“Sophia!” She had heard her mother before she saw her. A quick look around assured Sophia Bennett that her room was tidy, the bed was made, and she hadn’t recalled leaving anything out when she’d arrived home from school.

Footsteps in the hall announced her mother’s arrival. Standing quickly—shoulders back, and her back straight—she waited for the berating to begin.

“Did you hear me?” her mother, Rebecca—never Becky or Becca—Bennett demanded as she flung the door open.

“Yes, Ma’am,” was the only reply she knew would be acceptable.

“Well?” The tapping of her foot on the hardwood floor could be heard. “Why didn’t you answer me?”

Sophia’s brain blanked…

One would think they could just say, I heard you coming, but she knew that wasn’t an appropriate answer for her mother.

So she stood there…

No words forthcoming, no immediate answer could be given.

“You can’t be that ignorant, Sophia.” The censure in her voice made Soph feel lower than dirt.

“I’m sorry, Mother,” she whispered.

“I don’t want your apologies; I want to be sure you’re going to be ready for tonight. By your appearance now, I can tell that’s obviously a no.” Disgust crawled across her mother’s botoxed face.

“I will be,” she promised. It was the only time she would get to see her great Aunt Millie. She was the sweetest old woman Sophia had ever known. Always had a funny story to tell and little candies in her over-sized purse for her. It was but once a year now that she actually got to see her.

Aunt Millie had fallen ill two years ago, and travel was hard on her aging body, so Sophia’s mother didn’t let her come across the country from New Jersey to visit them.

Her father was head of security for one of the largest criminal law firms on the west coast. The attorneys he kept safe were made targets by their clients, so he assured all meetings went smoothly.

Last summer, one of the lawyers lost a case for some drug dealer—she didn’t recall the charges—but the defendant’s gang retaliated and wound up paralyzing the man. It brought home how dangerous her father’s job was.

He was a good man and treated Sophia like a princess, as if she were his whole world. She sometimes wondered if that was why her mother hated her so much. They didn’t sleep in the same room anymore, and she couldn’t remember the last time they did. And when he was home, they barely said two words to each other.

Snapping fingers in her face ended her internal analyzation of why she was so hated. “Earth to Sophia! Did you hear me?”

She hadn’t. It was easy enough to figure out what she had been asked, though. All her mother cared about was appearances.

“I have a dress picked out,” Sophia said as she moved to her walk-in closet, grabbing the light green chiffon dress that would match her eyes. It wasn’t too revealing and swished with her body when she walked.

“You’re kidding me? Don’t be stupid, Sophia. You can’t wear the same color as me.”

One simple phrase.

Four meaningless words.

Her brain shut down.

Her body vibrated with pain.

Don’t be stupid, Sophia.

You’re so stupid.

Why do I have to have such a stupid child?

They’re just words, breathe.

Sticks and stones, Soph.

So why did she feel like her heart was being ripped from her chest?

* * *

“Ma.” Lennox Hogan couldn’t believe she’d dragged him and his two brothers, Levi and Lochlan, out for this. Building a garden two months too early. “It’s not gonna work, Ma.”

“Don’t you ‘Ma’ me, young man. I want this garden done, and I want it done today. When I told you boys I was going to do it, you refused to let me. This,” she swept her arm across the hole they’d dug, “was all your idea.”

He really hated when she was right. They did refuse to let her do it, not wanting her to hurt her hip again after just losing her walking cane after her last fall. Her previous brilliant idea had been to paint the ceiling. His mother, the amazing woman who’d birthed him and his two younger brothers, a woman he respected more than anyone, decided to climb up a ladder, by herself, to paint a vaulted ceiling that even with the extension didn’t mean she could reach the thirty feet needed. She’d fallen six feet to the ground, thus breaking her hip. He shuddered to think of what could have happened had she been at the top.

Now she had crates of roses in varying colors off to the side, anticipating planting them all that day. Leaving Nox and his brothers no choice but to finish digging the fucking hole and building the outer box and small path she wanted going straight through.

