a couple of dollars.

He stirred in his sleep at the sound of the love of his life.

Contrary to past decisions, he really did love Knycole.

“Nick!” she called again with more force, also shaking him awake. “Get the fuck up and tell me why the hell my boyfriend was hauled off!”

Grabbing his head, he tried to stop the ringing sensation he was feeling. “Knyc, not right now.” He groaned, placing his hand in the air.

She slapped his hand down. “Yes, right the fuck now!” she screamed.

His eyes bucked because regardless of how addicted he was to drugs, she’d never disrespected him in such a manner. “I am still you daddy, and you will respect me.”

“Then act like my daddy!” Her voice cracked with rage.

“Act like I matter for once in your life. Tell me why you did this to me. You had Rock locked up ‘cause he wouldn’t keep feeding your habit. He wasn’t obligated to carry your shit, Nick.

And because he was my boyfriend, you felt entitled.

Do you know what you did to me? How am I supposed to survive now? ”

Her chest heaved, tears spilling. She’d carried this pain too long, and now it came out jagged and raw.

Nick stared at her, heart thudding in his chest. Whether it was the sickness running through his veins or the truth finally catching up. The shame hit him like a ton of bricks. He rubbed his face, voice trembling. “How can I make it up to you? I’ll do anything.”

Knycole’s mind raced. The first answer was simple… bring Rock back. But he was already booked—there was nothing anybody could do now. She knew that. Her eyes bore into Nick, searching for something she wasn’t even sure existed anymore.

“Get clean or lose me forever,” she said before doing an about face and walking out the room.

Nick dug deep within himself and thought long and hard about what his one and only child was asking of him. He was no fool and knew getting clean was going to be a lifelong journey that would be a shit load of work, but for her, he was willing to try.

Regardless of Nick’s compliance, whether permanent or temporary, Knycole was still drained from all that had happened. She needed to talk to Rock and vowed to wait by her phone for his call. Until then, she was going to try to get some sleep.

Nick sat in silence, the sound of her footsteps fading down the hall.

He thought about every time he’d chosen a pipe over her.

He thought about how much she looked like her mother and how she deserved a better man than him to call father.

His stomach twisted. The sickness clawed at him, but her words cut deeper than any withdrawal ever could.

The blaring sound of her mobile device woke her from her deep sleep. Like a feign, she scrambled for her phone hoping to catch it before the caller hung up.

“Bae,” Knycole asked out of breath.

Hov paused on the other end, caught off guard. “Knyc, it’s me.” His deep tenor shook her ear—always stirring something inside of her.

“Hey. Have you heard anything from Rock?” She didn’t hesitate to ask. Her heart needed to hear from him soon.

Scratching his head, he looked up at her bedroom window. “Nah, but come outside.”

Still wanting to soak in her sadness, she declined. “I really don’t feel like being around anyone. I just want to sit here and wait for Rock to call.”

“Girl, bring your Black ass out here. I just want to lay my eyes on you to make sure you’re good.” Hov wasn’t taking no for an answer. He was always so persistent.

She sighed. “Here I come Quameek, damn.” There wasn’t an ounce of motivation behind her words.

Hov sat in his car with a heavy heart. His right-hand man—his brother was about to do time behind foolishness.

He wasn’t an “I told you so” type of guy, but he’d warned Rock time after time about dealing with Nick the way he was.

Hov never served Nick because he cared about Knycole just that much.

She had so much potential, and the only thing holding her back was her father’s addiction.

Deep in thought, he stared out into the dark until the jiggle of his door handle drew his attention.

With a scarf, tattered sweatpants, and a slouchy wife beater, Knycole plopped down into the seat. The sparkle in her eyes was gone.“Now, what you want with me, nigga?” she asked with her brows raised.

Hov snorted. “Aye, you better chill your lil’ ass out. I wanted to make sure you were okay. You need anything?”

“Yea, a new life. Can you help me with that?” Hov just stared at her. “Yea, that’s what I thought.”

For seconds that felt like hours, the two of them sat in silence. He didn’t know what to say to ease her pain, and she knew there was nothing anyone could say.

“You remember when we were young?” he asked, trying to lighten the mood.

The tears that were threatening to fall continued to fill her eyes, but for a different reason. “Yes.” She sniffled on the verge of breaking down.

