Page 133 of Tangled Hearts
He thought about all the years he wasted in the streets. Thought about the time he lost behind a cell door. He couldn’t get none of it back, but he could build something new. Something real. If he was going to keep food on the table and clothes on Rodeisha’s back, it wasn’t going to be from handouts or dirty money.
The gun buzzed against Cash’s chest again, and Rock exhaled through his nose. “I ain’t trying to run the block no more. I’m tryna own something. I want my baby to see me locked in, not locked up.”
Cash glanced up from his phone. “That’s how you supposed to think, Rock. Niggas like us don’t get too many chances. You better take this one and go all in.”
Rock nodded, wiping down the fresh ink. He already knew—this was his leap of faith. Either he sank back into the streets, or he proved he could stand tall without them.
The front door opened without warning. Noir stepped in, with sunglasses on, and a bag on her shoulder. Her jaw droppedwhen she saw Rock hunched over Cash with the gun in his hand. “The fuck… you can tattoo?”
Rock smirked, lifting his eyes. “Surprise, nigga.”
She walked closer, inspecting the piece on Cash’s chest. “Damn...” she admired. “Since when? I thought we was locked in?”
“We always gon’ be locked in… you just been keeping your distance from me,” he smirked, knowing she was about to have a full-on panic attack.
“Rock, please.” She rolled her eyes. Noir’s expression softened. She tapped his arm. “You’ll always be my brother though… even when we’re divided.”
Rock paused before nodding. “I know. I feel the same.”
Cash looked between them, grinning. “She right though. Y’all need to fix that shit. I grew up watching you and Hov be two peas in a pod. Down like four flats with Knyc and Noir. Shit ain’t been the same since y’all split.”
Noir crossed her arms. “You miss him. Don’t act like you don’t.”
Rock set the gun down, rubbing his neck. “You think I don’t? That’s my nigga. I just… I don’t know how we get back from all the shit in between.”
Noir’s voice softened. “Talk to him. You don’t have to figure it out in one night. Just start with a conversation.”
Cash nodded. “She right. And Rock? Don’t wait too long. Some spaces don’t stay open forever.”
Leaning back, Rock ran his hand down the back of his neck again. He didn’t have an answer right now. All he knew was the weight in his chest never got lighter. Nights didn’t hit the same without Hov right next to him, scheming, laughing, building plans only they could understand. He hated to admit it, but it felt like part of him broke when they stopped moving as one. Sitting there with Noir reminding him of loyalty, andCash calling him out made him realize silence was its own kind of betrayal. Pride was the only thing keeping him from crossing the street, knocking on Hov’s door, and telling him straight up he needed his brother back. But pride was heavy, and Rock had been carrying it too long.
Rock focused on finishing the piece, but the weight sat heavy in his heart.
From the back, a small voice cut through. “Daddy!” Rodeisha padded in, dragging a doll by its arm.
Noir’s eyes snapped wide. “Why is Shakeisha’s baby here?”
Rock froze, then exhaled. “She mine.”
Wasn’t no need in prolonging the truth. That and he wasn’t ashamed of his seed. Roddy was everything he needed before he even realized he needed her. Finding out Shakeisha was pregnant while he was locked up was all the motivation he needed to pick up a tattoo gun and keep his fist out of trouble.
Noir’s mouth fell open. “You serious?”
Rock nodded. “Yea. Roddy, come tell your auntie Noir hey.”
Rodeisha was full of personality so she didn’t shy away from Noir. “Hey, Titi Noir,” she smiled knocking Noir back even further when that thin gap played peek-a-boo.
“Aww you are a little Shakeisha with your daddy’s teeth.” Noir crouched to hug Rodeisha, who smiled wide before running back down the hall. Noir stood, staring at Rock. “Knyc know?”
Rock shook his head while Cash cracked the hell up.
“Hov?” Noir asked next.
“Yea,” Rock confirmed.
“I should’ve known it… that man be keeping everything close to his chest.”
“Hov one of the most solid niggas I know,” Cash nodded, thinking about his boy.
