Page 43 of Tangled Hearts
Hov’s eyes shot from side to side as he listened to his little homie, Cash, play his new song. If he was paying more attention, he’d be able to better critique him, but his mind was elsewhere.
“What you think?” Cash asked once the music stopped. He was always excited to let the people from his hood listen to his music. They believed in him even when he didn’t believe in his self.
“I’m gon’ be honest, I wasn’t even paying attention. My mind somewhere else,” Hov confessed.
Cash followed his eyes as they roamed down the street. “Everything good?” he asked, his hand on his waist. If Hov had beef, the hood had beef. That was how much they fucked with him.
“It ain't like that,” Hov said, looking at the handle of the Glock that rested on Cash’s hip. “You seen that nigga Nick ‘round here?”
“You talking about Knycole’s daddy?”
“Yea. That nigga supposed to be in rehab, but they said he left a few days ago.”
Cash bobbed his head. “Yea, that nigga ‘round the street under the tree. On my way over here, I seen his ass geeked outta his mind.”
Hov didn’t say anything else, making his way back to his car. He was pissed and smoke could be seen floating from his head. Nick had him fucked up. The tree Cash mentioned was only one street over, but Hov did the dash to get there. The sound of him slamming on breaks garnered everyone’s attention.
He jumped out the car like it was on fire.
“Nick!” he shouted.
His voice was deep and held authority. When he spoke, niggas listened.
The drug induced coma Nick was in, wore off quickly. He was no fool and already knew he wasn’t Hov’s favorite person. He also knew that he was a dead man for leaving rehab. That was the plan. They’d agreed he’d go get clean, and Hov would make sure Knycole was good.
His mighty stance made everyone cower with each step he took. “The fuck we agree on? Huh, nigga? I’m keeping my end of the deal, but your dumb ass just can't do right.” He yanked Nick up by his lazy, dingy shirt that readI’m a bad bitch. “The fuck you got on, man?” He wanted to laugh so bad, but his anger wouldn’t let him.
Nick covered his frail body. “I was doing right, but then they said I was good. Them people told me I wasn’t addicted anymore,” he lied.
“Shut your lying ass up. How you ain't addicted anymore, but you’re high right now? That don’t even make sense. Get in the damn car!” he yelled, tossing Nick like a dirty rag.
Nick jumped at the sound of his voice, scrambling to get to the car.
Hov followed behind him even more pissed off. He was itching to kill Nick but knew Knycole would be devastated. Nickwas all she had, and no matter how he felt, he knew she’d be better if she at least had Nick.
“Your daughter be saving your ass, but this is the last chance I’m giving you. If you don’t get clean, I will put a bullet in your head and just tell her you’re missing. Do you understand me?”
Nick swallowed hard. “Yea, man.” He knew Hov was serious.
The ride back to the rehab facility was silent. Hov didn’t have anything to say to Nick, and Nick didn’t want to piss him off by saying something dumb. Truthfully, he wanted to get clean, but the allure of the high kept calling him.
They pulled up to the facility. “Don’t waste my money, Nick. I hate for my money to be wasted.”
Nick nodded, stepping out the car. He spun back around. “How is she?”
“Broken,” Hov replied, not caring about sugarcoating the truth. Nick needed to know that his daughter was hurting and needed her father. “It’s her birthday too nigga, make sure you call her and tell her happy birthday.”
With teary eyes, Nick gave one single nod before turning to walk in the building. With each step he took, more tears ran down his face. “I have to do this for her.” He chanted to himself.
Leaning back in the car, Hov kept his eyes trained on Nick until he disappeared into the building, even waited a few minutes more just be sure Nick didn’t try to pull a fast one.
Hov was exhausted but never let his facial expression show it. The streets were requiring more of him than he thought. Days were blurring into nights, and he didn’t know whether he was coming or going.
Since Rock had been locked up, Hov took it upon himself to still make sure Rocky was taken care of as well as providing for himself and looking out for Knycole. His young life was transforming into adulthood at an even more rapid pace. He was thankful for the money but yearning for the time he didn’t getto be a child. He wanted to reverse all the bullshit he’d been through and maybe then he’d be content. Not one to dwell too much on the scenario of what could’ve and should’ve happened, he pulled off, headed back to the one thing he could count on.The block.
After a slow and quiet ride, Hov pulled back onto the block, and in a matter of minutes, it was more alive than when he’d left. Without much that actually needed to be done, he decided to make a small shopping trip after he checked in on his workers.
Workers.It had a nice ass ring to it because that meant he could spend less time working and more time collecting money. The money was always the mission.
