One Chance (Hogan Brothers 1)

“Thursday, six o’clock, be ready, darlin’,” he told her as he leaned down to give her a kiss on the cheek. His lips left an imprint as he pulled away.

“What will we do?” She wanted to know how she should dress. She loved wearing frilly dresses, but she had a feeling she wouldn’t always be able to with him.

“Dinner and a movie, maybe,” he answered. “Goodnight, sweet Sophia.” He brought her hand to his mouth for one last kiss before opening the door for her to go inside. As it shut, she had the most amazing feeling of anticipation she’d ever felt before.

Never in her life had she looked forward to another day. Never had she wanted the night to end sooner than it did. Never had she wanted to stay out all night if only to keep the euphoric feeling.

All too soon everything came crashing down as her mother’s footsteps and snarled words entered the room. “I told you to stay away from him!” She grimaced from behind Sophia’s stance by the door.

Wishing she could dart through the huge oak doors, she turned and spat out, “You haven’t been with him.” She believed him on that.

“Oh, Sophia, so naïve. So dumb. When will you learn?” The false saccharine smile on her mother’s face had Sophia wary of what the woman would do.

Taking a deep breath, she asked her mother, “Why do you hate me so much?”

Breath held, she waited for an answer.

The ugly look that crossed Rebecca’s face wasn’t what she had expected, nor were the words. “Because you ruined everything!” she yelled.

“How?” The word barely made it past her tight throa

t.

“Anthony wanted to be the perfect family; he wanted what he couldn’t have. What I wouldn’t give him. Stupid child, you are nothing.” Sophia stood frozen as her mother ranted. “You should have been dead. You weren’t supposed to be born. But the idiot couldn’t keep it in his pants.” What was she saying? “I made do the best I could with the fool I was given, but Lord help me, you are too stupid to function.” That word again. “I wish he’d left you in the trash where he found you!”

“What?” she whispered in horror.

“Sophia!” Braxton’s voice could be heard from… The kitchen? she thought. She didn’t know where he was. She didn’t know anything.

The trash?

“I was garbage?” She was sure the pain vibrating through her could be heard in her voice.

“Sophia!” Braxton called again, closer that time. She still couldn’t answer.

“That was after you were choked, of course.” How could she be so smug?

“I don’t understand.” The words were more for herself, but her mother caught them.

“Of course, you don’t. You’re too damn stupid. You, Sophia, are the biggest mistake of my life. My ultimate failure. My regret. Stupid Sophia, always wanting to be loved. Stupid Sophia, always wanting what she can’t have.” She began walking closer as she sang about how dumb she was. “Stupid Sophia, always taking what’s mine. And have no doubt, Stupid Sophia, Lennox Hogan is mine.”

Her heart was beating out of control, her mind was running a million miles a minute. And yet, it all made sense. The hate, the contempt, every painful memory and word.

“I’m sorry,” she murmured meekly. Hating how weak she sounded but unable to do anything about it.

“Rebecca!” Braxton’s voice was full of warning as he saw them.

Leaning into Sophia, her mother whispered, “What do you say, should I take him for a ride, too? Make him hate you as much as I do? It worked with your father.” Before the woman could say anything else, Brax had pulled her away.

But it was too late. The damage was done.

Her feet carried her up the stairs before he could say a word.

Laughter followed her, as did the cruel words.

Stupid Sophia.

Lennox felt like he was on cloud nine. The night with Sophia had gone far better than he could have imagined. He wasn’t too enthusiastic about dropping her back off at home with the wicked witch there, but he had no choice in the matter.