“C’mon, Ma, you can’t be serious?” his youngest brother Lochlan groaned. At twenty-two years old, he was pretty sure the other man would rather be out at some park chasing tail on such a nice day. Not in his mother’s garden.

Arching her brow, she sipped her sweet tea, pointedly putting her feet up as if to say, get to it, before grabbing the book she’d been reading. Some new romance she insisted she needed since she didn’t have their father anymore. He passed four years ago from lung cancer.

When he’d first been diagnosed, his mother had been inconsolable, but within only a matter of hours, she knew they had to make the time they had left as amazing as they could. His father’s cancer could have been manageable, but his quality of life would have been shit. Finding it at stage four, they knew they were going to lose him. It took nearly eight months for him to deteriorate right before their eyes. In that time, Nox and his brothers had sent them on the Alaskan cruise they had always planned to go on when they were older.

It was a memory their mother looked upon fondly now. She had taken as many pictures of him as she could. If someone came to her house, she was sure to show you them all whether you’d seen them a thousand times before or not.

Lennox grew up watching the love his parents had for one another, and from an early age, he always knew that would be his biggest goal in life. To love so hard that when your other half was gone, you could still live. Live to be the you they always knew you were.

He was a rough around the edges kind of guy, and at twenty-seven, he was aware that he still had time to find the right girl for him. His dad had always told him he’d know who she was because when he laid eyes on her, his palms would sweat and his heart would race so fast and hard it would feel like it was about to pound out of his chest. Plus, he’d say the dumbest thing he could. If that scared her away, then he’d have to work harder for her. If it didn’t, then he’d be golden and know she would be perfect.

The brothers spent the afternoon digging and rototilling the sixteen by sixteen foot rose garden to be planted. Blood, sweat, and tears would be tossed in that sucker by each of them. Levi had blisters on all but four fingers, Loch had cried in relief when the rain started for about four point six seconds of relief, and he’d been sweating like a pig for hours. Owning the only specialty mechanics shop in town, you would think he should be used to working with the heat. Except in his garage, he had air conditioning. If his men saw him now, they’d be calling him all kinds of names.

“Sophia!” he heard his mother call happily.

Wiping his brow, he ignored her and her friend, wanting to just finish what they were doing. It wasn’t until he noticed his brothers weren’t working that he realized they were damn near drooling at something behind him.

Turning, the sun blinded him for a fraction of a second. Blinking away the spots in his eyes, he felt sucker-punched when he saw the beauty standing before him, cheerily chatting with his mother.

Whoa. She was the most beautiful thing he’d ever seen. Long blonde hair wind-blown into a messy style that looked like it took her hours to do, light green eyes that stood out with her natural red-tinted lips, topped off by a cupid’s bow top lip. The fullness in her bottom lip made him want to nibble on it and see how long it would take to plump up to a bee-stung look.

She had an hourglass figure with wide hips meant for a man’s hands to hold onto while he loved her from behind. Her cinched waist led to perky breasts perfect to fit in his palms. Not too big, and not too small. Her light yellow sundress drew his eyes to her in such a way that they couldn’t focus on any one spot.

“Nox.” Loch elbowed him just as the girls turned to them.

Checking for drool, Nox straightened his stance and dropped his shovel. He wasn’t prepared for the impact her soft voice would have on him. “Umm, hi, I’m Sophia Bennett.” She held out her hand, waiting for him to shake it, but all he could do was stare.

The prolonged silence had her fidgeting and slowly lowering her hand again, when one of his brothers coughed loudly in his ear, knocking him from his state of stupidity. “Sophia Bennett, as in Rebecca Bennett’s daughter?” More stupidity spewed from his lips. He knew Mrs. Bennett because she had been bringing in her Mercedes sedan every other week with one fake problem or another. Lately, she had gotten handsier than he liked, so he was trying to avoid her like the plague.

The moment her mother’s name came out of his mouth, though, Sophia paled and seemed to draw into herself. His mom caught it right away, knowing the trouble he’d been getting from her mother. She gave him a dirty look.

“Sorry, Soph, I’m Lennox, or Nox. It’s a pleasure to meet you.” His ma didn’t live in the richer part of town, so he was confused as to what she was doing there. “What are you up to in our neck of the woods?”

