One Choice (Hogan Brothers 2)

“Nice to meet you, Mr. Hogan. I’m Eric, Hayes’ father.” Following behind the man, they entered the small house. Framed photos dotted nearly every wall and surface.

Pictures of Hayes at varying ages, of her parents.

The one that really caught his eye was of Hayes hugging another man, a look of worship on her face. Had to be a few years old.

“That’s Ryder,” Eric said from beside him.

“She’s mentioned him.” He recalled briefly.

“She has?” Disbelief laced her father’s question.

He studied the man, really looked deep, and what he saw made Levi believe this family held just as many secrets as Sophia’s had. Only theirs looked to be more painful than shocking.

“Only briefly,” Levi said. “Who is he?”

Before an answer could be given, he heard a woman’s voice. “Eric? I thought you’d… Oh, hello?” The woman’s greeting sounded more like a question.

“Andrea, this is Levi. He’s here to see Hayes,” Eric explained.

“Ma’am.” He nodded his head in greeting.

“I don’t think so,” she blurted out, shocking both him and Eric.

“I beg your pardon?” He had to have misunderstood her.

A storm brewed in her eyes as she told him, “Hayes isn’t interested.”

“Mom?” He heard her call.

“I’ll be right there, honey!” she responded back.

He detected pain in Hayes’ voice, though. Worry raced to the forefront of his mind. “What’s wrong with her?” He wasn’t thinking as he rushed past them to see Hayes with a brace attached to one forearm as she was trying to make her way down the stairs. “What the hell happened?” He didn’t mean to sound so angry.

“What are you doing here?” She tried to sound just as pissed, but he heard the agony underneath.

Climbing the stairs two at a time, he searched her for injuries from feet to head. The bags under her eyes spoke of the pain she was in as well as her pale features. Trembling in one leg told him where it stemmed from.

Scooping her up into his arms, she protested, “Levi!”, as he carried her down the hall to the door that held a sign showcasing her name in Olympic rings.

He smirked. His girl was going for gold. He liked it.

Pushing through the entrance, he could hear the footsteps of her parents scurrying up the stairs as he lay her on her mattress. Sitting beside her hip, he asked her again, “What happened?”

“She overdid it,” her mother answered him.

The mutiny on Hayes’ face that was aimed at the woman had him smiling.

“I’m fine,” she snapped at everyone in the room.

“Obviously not,” he snapped right back.

“Go away, Levi,” she told him, refusing to meet his eyes.

“I’m sorry,” he whispered low enough that only she would hear. Her gaze finally darted to his, and he saw her on the cusp of tears. “Don’t cry, sugar.”

“Hayes?” her mother questioned.

“We’re okay, Mom.”