The Orphan and the Beast

Eight

"Oh, how I've missed that devilish smile of yours" giggles Britt, clutching to his arm as they walk the path back up to her house. "Thank you for such a wonderful time" she mumbles as she leans in for a kiss.

"Anything for you doll" and with that Rosco places another lingering kiss on her lips before retreating back to his car.

Rosco would love to stay but his decision to say `F*ck Craig and Jerry` has landed him in the hot seat with a small time dr*g dealer.

Well looks as if he'll be getting his hands bloody tonight, "great, another long night" he curses at his decision to leave them alone to handle this, but given the option over again, he's choose the same outcome.

Brittany -

"Hmmm, mmmmm, hmmmhhmmmm", humming a love song she skips inside and gently shuts the door.

Ah, what a fantastic night! I can't believe he took me to Village on the Sea, only the most prominent people can get in, and even then few could afford it.

Rosco took over the ordering, which I couldn't have been more thankful for!

Ordering a bottle of white wine, I believe he said Chardonnay, something like that, it was delicious. I enjoyed a french onion soup, fresh garden salad, the biggest lobster I had ever seen, and chocolate crème brûlée for dessert. It's a wonder he didn't have to carry me out of there!

Dancing her way over to the phone so she can fill Rhonda in on her recent life events, she spots the ever familiar blinking of a message, "hmmm must be Rhonda already called, great minds do think alike and all".

Clicking the old machine button, she's shocked and slightly skeptical, when a guys voice is heard. She almost just skipped it thinking it was yet another scammer calling about her (non-existent) cars extended warranty.

"With Peterson and Petterson Law firm", well that caught her attention real quick, just as she was about to hit the delete button!

Stopping, frozen in her tracks she listened as 'Frank' indicated there was an important matter that needed to be handled at her earliest convenience. Jotting down the number, she adds it to the list of things to tell Rhonda.

Morning comes way to early, all night it was a constant struggle of tossing and turning, wondering what that attorney could have wanted with me.

After rolling out of bed and gathering what little energy she has, nothing sounds better than a warm shower to sooth the nerves. Enveloped in the steam with her familiar coconut and almond butter scent wafting through the steam, her anxieties about returning Frank Petterson's phone call seemed to diminish.

Nothing like the present; grabbing her notepad so she can jot down any information that may be important, she begins to dial. `Ring, ring, ring` it may only be moments but it seems to take forever before a woman answers.

"Peterson and Petterson Law office, Julie speaking" comes the voice from the other line.

"Uh, hi, yes, this is Brittany Sinclair. I had a voice message from Frank, I mean Mr. Petterson". Good lord, could I have stumbled over those words any more than I did?!

"Oh YES, Ms. Sinclair, we've been waiting for your call. I will patch you into Mr. Pettersons office right away."

As the monotonous call waiting - elevator music - plays, Britts anxiety begins to heighten again. Wonder what she meant by waiting for... her thoughts are disrupted by Frank.

"Hello Ms. Sinclair, my name is Frank Petterson and I am with Peterson and Petterson Law office, but I am sure you are aware of that from my message last night. However, do you know why I have reached out to you?"

"Um, no, not at all. Am I in some sort of trouble?" Brittany mumbles into the receiver, while silently praying she hasn't landed herself in the hot seat.

A dry, humorless chuckle rumbles through the phone. "No, Ms. Sinclair, you are most certainly not in any trouble."

Clearing his voice, he continues; "I'll need to see you in my office to clear up some paperwork, but it appears that you've reached the age of 18 which has entitled you to a trust-fund set up."

Shock overcomes her. She's never had anything in her life. Who in their right minds could have set up a trust fund for her?

After a few moments of silence, Frank's voice booms over the speaker "Ms. Sinclair, are you still there?"

"Yes, sorry, I am still here."

After a moment she continued, "Who set this up for me? I mean, I lost my parents at just 10 years old. No one else from my family wanted me, and my adoptive mom doesn't have the money to do something like this".

"I do apologize, Ms. Sinclair, I am sure this information has come as a shock to you. I, however, am not able to legally disclose the originator of the funds as it was done through an anonymous source and is now considered a sealed document."

Thinking it over, Brittany decided to arrange a meeting with Mr. Petterson, skeptical about the whole situation, it may be worth to at least hear him out.

Being today was Friday, the meeting was scheduled for Monday morning, the earliest available time. Getting through the weekend will be fun, a good ol' three days to ponder and worry about the outcome.

Saturday comes and passes, no word from Rosco, I would assume he would have reached out, considering the wonderful time we had yesterday.

Rosco - Friday night

Ugh, I hate pulling away from that little log cabin, life isn't always easy for a crime boss though. Pulling away, I need to get my head back in the game, calling Jerry - the more reliable one - I start to piece together the situation I'm about to walk into. The story from Jerry goes something like this;

"Yo, me and Craig roll-up onto Venture Blvd. to meet up with Hammer "(Jerry has the most insane names for people) "and Toothless Tonya" (see what I mean!) "came running from the alley way shouting something about how we owe her money."

"Excuse me? WE owe HER money"

"Yeah man, that's what she said. Next thing I know she's running all m*th head like at us and caught Craig in the face with her crusty a** nails."

"Okay, and you need me why?" At this point I don't know who I am more angered with, Tonya and Jack (aka Hammer and Toothless Tonya) or my own damn crew, Jerry and Craig!

"Well, Craig reacted and punched the b*tch and.."

At that point I had heard enough. I am ruthless and known for trouble, but there is NEVER a reason to hurt a woman. Subdue her or h*ell even hold your damn arm out to her. Never have I condoned violence towards women, or children, they are considered protected.

"HE DID WHAT?!?" I roar into the phone, causing Jerry to stop talking real quick, smart, really f*cking smart.

"I'll be there in 20, meet me at Tommy's, both of you!" with that I hung up, no sense in allowing that conversation to continue. I'm pissed, really f*cking pissed. Speeding into town, I can't wait to get to Tommy's, lets see how `big and bad` Craig thinks he is to me!

I roll up to the curb and basically slam the car into park, barely taking the time to shut my car off, I storm into this mess they've created. I want answers, and I want them NOW.