Sophia’s cheeks pinked with his rapt attention. “Lennox, she comes every Sunday and has tea with me, and we talk books,” his mother admonished like he should already know.

He watched as Lorraine pulled sweet Sophia to the house, all the time wondering what her game was. It wasn’t coincidence that she had tricked them all into coming over on that day he was sure.

“Who is she?” Levi whispered in wonder, completely smitten with the young woman.

“No clue. But I’d sure like to get to know her better.” Loch smirked. He was the youngest of the three and an eternal flirt. Nox would have his fair share of laughs when the young man finally found his one.

Sophia, though? She wasn’t it.

Because she was going to be his.

* * *

Every Sunday for more weeks than she could count, Sophia had been meeting with Lorraine Hogan to discuss new romance books they’d been reading. She had originally met the older woman in a used bookstore when she was combing through the shelves for something different than what she normally read. Which was usually whatever her mother chose. Classic books like Shakespeare.

It’s not to say she didn’t love Hamlet or Romeo and Juliet, but she wanted to read something that got her heart beating faster, made her palms sweat, and her heart ache for the passion read between the pages. Until Lorraine, she didn’t think it could be something she would actually indulge in.

“What would you like to drink, dear?” the woman inquired as they entered her reading room. More like a library. The walls were filled with books of every genre from romance to thriller to murder mystery. Memoirs and classics, true crime mixed with old journals. There was nothing left untouched.

“A sweet tea, please, ma’am.” Smiling unguardedly, Soph truly wished her own mother could be as loving.

“What have I told you about calling me ma’am, Miss Sophia?” There was laughter behind her words.

“I could do that when you started having grandbabies.” She always had a wistful look in her eye when she spoke of her sons giving her babies again.

“That’s right. Now, if only I could get them boys of mine to understand.” A longing entered her gaze.

Finding a chance to be nosy about the one man that had captured her attention, Sophia asked, “Don’t their wives or girlfriends want children?”

A snort of laughter left Lorraine before she could muffle it. “Those boys of mine,” she began, holding her attention, “they’re smart. They won’t settle for anything less than perfect, and not a single one has found that perfect woman for them yet. Single!” she calls out laughingly. “All of them single.”

Perfect?

Something Sophia wasn’t.

Lennox had drawn her eye as soon as she saw the three strong men digging their mother a garden weeks too early. He had a hardness to him that she was drawn to. His strength oozed from his pores like armor.

His dark blue eyes paired with his light blond hair and dark scruff on his face made her heart stutter in her chest. It was that feeling she’d read about. The one she longed to experience. Only now, her dreams were dashed. Gone. Flying high in the clouds with the wind. She wasn’t anywhere near perfect. She would never be what he wanted.

Especially if her mother knew him.

* * *

Lorraine watched more emotion flit across young Sophia’s face than she should even know how to feel. The first time she had seen the young woman, she felt a connection. She knew that they were meant to meet in the small bookstore that day but had no idea then how much poor Soph would need her now. Every week she came to Lorraine’s home looking sadder and sadder. Slightly more broken.

It wasn’t until she had been looking through old photos of her and her husband Lucas that she realized what Sophia needed. A wonderful, kind, caring, strong man. A man she could lean on. A man she could count on.

Luckily for Sophia, Lorraine happened to have three strong, strapping boys. All grown into the finest of men. Most definitely taking after their father.

Lennox, however, was the one she knew would be perfect for Sophia. He was such a rough man, all hard edges. He needed a soft woman to curve those edges a bit.

Sophia was that girl.

* * *

Who is she?

It was all Nox could think about as he watched her walk inside with his mother. She’d captivated him, and he couldn’t shake her loose. His brothers watched her, too, and he had this unexplainable urge to beat them both with the shovels they were holding. They’d fought over hundreds of things over the years, but never had a girl been one of them.

Never had he had such a strong compulsion to toss a woman over his shoulder and drag her away like a caveman. He wasn’t that guy. He was laid back, took the hits as they came. Not once had he been so…jealous.

He was fucking jealous!

