One Chance (Hogan Brothers 1)

The thought put a smile on his face. Simply thinking of her did that as well. She was a lightness he hadn’t even realized his life was missing.

When he neared her neighborhood, the houses slowly grew larger, more ostentatious in appearance. Hers wasn’t the most outlandish one he’d seen. It actually reminded him of a show home in some ways. The lawns were manicured to perfection, not a speck of grass out of place. No pebbles or leftover snow and dirt from the winter on the driveway. No cracks in the steps. Even inside, it was all show and shine. Everything sparkled like Mr. Clean’s bald head.

Except her room.

Soph’s room was the only one in the house he’d seen that had any life in it. She had bookshelves filled to the brim. Knick knacks and pictures strategically placed with love. It represented her in all its glory.

As he shut the car off, the house seemed darker than it had the day before. Quiet. Walking up the steps, he was about to ring the bell when the oak door opened slowly, Braxton stepping out.

Annoyance coursed through him. He understood the other man had a job to do, but it didn’t mean he had to be a dick about it.

“Braxton,” he greeted, trying to keep the peace.

“We need to talk.” The guy pulled no punches.

“About?”

“Sophia.” He had Nox’s full attention.

“She’s a bundled mess today. Full of nerves. I actually haven’t seen her in a few hours.” There was genuine concern in the other man’s words.

“She in her room?” He wasn’t going to wait around and talk; he’d get to her. At Braxton’s nod, he was through the door and up the stairs before the man could move out of his way.

Reaching her door, he gave a slight knock, calling, “Sophia, it’s Lennox.” When there was no answer, he tried the door knob.

Locked.

Bending down, he inspected it, seeing it was a weak lock, and he could probably shoulder his way in if he wanted. Instead, he slipped a credit card from his wallet. Wiggling it between the jam and the door, he had it open not long after.

At first, he didn’t know what he was looking at. The room seemed empty, bathroom was empty, curtains shut tight, and a bundle of blankets piled high on the bed was all there was. When a light moan and slight movement came from the bed, he understood. Not entirely, but enough to know where she was. Just not why.

Peeling the blankets back one at a time, he finally found her, overheated and sweating. Knots in her brow, eyes tightly closed as if she were warding off a bad dream.

Slipping his coat and boots off, he slid under the light sheet with her. His arms wrapped her against his body, and he softly called her name a few times before her frame relaxed into his embrace.

Gazing around her room, he tried to see what could have her in such a state when his eyes landed on Braxton standing in the door watching them.

“What happened?” he asked the other man.

At first, Brax was reluctant to speak, but he must have seen the fortitude in Lennox’s eyes; he wouldn’t give up. “She received a couple of texts this morning. Threatening in nature, but nothing serious.”

His cavalier attitude pissed Nox off. “What the fuck do you mean nothing serious? She’s obviously freaked the fuck out. What did they say?” What the fuck is going on?

Sighing, Brax replied, “From an admirer, they would have been flattering. From a stalker, they’re downright dangerous.”

If comforting Sophia wasn’t so fucking important, he’d take the ass out back for a beat down for his lack of a committed answer. “Get me on the same page you are, Braxton, quickly.”

“We’re still investigating, getting warrants, everything is still very preliminary.”

“What the fuck does that mean?” he shouted, making the precious bundle in his arms flinch.

“It means,” a new voice from the doorway spoke, “we can’t confirm anything right now.” The man entering the room was older, had Sophia’s eyes, looked tired.

“You’re her father?” he spat out.

“Yes.” Just that, nothing else.

Nox had a bone to pick with the man about the way his wife treated her, only it would have to wait until he had all the information he could about whoever was stalking his woman.