Page 35 of Tangled Hearts
Now that Hov tucked his gun back into his waistband, Noir’s heartbeat started to regulate, and she took in what was going on around her. “What are y’all doing in here?” she questioned, scared to inhale deeply. Nothing could’ve prepared her for what she was seeing.
“Come on now, Noir… what does it look like? I know you ain’t fucking with these niggas and don’t know shit about the game?” He continued to break down the product.
With a slick roll of her eyes, she directed her attention towards Knycole. “So, this is what you’re doing now?”
Knycole sighed heavily. Her shoulders slouched because she wasn’t ready to have this conversation with Noir. “Look, I’m tired of having to depend on other muthafuckas to make sure I’m straight. It’s time for me to make my own money and getting a regular job ain’t gonna be enough for me. I want everything this world has to offer, and if that means I have to get my hands dirty, then so be it.”
“The same shit your daddy be on? Really?” Noir wasn’t judgmental but she needed some understanding. It made no sense to her.
“Please, Noir,” Knycole pleaded with her eyes.
She knew her friend wouldn’t understand because Noir had a mama and a daddy that paid child support and loved her a little. At least more than Nick loved her. Noir never had to worry if the lights would stay on, or if there’d be food in the fridge after the weekend. She never had to trade her pride for peace of mind.
Knycole’s voice cracked as she added, “you ever had to look your daddy in the face and wonder if he even saw you? Wonder if the only time he remembered you existed was when he was broke or high? I ain’t got nobody coming to save me, Noir. Not no more.”
Noir didn’t say anything.
Knycole took a deep breath. “I’m not proud of this shit, but I’m not ashamed either. I’m doing what I gotta do to survive. And if that makes me like him, then so be it. But at least this time, the pain gon’ pay something back.”
The room fell quiet, thick with tension and truth.
Hov didn’t interrupt. He just looked at Knycole from the side, the weight of her words hitting him too. She sounded like him when he was younger—fed up, worn out, and ready to do anything not to feel powerless again.
Noir shook her head slowly. She wasn’t mad. Just scared.
Scared of what this could turn into.
Scared of how far her best friend might go just to feel safe.
Scared of what it meant when the softest people in your life decided to get hard.
And Knycole didn’t regret saying what she said. But a part of her still ached. Because once you crossed a line, you couldn’t uncross it. And the worst part was she wasn’t even sure which line this was anymore.
All she knew was this was the first time in her life she finally felt in control.
And that scared her more than anything.
Noir could only nod her head because regardless of how she felt, she knew what her friend was saying was true. She understood that Knycole was tired of always getting the short end of the stick. “Just make sure you’re being careful.” Her eyes pleaded.
“I’ll take my own life before I let something happen to her,” Hov promised, his eyes bearing into Knycole.
Noir had seen something between the two that she was unsure they’d seen themselves. Her full lips curled. “Y’all so cute,” she gushed.
“Bitch, please. Now what the hell you doing just popping up over here with a hoe bag?” Knycole smirked, directing her attention to the bag slung over her shoulder.
Noir plopped down on the couch and filled her friend in on everything that had happened between her and Christian over the last few days. The way she swooned when she said his name was all the confirmation Knycole needed to know that her friend was in deep lust. Noir had never been a hopeless romantic, but somehow, Christian was changing that. She just prayed he didn’t break her heart.
“Since y’all in here talking about niggas and shit, I’m about to go make this drop.” Hov grabbed one of the packaged duffle bags.
“I’m about to go with you.” Knycole popped up ready to go.
His amber-colored eyes shot her down, halting her in her steps. “What I tell your hardheaded ass? When I feel like you’re ready, I’ll let you roll with me. Until then, stay your ass here andlockthe fucking door.”
Standing as still as a mannequin, Noir’s eyes bounced from Knycole to Hov waiting for her smart mouth ass to say something else slick that would get him all riled up. On the streets, he was feared, but with them two, he was weak as hell, and both girls knew it.
Knycole kissed her teeth. “Nigga, you ain’t my daddy, and you sholl ain’t the nigga that’s putting dick in me, so miss me with all that rah-rah shit. I’ll let you do your thing without me this time because I need to catch up with my hoe ass friend. But trust and believe the next go ‘round, I will be riding shotgun like that gun on your waist.”
“Trust, I know I ain’t the nigga dropping dick in you ’cause if I was, you’d obey.” He trekked over to the door. “Y’all be easy and lock this damn door,” he threw over his shoulders.