“Christ almighty,” he cursed as he kept digging deeper than he was supposed to, so he had to go back and refill part of the hole.

“What’s up your ass, bro?” Levi elbowed him in the ribs.

Shaking his head, Nox tried to ignore the not so subtle jabs from his brothers. Didn’t matter they had no clue what his mind was so wrapped up in. They only enjoyed tormenting him.

“You banging her mom?” Loch’s question had his head popping up like a springboard.

“What the fuck did you say?” he bellowed.

Loch’s eyes darted to Levi before slowly moving back to meet his. “I just meant, you know her mom, right?”

“Fuck you, Lochlan,” he snarled.

“Lennox!” His mother’s gasp could be heard a mile away he was sure.

“Ma–"

“Don’t you ‘Ma’ me, young man. Watch your tongue, and we’ll be fine.” The anger in her voice shocked him until he turned around and saw Sophia standing on the porch with her.

The sunlight hit her in such a way that it was like a spotlight, and she was on display just for him so he could admire her beauty. Take her in a like a breath of fresh air.

Her light blonde curls framed her gorgeous face. Lips plump and begging for him to nibble on them, eyes so dark and expressive. He saw her confusion about his mother giving him shit, a small smirk playing on her succulent lips.

“It’s alright, Lorraine,” he heard her whisper.

“No. It’s not. You keep those words for the shop, Lennox.” Suddenly he was five years old again and sniffing his pop’s whiskey glass.

“Whatever you say, Ma,” he submitted.

Lorraine Hogan was what her friends called sweet as cherry pie. He called her a tyrant. She ruled the family home with an iron fist, and heaven help those that tried to defy her. If they were walking straight the next day, they were lucky sons of bitches.

“Why don’t you boys come inside for some sweet tea?” she asked them with a Cheshire cat grin, and he knew she was up to something.

Nox was man enough to admit he should probably be scared.

Sophia’s intoxicating aura held him a captive, willing audience, and he’d walk through hell to be closer to her. She refused to look any of them in the eye as they marched past her and his mom one by one. When he would have entered the house, he stopped in front of her. Wanting—no needing—their eyes to connect. To feel the punch in the gut he was sure he would get.

As her hands began to fidget, he could tell she was uncomfortable, and yet, he couldn’t draw his intense gaze from her if he’d tried, which he didn’t. Not when his mother lightly touched his elbow in support—the sneaky witch—and not when she realized he was blocking her way into the house.

Once he was sure they were left alone, he whispered, “Sophia,” letting her name roll off his tongue. Fuck did he ever love the sound of it on his lips.

He saw her dart a quick look up from below her lashes before her eyes shot to the ground again. Her breathing picked up, and she began rocking on the balls of her cute little pumps.

“How old are you, Soph?” She couldn’t be over twenty, he’d swear on it.

“Nineteen,” she murmured after clearing her throat.

He was internally pumping his fist while outwardly he smiled, still waiting for her to look up. Hoping his silence would unnerve her enough to finally meet his stare.

He’d have sworn she was about to say something when some fancy looking BMW pulled up to the curb, and her entire body tensed so hard he thought she might shatter.

“You okay, Soph?” He didn’t recognize the vehicle, but she obviously did.

Nodding, she whispered sadly, “Please tell Lorraine thank you for me,” darting down the porch before he could say anything in response.

When the driver’s side door opened and her mother stepped out, a string of curses flew from his lips. “Well, hello, Lennox,” Rebecca purred, making him want to vomit. His eyes remained glued to Sophia, though, as she stopped in front of the car, shoulders slumped. “Why Sophia,” she says loudly, “if I’d known you were coming for the view, I’d have joined you.” Her sly smile didn’t fool him.

“I read with Mrs. Hogan, Mother.” Sophia’s voice was robotic. It was eerie.

“Don’t be so stupid, Sophia. We know Lennox is a better view.”

He was disgusted with her. Absolutely repelled.

What he saw in Soph as she looked back towards him was what had him stepping forward. Her body wilted at her mother’s words. Her eyes were cold and detached.

Lifeless.

