Hi everyone. I know I've been quiet for a while, but it's pretty much RL getting in the way as well as some side projects that I've been trying to accomplish. To make up for this, I'm giving you a two chapter update that I hope you'll enjoy. If you can't tell by the title, it's a Trent-Centric chapter and it gets a little dark. I wasn't sure if this two-part chapter should be a stand alone or part of this story. In the end, I decided to include it since I've already done a couple other chapters devoted to Trent.

I hope everyone likes it and will be generous with their reviews.

Trent breathed deep and visualized the serene sea in front of him: the waves casual rush onto the pristine beach… In and out, just like the waves on the flow and ebb of the sparkling waters. He could almost feel the salty breezes that gently caressed his skin.

His bare skin, her hand caressing his bare skin and gently working his lower half and then she went down on him.

Trent opened his eyes fighting to keep his nether regions from pitching a tent.

Fuck.

He just couldn't get the beautiful councilor out of his thoughts.

He'd been sitting in what was supposed to be a comfortable position, meditating.

Attempting to meditate and failing epically at it.

It was late morning at the hotel, and he was supposed to be meeting Ms. Winters in about an hour to touch base. He'd gotten a call from her the day before and she'd told him that she had an update about his son's case. He really hoped it was good news.

A few minutes later, he gave up meditating and went into the bathroom to freshen up. Looking in the mirror, he sighed at his messy hair. No, this tousled look was not fit for the persona he was trying to put forth.

After fixing his hair with some gel and a comb, he put on his shoes, picked up his keys, wallet and phone, and headed down to his car.

The night before, he'd asked the concierge about a good restaurant, and he'd been pointed towards Bailey's Steakhouse. The owner had hyped the restaurant up as having a friendly atmosphere and being reasonably priced.

Really price didn't matter that much, but after staying in the hotel for the last few days, he took the man at his word.

After shooting a text to Ms. Winters, he headed towards the restaurant.

Ten minutes later, he pulled up to restaurant. It was a well-built brick and mortar that looked to be recently refurbished. There were some older parts, but it melded well with the newer décor. All things considered; it had a welcoming feel to it, and he just knew there was some amazing food waiting for him.

He'd gotten there a few minutes early but went inside to get a table somewhere quiet.

Inside, he was greeted by an impeccably dressed waiter with a friendly yet professional demeanor.

"Welcome to Bailey's Steakhouse. My name is Darius; will you be dining alone today?"

Trent shook his head, "No, sir. I'm meeting with a family lawyer to discuss some business. If possible, could you seat me somewhere private?"

The dark-haired man nodded. "Yes sir, Lunch hour is still a couple of hours away. I can seat you at the corner table."

After he was seated at the table, the waiter took his drink order and walked over to the bar.

As Trent looked around at his surroundings, he noticed two men sitting nearby. The older man had short white hair with a little graying mixed in and the younger one had black hair and glasses. Both wore white button-down shirts and dark slacks. Maybe they were relations; really it wasn't his place. Yet, in the back of his head, he felt a premonition that they were important to him somehow.

There seemed to be some kind of medical condition with the older gentleman; he was trembling.

Moments later, Ms. Winters walked into with a younger woman by her side. The younger lady was dressed a little more casual than Moriah, but she looked just as sharp. She had curly black hair that was pulled back in a fancier clip and as they got closer, she could see she had piercing grey eyes.

He got up as they approached her. Moriah grinned at him and shook his hand. Ms. Winters greeted him and then introduced the young lady. "This is my intern, Serena Mc Callister. She's fresh out of law school and learning the ropes today. She's already been read in on the majority of the details of the case involving Mr. Shen."

Trent narrowed his eyes and gave the younger woman a skeptical look. "And has she signed a Non-Disclosure Agreement? I don't want the details about my son's case being spread around."

The younger woman nodded. "I'm well aware of how delicate this case is. I signed the papers and have them on hand if you want to see them."

Trent was tempted to ask for them, but Moriah spoke up. "I hand chose her out of many to be my apprentice. She's discreet and very capable of fulfilling her duties. I can assure you that she can be trusted."

Trent nodded in acceptance when the younger woman added. I don't need to know all the details to know we're dealing with something ugly."

That made Trent feel better. He sat back and took a deep breath. "Okay, so what did we need to discuss?"

The conversation only paused as the waiter came back to take their lunch orders. When he walked away, Ms. Winters took up the discussion.

"It's good news actually. I have been in talks with the NYPD about that recently deceased parole officer. After a long talk with the CO, I informed him that other minors may have fallen prey to that parasite."

"Did you find out anything else?"

"Yes, I did. As it turns out, he wasn't ranked as highly as he pretended to be, and he was completely despised by every female employee that I talked to. No one's mourning him."

Trent nodded. "So, what's next?"

"There's going to be a full investigation. Thankfully, your son won't have to testify; the audio recording you provided was evidence enough. I read the file that was given to me by your friends in the Silver Guardians and I compared it to the file that I obtained as your lawyer, and the charges looked absolutely bogus. I am willing to bet that we can get the record expunged."

"That's good news." Trent said sounding relieved. "I want my son to be able to start his new life without any old baggage."

"Your father is also pursuing damages from the department. Their attorneys were in a hurry to settle out of court and when you get back, we will see the judge about finalizing everything. Once the adoption is official, the money will be his with you as the executor."

