One Chance (Hogan Brothers 1)

“We do,” Braxton confirmed. “Rebecca was behind the wheel. I’ve also found some new information I have to look into, check the validity of.”

“Like what?” he snapped. Rebecca being behind everything wasn’t as shocking as it should have been, given her hatred of Soph, but he hadn’t expected there to be more.

“I can’t say just yet, but if what I’ve found is true, then everyone’s in for a real shocker.” Braxton left before he could comment on the vague revelation.

“What the hell’s that supposed to mean?” Loch muttered as the other man disappeared.

“Not a fucking clue.”

He didn’t have time to dig into Braxton’s cryptic words, so all the man had accomplished was pissing him off. Soph needed his attention more than anything else at the moment, so he knew he had to let it go.

Heading back into the room, he watched his mother lovingly brush Soph’s hair while she slept, being sure there were no tangles left as she went. He heard the older woman whispering softly to the younger one, and right then, he couldn’t have been happier. Seeing the two ladies he loved most in the world acting as though they’d been friends all their lives, melted his heart. Neither wanted to compete for his attention the way he’d seen some women do.

“You picked good, Nox,” Loch said beside him.

“Yeah,” he reflected, “I did.”

Agony assaulted her body as she fought for consciousness. It shouldn’t be so painful, should it? The beeping was incessant and made her head pound worse with each noise. Her eyes were still sensitive to the light from the open blinds. Shielding herself from the brightness with a hand over her brow, she immediately saw Nox asleep in one of the god-awful recliners the hospital supplied him with. She couldn’t imagine that being at all comfortable for his large frame.

“Lennox,” she called quietly, her throat dry. He stirred but didn’t wake, so she called him again. “Nox.”

His eyes slowly opened as her voice registered to his tired mind. “Soph?” He still sounded out of it. “You alright?” He was beside her in a flash.

“I’m good.” She smiled. Moving over, she patted the empty spot beside her. “Lay with me?”

“I don’t want to hurt you.” He tried to be chivalrous, but she saw the desire to be close to her in his eyes.

“Please, Nox.”

He caved easily, sliding under the blanket with her and wrapping one arm around the top of her pillow. As soon as he’d settle into place, she was moving towards him, needing the comfort of his embrace. Her request being purely selfish.

“Careful, Soph,” he grumbled when a breath hissed out of her lungs from repositioning herself too fast.

“I’m fine,” she uttered as she settled half on top of him. Her broken wrist laid across his hard stomach, and the stitched leg covered over the top of his.

It took a while, but he finally relaxed under her. His hands began running along any piece of flesh he could reach, soon lulling her into sleep once again.

“Miss Bennett?” A soft voice pulled her from sleep. The best sleep she’d had in the days since she’d been in the hospital.

“What?” She grouched.

“You get to go home today.” The nurse’s words had Sophia perked up immediately. “I’m going to unhook all the IV and the monitors. The doctor will be in to speak with you in a few minutes about discharge and aftercare.”

Her excitement almost couldn’t be contained as the woman got to work. Nox still slept under her, so they attempted to keep quiet. After a few minutes, the nurse placed a hand on her shoulder, whispering, “All set. Might want to wake prince charming here soon, the discharge doctor is a bit…boisterous.”

“Thank you,” Sophia whispered back. Grateful to finally be going home, showering, and feeling human again.

As her caregiver left, the room was shrouded in quiet and a light darkness. It gave her the first few moments of time to think about her life since the accident happened, and her mother’s role in the whole ordeal.

Of everything she’d learned in the past couple of weeks, her mother trying to kill her hurt the most. They may not share blood, maybe not even love, but it made no difference. The woman had raised her, at times, few as they were. She’d mothered Sophia.

After spending her entire life thinking there was something wrong with her, to finally knowing it wasn’t her fault was a tad overwhelming. It would take more than a few revelations for the damage to be undone.

She didn’t know if she could ever let go of the hurt, doubt, and pain. It was ingrained in everything and everyone involved in her life. She felt like the insults controlled who she was in such a fundamental way.

“Stop thinking so hard, Soph.” Nox’s words were soft but spot on as he rubbed his face in her neck. Breathing in her scent.

“I can’t help it.”