“Soph?” he questioned as she began to climb into the back seat, completely ignoring him. The door closed with a soft snick just as he reached her. When he went for the door handle, her mother locked it.

“She’s really not into men, Lennox,” Mrs. Bennett told him as she tried to slide her hands up his chest. Frowning when he pulled away from her slimy touch, she said to him, “How about you and I go out soon, huh?”

His eyes narrowed at her question. “You’re married, Mrs. Bennett.”

“Doesn’t mean I can’t have fun.”

He couldn’t deal with that woman. Dear God, did she have no shame? “Good-bye, Mrs. Bennett,” he replied politely, aware his mother was watching, and slut or not, he knew she’d smack him if he said what he really wanted to.

When she got back in her car, his fingers automatically went to the rear window, wishing Soph would climb back out. Talk to him for a while. Closing his eyes as they pulled away, he imagined her fingers touching the same spot on the inside of the car.

“Fuck!” he screamed, unable to hold his frustration in.

When he turned to go back to the house, his family was standing there watching the whole exchange. “Don’t, Ma,” he told her softly, walking inside when she would have given him shit for swearing.

“I know, son,” she whispered back. Obviously aware of more than he was.

* * *

Nineteen. Sophia was an adult. So why did she feel like a child? Why couldn’t she break free of the hold her mother had over her?

Stupid.

A word. Six simple letters.

Yet, they brought forth her biggest insecurities.

All of her pain sprang forth as soon as it passed her mother’s lips. Every time she tried to assert her independence, her mother would tell her how stupid she truly was. How she wouldn’t make it in the world without her.

As she sat in the back of her father’s BMW, every one of her doubts raced forward at warp speed. She wanted out of her mother’s clutches, only with no way to escape, she had no idea what to do. She had tried going to her father, but he had been no help. With the choice of a quiet home or facing her mother’s wrath, he’d chosen to stay out of everything. Instead, locking himself away in his office for work or to drink. Sometimes both.

Looking back to Lorraine’s house, to Lennox, she wondered if maybe they could help her find her strength. Free herself from being unworthy.

It was an impossible dream nonetheless. She would never in a million years consider letting someone in on her home life. Watching her mother flaunt herself around town like a whore was bad enough. If they knew how weak she, herself, was, well, it was a shame she couldn’t bear.

Her mother’s glare in the reflection of the rearview mirror caught her attention. Unsure of what she’d done wrong, she remained quiet. “You stay away from him,” she warned.

“Okay,” she answered softly.

“He likes a refined woman,” she gloated.

When Sophia didn’t give the response her mother wanted, she continued on. “He doesn’t like weak women.” She refused to engage in her mother’s tirade. “Stupid women don’t attract him.”

Bullseye.

Right in the heart.

The smile on her mother’s face was disgusting. She enjoyed tormenting Sophia, and she failed to understand why.

“Why?” She summoned the courage to ask quietly.

Harsh laughter was her only response.

Watching as the town rolled by through her window, Sophia couldn’t help wondering if maybe she really was stupid? She often missed social cues, couldn’t read a person’s mood, and generally just tried to keep out of the public.

“You never did understand what it means to be a Bennett, Sophia. You have to exude poise and grace.” And sleep with any willing dick. Sophia didn’t voice that out loud, of course. “You should be locked away. Seen, never heard.” Her mother continued speaking, but she tuned her out.

Rebecca loved to hear her own voice. She was so self-involved that she didn’t always notice when people insulted her. The way Lennox had. She’d just kept flirting and embarrassing herself.

Sophia often wondered why her parents were still together. They had slept in separate wings of the house for as long as she could remember. Only spoke to each other when it was necessary, which wasn’t often. Neither had been affectionate towards each other that she’d ever seen.

Sometimes, when they didn’t know she had been watching, her father would shoot daggers at her mother with his eyes, so much hatred lurking in their depths before he would shove it back into hiding. It would remain a mystery she supposed.

Her mother picking her up that afternoon had been a shock. She tried to avoid being seen in public with Sophia as much as possible. When her father’s car had pulled up, she knew he wasn’t in it. He always had a driver take him everywhere.

