Well Worth the Wait
a Sonny & Brenda story
Chapter 10
He shouldn't have been surprised, but Harlan was taken aback when the maid announced that Sonny was there. He got nervous that Brenda had called and told him about their unpleasant exchange earlier. "Sonny, what can I do for you?" Sonny smiled briefly, and then clocked Harlan with a right hook. Harlan hit the floor. "I warned you to treat her with respect, did I not?" Sonny yelled. Harlan managed to sit up. "She's my daughter, I have a right to tell her what I think!" he yelled back. "Not any more you don't," Sonny replied. "She's 18; that means she's an adult. And she doesn't need you to support her anymore…I'm going to do that." "Oh you are? You have no idea what you're getting into. She's nothing but trouble." Sonny fought off the urge to take out his gun. "You listen to me old man, you ever mess with her head again and I'll make you sorrier than you've even known possible. Do you understand me?" Harlan stared at him, still seated on the floor. "Well what about our deal?" Sonny shrugged, "your deal is with Frank. But, I don't know, he does owe me some favors." Harlan scrambled to his feet, "you wouldn't!" Sonny pointed at him, "push me and I will." Harlan fell silent, and collapsed into a chair. "Now," Sonny continued, "I'm going to get Brenda." He turned and left the room.
Upstairs, Brenda had packed as many of her things as she could fit in two suitcases. Normally obsessed with clothes, it no longer even mattered to her what she had to wear. Sonny was coming for her, and maybe finally, she'd be living somewhere that she was truly wanted. Sonny knocked on the door and then opened it. "Hey," he said, walking over and taking her in his arms. "Hey yourself," Brenda replied. "Are you ready?" Brenda looked into his eyes, "only if you're sure." Sonny smiled, "oh I'm sure. I want you with me all the time; I want to take care of you." Brenda smiled back, "then I'm very ready." Sonny picked up her suitcases, and Brenda followed him out the door and down the stairs. Once in the foyer, she gathered up the packages she had dropped earlier. Those clothes she cared about because Sonny had bought them for her. Sonny noticed that Harlan was standing at the living room door watching them. "Let's go," he told Brenda, hoping to get her out before her father said something to her. Harlan didn't say a word. He stood silently and watched them leave; hoping Sonny wouldn't call in those favors with Frank Smith. They loaded up the Jag, and got in. After making sure Brenda was buckled in, Sonny started up the engine. "Let's go!" he said again cheerfully. Brenda sighed, and leaned her head back on the seat. She turned it to face what had been her home, and realized she felt no sadness as they pulled away. Then she turned the other way and studied Sonny's face as he drove. She was filled with an overwhelming sense of love and hope. She couldn't quite believe he was hers, and the she was his. Sonny felt her eyes on him and smiled. "This is going to be great baby, just you wait," he told her. But inside, he was troubled. Was this really the best decision? Brenda moving in with him would put her right in the middle of his dangerous life, and while he was relatively sure he could keep her safe, he knew he had no control over how she would react when she saw who he really was. Would she still say she loved him then, or would she leave…like everyone else?
Sonny pulled into the garage at Harborview Towers, and turned
off the car engine. "We're here," he told Brenda. "Do you have
an apartment here?" she asked. Sonny smiled, "something like that."
They got out, and Brenda started to reach for her bags. "Leave it,"
Sonny told her, "I'll send someone down for them." Brenda wondered
whom he was referring to, but didn't ask. They walked to the elevator and
got in when it came. Sonny took a key from his pocket and put it in a lock
on the panel with the floor buttons. He turned it, then opened a small compartment
and pushed a button that was labeled "PH." "You live in the
penthouse," Brenda stated. "We," Sonny corrected her, "we
live in the penthouse." Brenda smiled and Sonny kissed her. When they
reached the penthouse level, the doors opened and Sonny led Brenda out of
the elevator, holding her hand. A large man stood before them. "Good
evening boss." "Good evening Joseph." "Harry's waiting
for you inside sir." "OK. Joseph, this is Ms. Barrett. She's going
to be living here." Joseph looked at the very young, very pretty girl,
and was careful to keep his admiration in check. "Ms. Barrett."
"Hi," Brenda nervously replied. She was rapidly coming to the conclusion
that she was walking into something she wasn't sure she could handle. "Get
the bags from the car Joseph," Sonny ordered. Joseph nodded his head,
but before he went to do that, he opened the door to penthouse 4 and then
stepped aside for Sonny and Brenda to enter.
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