One Chance (Hogan Brothers 1)

“Elianna?” he asked.

“Rebecca.”

He pulled away, gauging the seriousness in her eyes. “Are you sure?”

“Yes.” Her voice didn’t waver. She needed closure.

Sometimes you don’t get closure, you just move on.

“Miss Bennett, are you sure you want to do this?” Detective Vichy asked Sophia for the third time as they stood outside the interview room at the police station. It had taken nearly a week to get the interview set up because Rebecca had to be processed and charged.

Nox had held her hand through the bail hearing that morning as Rebecca was denied bail, and her lawyer had pled insanity as a defense against all charges. Anthony kept his promise of not helping Rebecca financially until Soph had demanded he do it. Citing that she was going to need more help than the state could ever give her.

Soph’s heart was far bigger than any of theirs, and he figured that’s why Anthony found a good attorney that understood what Rebecca needed rather than what she wanted. It was a unique situation in regards to the usual attorney-client relationship.

Anthony met with a judge to expedite an order to declare Rebecca mentally incompetent, therefore, giving him all the control of her well-being. He wasn’t letting her off the hook, but she wouldn’t be treated like the common criminal either.

Nox still wasn’t sure how he felt about that. Personally, he wanted Rebecca to suffer the way she’d made Sophia throughout her entire life.

“I’m sure,” she nodded to the detective. As he opened the door, she took a deep breath before straightening her back and walking through. Nox’s own gaze remained on her, it was all he cared about. Needing to read her body language so he knew when it was too much for her. When Rebecca said something to strike a blow, he would remove Soph from the room.

At her startled gasp, he looked towards Rebecca and was satisfied that she wasn’t having an easy time of it if appearances could be anything to go by. Her hair was greasy and flat. Her cheeks sunken in, and bags of exhaustion lined her eyes. She had a dead look in her gaze that worried him for Sophia’s sake. She was a woman who had nothing to lose.

“The praised child makes an appearance,” Rebecca cackled as Sophia sat across from her. He stood against the wall beside Detective Vichy, watching the interaction.

“Hello, Rebecca,” Soph greeted the woman.

“What do you want?”

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; “I wanted to see how you were. To get some answers if possible.” Sophia’s words were clear and strong. He was proud of her.

“You put me here. What do you care how I am?”

“You put yourself here, Rebecca.”

The cuffs around her wrists jangled as she moved in her chair. “If it weren’t for you, this wouldn’t be an issue.” Her voice was cruel.

Soph sits tall, ignoring the obvious taunt. “Why did you go through with it if you didn’t want me? Why not leave?”

Laughter was her only answer.

“Why, Rebecca?” Soph asked again through gritted teeth.

“Because Anthony had what I needed.” The bored tone of her voice said it should be obvious.

“Money,” Nox spoke up.

Her eyes shot to him as though she hadn’t known he was even in the room. He felt dirty as she looked him over and a sick smile formed. “Well, hello, lover boy. How about we kick these people out and have some fun, you and me?”

“Not a fucking chance. Answer Sophia.” He refused to even look at her. She needed to know she was no one to him. Nothing.

Pure rage lit Rebecca’s eyes as her legs bounced under the table. Taking a step forward, he knew she was going to lash out.

“You’re the only reason he gave me money. I was to take care of you, and he’d keep me flush. Then when I tried to throw you away, he paid me to stay away from you. The name calling and degradation were just for fun.” She laughed when Soph gasped. “You are the dumbest person I have ever met. The drugs I fed you as a child to shut your yappy mouth up are probably to blame for that. But stupid you are, so I win.” She sang the last few words in triumph. As if they were true.

Looking down at Soph, her little body vibrated as she stood, her hands balled into fists after pushing her chair in. Walking towards the door, he followed her. She stopped and replied, “If I’m so stupid, why are you the one in cuffs? Why are you the one that’s going to spend your life in a mental institution? Don’t mistake my kindness for weakness, Rebecca.”