He knew talking about their past was a tear jerker for her, but he needed her to understand.

“I remember one night my mama beat me so bad before putting me out in the freezing cold rain. Man, that was one of the coldest days in the city, I swear. I was only ten at the time with no family to go to. For one reason or another, your nosey ass was looking out the window and saw everything. When our eyes connected, I felt so ashamed. But you saw me that day and risked an ass whooping of your own to sneak me in your house.” He chuckled a little.

“You didn’t have much but were willing to offer me all you had.

Do you remember you ran the shower for me and sat on the toilet while I washed my body because you couldn’t sit in your room or that would’ve given us away?

“My body was so sore, and I could barely bathe. It was like, you knew I needed help; I just couldn’t find my voice to ask.

So, instead of making me ask, you pulled the shower curtain back with your eyes closed tight and washed my back as best you could.

Knyc, you were a fuckin’ eight-year-old girl.

You were so strong and wise well beyond your years.

I needed you, and you were there for me every night after that.

You would share your food with me, help me with my homework, and make sure your daddy never caught me in the room with you.

You’ve been my best friend ever since then.

Now, imagine if your life were different, I wouldn’t have you and no matter how selfish that may sound, I don’t want to imagine a life without you in it. ”

With a breath caught in her throat, tears rapidly slid down her cheeks. She hated how Hov’s mama treated him. The air in the car became too heavy, and she needed some kind of escape so she could breathe.

The distraction she needed came when Hov’s phone rang. When he looked at the number, he knew who it was. “Rock?” he answered, pealing his eyes from her.

Knycole’s attention shot to him. “Let me talk to him,” she demanded.

“What’s up, nigga?” Rock asked on the other end. He didn’t know too many numbers by heart, leaving him to call either his best friend or his girlfriend.

With Knycole being related to Nick, that wasn’t a good move right now. He needed to clear his head, figure out his next move because sitting in jail hadn’t been on his bingo card for the year. It wasn’t his first offense. Still, being caged wasn’t something he ever looked forward to.

“Ain’t shit. What they in there talking about?” Hov asked, looking over at Knycole, who was an impatient mess.

Rock looked around the room. “They ain’t really saying much. You know I’ll get the rundown Monday morning. But um, you talked to Knycole?”

“Yea, she’s right here. You want to holla at her?” Hov asked, shifting his body towards her.

“Yea, let me talk to her real quick, but then I need to holla at you again.”

Passing the phone to her, Hov smiled tightly.

“Babe?” Knycole’s voice trembled.

“Knycole, I don’t have that much time because I need to holla at Hov again but listen to me – stay your ass in school and make something of yourself. I left fifty-five hundred at the top of your closet. It’s yours. And you can’t come see me... ever.”

“Wait! What?! What the fuck you mean I can’t come see you?!” Knycole yelled.

Hov knew shit was about to hit the fan, so he grabbed the phone.

“Get the fuck off me!” Knycole tussled with him. She didn’t want to end their conversation.She had so much more to say. She needed to make sure he was okay and wanted to see what she could do to get him home.

“Calm the fuck down, Knyc. Let me try to talk some sense into him, okay?” Hov tried to reason, lying through his perfect teeth.

Sniffling profusely, she nodded.

“Yea?” Hov placed the phone up to his ear, but his eyes never left hers.The pain etched into her face was too much for him. Knycole was his weakness, and since the age of ten, he vowed to never let her hurt.

“Look, I left her some money, but I know it won’t last long.

Look out for her for me. I know you care about her just as much as I do.

Make sure she makes it out. Hov, she’s special as hell.

” Rock’s heart bled as he spoke. No matter all the reckless things he’d done, he knew without a doubt, he loved Knycole.

She’d been his rock since forever, and it pained him to let her go.

“I got you, bruh. I’m taking something to a lawyer in the morning,” Hov told him. Regardless of what he would have to do, he was going to make sure Rock was good.

“You as solid as they come. Be easy,” Rock replied before ending the call.

As if Knycole could hear what was being said, she wailed. “Let me talk to him... I need to talk to him.” She cried and beat on the glove compartment.

“It’s gonna be okay. As long as I have a breath in my body, you’ll be straight, and that’s on everything.” He grabbed her and held her while she cried.

She could only nod her head while she ugly cried into his chest. Hov was a man of his word, so she knew he meant everything he said.