Page 72 of Tangled Hearts
Rock stepped out the house before he pulled the door up. Face to face, he spoke through gritted teeth. “I don’t want shit from you, nigga. You made that promise when you wasn’t a snake ass nigga. Now, I can’t accept your word or none of that.”
“You mad at Knycole, too?” He asked, challenging his once brother. Hov was only an inch or two taller than his once bestfriend, yet he made it his business to look down on him. His ego rearing its ugly head.
Rock shoved him, almost pushing him off the porch. “Don’t say her fuckin’ name!”
“Nigga fuck you!” Hov spit, his blood starting to heat up.
Both of their emotions were high. That was something they had in common and how they bonded as children. Both had ain’t shit parents and had to make a way to take care of others before their nuts had officially dropped. Trauma bonded them and now love, or the fear of lack of love, was going to divide them. It didn’t matter that both of them still had love in their hearts for the other. It was the age-old tale of countries going to war behind a beautiful face. Knycole was the face that launched a thousand ships.
Both men’s chests heaved up and down.
Their eyes locked in on each other.
Rock’s demeanor was chipping. His heart ached and all he wanted to do was forgive his brother. He loved Hov so much. And so did Knycole. That was where the problem lied. When he looked into her eyes at her place, he could see all the love she had for Hov. It hurt Rockbadand fueled his decision to make shit right with her.
Now, as he stood in front of Hov, he wasn’t so sure. Hov’s eyes held the same love hers did. It was clear to him that whatever they shared was deeper and went beyond the love he shared with Knycole. Still, he wasn’t there yet. Rock wasn’t ready to throw in the towel.
Hov spoke first. “Look, I ain’t giving you shit but what I feel is owed to you. You have a place in our empire if you want it.”
“And what about Knyc?” Rock asked, his skin clammy, anticipating what his old friend would say.
Squaring his shoulders, Hov looked Rock in the face. “I won’t get in your way. But if she comes back to me, I’m never letting up on her again.”
Rock could respect that. He didn’t verbally acknowledge what was said to him. He only nodded watching Hov walk away. “I’ll be in touch.”
“Bet.” Hov nodded before slipping into his car.
He hated how at odds he was with his right-hand man and knew no matter how much he wanted things to go back to normal, they never would. It was a truth he’d known from the first time he kissed Knycole. The night of her birthday wasn’t the first time he’d felt her lips or tasted her tongue.
Over the years as kids, he’d kissed her so much. Knycole taught himhowto kiss. And fuck. Hov was her first before she fell in love with Rock. He never tripped or threw salt because he knew back then, he wasn’t ready to be what she needed him to be. Then as time went on, he became all that plus more without the sexual bonds.
Over the years his love for Knycole grew beyond what he ever imagined and now he was reduced to watching her force love with a nigga that wasn’t him. But like he’d told Rock, if andwhenKnycole came back, he was going to take her back like nothing happened.
CHAPTER 18
Knycole movedaround the house in a tizzy. Hov was on his way to get their son and it had been a few weeks since she’d last seen him. She missed him and thought about him often. Since everything had hit the fan and she chose Rock, her heart didn’t beat the same. Still, Knycole was determined to fall back in love with Rock.
“Ma! You got my iPad?” Qua yelled from the kitchen where he was making himself a peanut butter and banana sandwich. His Old Nick had put him on to the hood classic and now her baby was addicted.
Rolling her eyes, her bare feet padded to where her son was. “First, stop yelling. And second, you got an iPad at your daddy house.”
“I know but I need both of them.”
“Why, Qua?” Her hands rested on her hips.
Placing the bananas on the bread, he smushed the two pieces together; concentrating hard with his tongue pinched between his lips. “Ma, I need to play on one and keep up with the news on the other one.”
Knycole snickered at her old soul of a son. Her heart swelled thinking about all the beautiful mannerisms he’d inherited fromhis father. Every day with Qua reminded her of the beaten and battered boy she saved when she was only eight.
Her eyes grew wet knowing she had made a huge mistake yet her pride wouldn’t let her rectify it. As soon as she heard a knock at her door, she wiped her face.
Looking around her spacious three-bedroom house, she made sure it was decent and nothing was out of place. She loved her house but couldn’t lie and say it didn’t feel different without Hov.
They’d made the house a home and filled it with so many memories. If the walls could talk they would tell stories of petty arguments and passionate sex. The greige walls would also give away their secrets and expose their fears. Now, it didn’t feel the same.
Qua rushed to the door knowing it was his father since he’d seen it on the security camera. Hov had taught him long ago about stranger danger and never opening the door unless it was him.
“Dad!” Qua exclaimed pounding his fist with Hov.
