Page 32 of Tangled Hearts

Knycole’s eyes danced around the room from Rock to Hov then down to Qua. Her heart rate couldn’t beat any faster since it was already about to pop out of her chest. The burning of everyone’s eyes being on her didn’t make it any better either.

Once everything registered with him, Rock jumped up from the bed, dick stuck to his thigh. “The fuck is this?” His question was posed to both Knycole and his best friend.

“Not in front of my son,” Hov reasoned. One thing he wasn’t going to do was play about Qua. No matter how heavy in the streets he was, he didn’t bring nonsense around him.

“Nigga, fuck all that. I need some fuckin’ answers like yesterday.” Rock waved him away having no understanding of what was taking place.

Hov pinched the bridge of his nose. “Nigga, at least put some fuckin’ pants on.”

Knycole placed her hands up. “Rock, just calm down. Qua is standing right here.” Her eyes went to his dick then back up to Hov’s upset face. She could’ve died right there.

Rock snatched away from her. “I ain’t trying to hear none of that shit.

I need some muthafuckin’ answers because I know what it looks like.

And to be real with y’all, ain’t shit y’all can say to make this situation better.

So, tell me Knycole, you been fucking my best friend?

” His head slanted giving her a look of death.

Swallowing hard, she tried to think of something that would ease the blow of her confession.

Usually, she was quick on her feet but today was posing a challenge.

“Rock,” she said reaching out to him but he snatched away.

Nodding at his disdain, she licked her lips in hopes of her words coming out smooth like butter.

“You were gone and we just kinda happened. What we did had nothing to do with you and everything to do with us.”

Rock couldn’t believe what he was listening to. Never in a million years did he think they’d betray him. Anger replaced his blood and pumped through his heart causing him to charge at Hov. Hov wasn’t expecting it but was quick on his feet and dodged the right Rock threw.

“Stop!” Knycole screamed going for Qua to place him out of harm’s way because if either one of them mistakenly hit her son, all bets were off. “Rock!” She yelled again because he just wasn’t going to stop until he felt justified.

“Shut the fuck up!” He said through gritted teeth as he and Hov threw hands. In the streets he was known to fight and prison had only certified his hands even more, however, the pain, rage, and broken heart made Hov the clear winner.

Hov landed a mean left hook to his friend’s jaw while his right connected with his stomach. He didn’t want to hurt Rock but he wouldn’t accept a beating without putting up a fight. “Nigga, you already know this ain’t what the fuck you want.”

“Pussy boy, I know what you want... my bitch! You done fucked around a put a baby in her too? I’m about to take your muthafuckin’ head off.” Rock shook off the pain in his jaw and landed a blow to Hov’s rib.

“Both of y’all stop!” Knycole yelled again, she’d been begging and pleading with them as they knocked her things around in the room.

She was conflicted and felt bad for the hand she played.

“I said stop!” She made her way between them, using all her weight to push Rock back. “Stop!” she yelled, her voice cracking.

Rock’s bare chest rose and fell rapidly. “Oh, I see what this is. You taking up for that nigga? What, you ‘bout to help that nigga jump me?” He wiped his bleeding lip with the back of his hand.

“I ain’t on no body’s side! Y’all tearing up my shit and my son is soaking up all this toxicity. Rock, just let me talk to you,” she pleaded.

Rock only looked at her because despite what she’d done, he still loved her. Even if his love came with its own set of secrets.

Seeing that he wasn’t going to respond, she turned her body to Hov. The look in his eyes broke her down further. He was hurt and she knew she was the cause of his pain. Still, she needed to talk to Rock. “Can you take Qua back with you so I can talk to him?”

Hov turned his back on her before scooping his son into his arms. Knycole was a piece of work. Betrayal burned his throat. “Let’s go, Qua.”

Hov knew who Knycole had chosen. She’d done it before Rock touched down but there was always a piece of him that felt if backed into a corner, she’d make the right decision—him. However, standing in front of her, he felt such a disconnect that he second guessed everything he thought he knew.

The further he got out the room, the more her heart hurt. She had to suck in air deeply to stop the tears from rolling down her face because Rock seeing her emotional behind Hov would only make shit worse.

The sound of the front door closing brought Knycole back to the issue at hand.

“Talk,” Rock demanded as he snatched up his clothes, angrily slipping his body into them.

She couldn’t bring herself to speak because reality was setting in. She’d made a permanent decision based on temporary feelings. She played a game her heart would surely lose.

“He was there.” Her soft voice spoke barely audible.

“That doesn’t mean shit, Knycole!” Rock’s voice expanded hitting the walls before they stabbed her in the chest.

“To you it doesn’t, but for me it meant everything. I’ve gone without love for so long that when the opportunity came for me to finally get it, I jumped at the chance. Lust guided me but love brought me through.”

“You loved that nigga?” Soon as the words left his lips, his throat clogged up.

Love... I love him , she thought but wouldn’t dare say the words out loud. “Yes,” she whimpered. Knowing Hov would never look at her the same stung her core and made her eyes leak more.

Rock exhaled the breath he’d been unintentionally holding. “Man, I can’t do this shit.” His feet directed him to the open bedroom door.