Lead had lined her stomach as her mother’s perfectly made up legs slithered out first, followed by her perfectly botoxed face. Upon seeing Lennox, the light in the older woman’s eyes turned predatory. Clearly and thankfully, he hadn’t shared the same sentiments towards her.

Pulling into the driveway of their home, which was more like a mausoleum, Sophia was quick to exit the car. Racing up the front steps as her father and what she assumed was a client walked out the door.

“Where’s the fire, Soph?” her father asked, confusing her. It was a rare and worrisome occasion when he acknowledged her in a client’s presence.

Pausing, she wasn’t sure what to do when his client offered a hand in introduction. “Pleased to meet you, Miss Sophia. I’m Braxton Hughes, an associate of your father’s. He speaks highly of you.”

The man, Braxton, seemed genuine. His eyes weren’t cold like many of the men her father brought around. Her suspicions were raised because this was foreign territory for her.

“Don’t be stupid, girl. Show some damn manners.” Her mother’s cold words were like a bucket of ice water tossed on her.

Unable to hide the pain from her face, she was able to mask her voice, at least. “My apologies, Mr. Hughes. It’s a pleasure to meet Father’s coworkers.” She gingerly shook his hand, not wanting to be around for longer than was considered rude.

Unfortunately, he saw right through her; however, he kept it to himself since her parents were engaged in a glaring contest. “Do they do this often?” he whispered next to her ear. Closer than she liked.

Not thinking and still thrown off balance from the entire encounter, she replied back, softly, “It’s a miracle they haven’t clawed each other’s eyes out yet.”

His bark of laughter caught their attention and had her gasping in shock that she’d actually voiced her opinion.

“What did you say?” her mother hissed, taking a menacing step towards Sophia.

“Nothing that isn’t true, Rebecca,” her father, surprisingly, agreed. Mouth hanging open, she was stunned and confused. This entire encounter was playing on her already feeble nerves. She had no idea what was going on, but she didn’t think she liked it.

“Anthony!” The woman’s face turned an unnatural shade of purple. Did she stop breathing?

“Seriously, is it always like this?” Braxton asked, apparently amused by her strange family dynamics.

“Ummm, no?” Concern swarmed her as she saw her father quickly losing whatever good mood he was in as her mother continued her ranting.

“Enough, Rebecca!” he hollered at the older woman. Sophia took a step back as Braxton stood in front of her, trying to shield her from her father’s wrath. “I’m sick of your tyrannical bullshit. Get yourself together or get out.” Deafening silence met his words.

Noticeably shocked, Rebecca was mute for a quick second before glowering at her husband. Not saying a word to him, she turned on her heel towards the door, but not before stopping beside Sophia and whispering in her ear, “You useless twit. Stay away from Lennox, or you won’t like what happens.”

Sophia knew better than to show any signs of emotion, but she worried. Her mother had never threatened her before. What is going on in my house?

“Sophia?” Her father’s sharp voice had her standing at attention.

“Yes, Father?” She stepped around Braxton’s broad back.

“Braxton, here is your new detail.”

Confusion hit her. “Detail? For what?”

“I’ve received a few threats, and I’d like to make sure you’re protected. He’ll be your shadow for a while.” With that short explanation, he began to walk away.

Stepping forward, she grabbed his arm. “I don’t understand. What’s happening?”

The coldness she was used to was back in his hard eyes. “Nothing for you to worry about. Do as Braxton says, and everything will be fine.”

“What about Mother?” she asked. Concerned even though the other woman unmistakably hated her.

“Don’t worry about her.” His words were soft, his hand gliding down her hair in a loving caress was once again confusing. “She’ll be just fine.” There was a flicker in his eyes. Something was going on that he didn’t want to tell her.

“You’ll be okay?” she asked quietly. He wasn’t the most attentive father, but he’d shown her more love than her other parent, so she did care and wouldn’t want anything bad happening to him.

“I’ll be fine, Soph. Just stay with Braxton, please?”

“I promise.”

She watched as he walked away to the Town Car waiting to take him wherever he went. Concern flowed through her. Something was happening with her parents, and she had the feeling she would become the only causality of their war.