“No!” She reached out to him because she couldn’t stand the thought of losing them both. It was selfish of her and she was well aware of her toxic trait. “Don’t leave me. I’ll make it right.”

“How?” His voice boomed. “How when y’all had a fuckin’ baby?

My nephew, who I already love is a love child between the two people on this earth I thought would never betray me.

Knycole, how the fuck are you going to make this shit right?

” Those same eyes she fell in love with bore into her, making her feel naked—making her feel dirty.

Her voice got caught in her throat. How was she going to make it right? Wanting to make it right was one of the reasons she got back with Rock in the first place. She thought she could right the wrongs of her father when that really wasn’t on her.

Her flawed logic was proving to be a problem—the same problem she was warned about.

“I don’t know, Rock.” Knycole’s shoulders slumped.

He scoffed. “Just like the fuck I thought. I’m out this bitch.”

The air in the room seemed to seep away at a rapid pace. She was gasping for it all because being alone was a death sentence. Had Qua stayed and not gone with his father, she would’ve been able to deal with Rock’s threat of leaving.

“No! Wait! Please, let’s just talk about this,” she begged realizing she couldn’t stand the thought of soaking in her sorrow alone.

His eyes bore into her leaving her naked. He waved his hand at her never stopping his stride to the door. Rock was pissed and hurt.

Pride wouldn’t allow her to chase him down no matter how much she actually wanted to. Knycole felt defeated and knew only one thing could make her feel good.

Picking up her phone, she listened to it ring. “Daddy,” she cried.

Hearing her cry for her father made Rock sad and angry but still it didn’t stop him from stepping foot across the threshold.

Rock needed to clear his head and had a lot of shit he needed to get off his chest. He felt betrayed by everyone he knew but the pain in his chest was caused by his best friend—the man he’d gladly lay down his life for.

Yea, that brother hurt was one Black men didn’t talk about.

The just tucked it on their hip beside their gun.

The ride to Mae Lou’s house was still and quiet.

The smooth drive of the luxury car he was gifted making him furious.

Being released from prison was one of the happiest days of his life and slowly the week was turning into one of hell.

Rock felt the tip of the knife in his back and the get back was the only thing on his mind.

But first things first, he needed to see what was on his family’s mind.

Hopping out the car, his long legs glided across the ground on a mission. Once at the door there was no knocking, he only turned the knob and was granted entrance.

“Rock, what you doing here? Done scared the hell out of me,” Mae Lou sighed with her chubby hand on her chest.

His nostrils flared before he had to mentally calm himself down because regardless of anything, he couldn’t bring himself to disrespect his granny.

“Must not be living right if everything scares you.” Rock looked around the house taking it all in again.

The first time he was stuck in a state of bliss but now it was soaking in.

“They must’ve bought your silence—or is it loyalty? ” he scoffed.

Her hands rested on her hips. “I ain’t never been good at riddles so just say what you trying to say.”

“I’m saying why you ain’t tell me Knycole got a baby by Hov?

I understand they bought you this nice new house and keep your pockets laced but that shouldn’t have stopped you from putting me up on game.

.. I’m your family.” It took so much restraint from him to get it all out without being disrespectful.

Mae Lou kissed her teeth. “First off ain’t enough money on God’s green earth that could buy my loyalty and for the record, what they have going on ain’t none of my business and like you, I love Knycole and Hov too.”

“Shit, clearly more than you fuck with me.”

“Now, watch your damn mouth cause I don’t take too kindly to disrespect. You mad and I understand that but don’t act like you ain’t never noticed the way they’ve always looked at each other. I get it, you love her and the guilty part of her loves you too but Quameek is her mate.”

Rock’s eyes bulged from their sockets. “Mannn,” his words dragged trying to mask the sting of her words. “You trippin’ for real because at the end of the day, you should’ve told me. I should’ve had a heads up.”

“A heads up to do what? What was you gonna do then and what are you gonna do now? That girl love you, I won’t lie because if she didn’t she wouldn’t have done for me and Rocky like she has but she’s in love with someone else now you can still try to make it work with her or move the hell on.

It don’t phase me none.” Mae Lou shrugged her shoulders because she honestly didn’t care what they did as long as they didn’t kill each other.

Rock wasn’t getting what he needed from his granny so he decided to go to another source to figure out why so much grace had been given to their situation. His feet glided back out the door in which he came.

“Hey, Rock!” Rocky smiled as she walked on the porch damn near bumping into him since her face was in her phone.

“Flaw ass,” he mumbled under his breath leaving her confused.

Mae Lou rushed out the door. “Rock, baby where are you going? Come on back in so we can finish talking.” She knew her grandson was a hothead and didn’t want him doing anything stupid.

Rock ignored her as he slid into his car.

He was done talking now he needed to think about his next move.

His mind still wasn’t clear and there was still more interrogating he needed to do but that would have to wait until another day.

For the time being he was going to check into a hotel until he could find him an apartment to live in.

The original plan was for him to shack up with Knycole but that wasn’t an option for him any longer.

All the plans he’d made while tucked away from the world were ruined and he needed to make different moves.