"It will most likely be put towards his college fund so it can gain interest."

"Good idea." Moriah agreed. As she opened her mouth to say something else, the older man in the corner started sobbing. It wasn't that loud, but with the mostly quiet room, it was easy to hear.

Trent looked up seeing the man's shoulders shaking. The younger man put an arm around the older in a comforting gesture. Everyone was quiet as the man wept for reasons unknown. After a few minutes of this the man put his head down on the table.

Trent had no idea why he felt compelled to get up, but his heroic tendencies were tugging at him to see if he could help the gentleman.

As he got closer, he heard the older man speak and when he did, it was a voice of absolute grief.

"I know they're going to throw her out. I can't stand the thought of my Roxie wandering alone in the streets. She won't last long, and she'll end up roadkill. I'll never see my furry children again!"

The younger man shook his head sadly. "I don't know what else we can do, Mr. Hadley. The shelter's full and there's no rescues around here that have the money to take in such an old dog. I'm completely perplexed, sir."

The man nodded sadly. "My daughter can't be trusted either. She's spent too much time with my ex-wife. She's become just as cruel as that bitch. She worships money like the devout catholic worships Mary. I just know she's sold Rex to the highest bidder and will throw Roxie out the moment she stuffs me away."

The younger man deflated. "I don't know what else to do; we're out of options."

The man's shoulders began to shake with silent tears and Trent's heart broke for the old man. He might be a retired hero, but he was a hero just the same. The instinct was still there.

Taking a moment to mull this over, he walked up to them and waited to be noticed. When they looked up at him, he introduced himself. "I apologize for eavesdropping, but I overheard some of what you said, and I want to offer any assistance I can."

The man hurriedly wiped his tears with his sleeve.

"Who are you?"

"My name's Trent Fernandez and I live in Angel Grove, California. I'm in town waiting for my son and his friends to get back from their trip."

The man nodded and paused considering whether he could trust him. In the end, desperation seemed to win out. The man sighed and his companion squeezed his shoulder comfortingly.

"My name is Jonah Hadley, and this is my protégé and last friend in the world, Micah Young. We were just having a final meal before I lose my freedom forever."

Trent looked on in confusion at the older gentleman. "He's got Alzheimer's and it's gotten worse over the last few months." The younger man said helpfully. "His family" and here the young man's voice became very sarcastic, "Have decided that he can no longer take care of himself and has decided to put him in a nursing home."

"It's a fancy place, and they do allow pets, I made sure of it. But the family has made it clear that they don't have the time or money to take care of her. I also can't prove it, but my gut says that his daughter stole Rex, too. She'd jump at the chance to make more money off his sale."

The man looked devastated at Micah's words and added in a shaky voice. "My chihuahua, Roxie, has been looking around for her puppy Rex for days now. I don't know what to do; Any power I had to help was gone in one signed form from the judge."

Trent opened his mouth to offer help, but the floodgates opened, and the man's devastated words came tumbling out.

"She took Rex when I left him at the groomers last week. I asked her what happened, and she refused to tell me where he was. He's a pure bred and I know she's sold him! She just wants the money!"

"They'll throw my sweet girl out with the rest of my possessions that hold no monetary value."

The man looked miserably at Trent who felt the older man's pain.

"Do you think she's planning to sell him to a breeder?"

"In the show dog circuit, where Roxie is from, it's a requirement to continue the blood line." Micah added. Rex is the son of a show dog and he's a perfect specimen to sire the next generation."

The man sighed and quietly took out an aged picture of him and his two dogs from his faded wallet. It had been taken a couple years before, and it had also been laminated.

"They're more than just my dogs. After my ex-wife and I divorced, I was done trying to find romance again. I heard from a business partner that a breeder was going out of business due to poor health and I offered to buy them both. Roxie was well past her peak, and he was willing to just give her to me. But Rex was only about a year old, and I bought him for about 1000 dollars. The love and comfort they gave me has made my life so much fuller. It's priceless!"

Trent nodded sympathetically as the man continued in a softer voice.

"My daughter is a cruel woman and I know she'll kick my sweet girl to the curb the moment I'm settled into my room…my fancy prison."

Trent nodded making the decision quickly. "I'll take them both in. I'm about to adopt my son and we'll be happy to have her and him if we can find him."

The gentleman looked at him with heavy emotion in his eyes. "Really? You'll take her in? Just like that?"

Trent nodded. "I don't advertise it, but I'm comfortably wealthy and I can more than afford to take of your Roxie. I bet you've put everything into their care till now."

"Yes, I consider myself a very responsible owner. She's been spayed and well cared for, and I even spent extra on a special diet. At my home she and Rex had one of my smaller rooms to themselves with every kind of comfort they wanted. A lot of my pension went into giving them the best life I could afford!"

His words were spilling out again. "The both of them are good kids! I can't go to the grave without knowing if they'll be okay. That spawn of mine-" Here, he paused as the door opened and a beach blonde bimbo walked in looking like shed just stepped off the cover of a Maxim magazine.

Trent fought to roll his eyes as the man shuttered and looked up at her with trepidation. Out of the corner of his eyes, he saw his companions get up from the table. They kept their distance, but Trent felt better knowing he had backup.

Not that he needed it.

She had a haughty look on her face and if he had hackles, they'd have been standing on end. With just a look, he hated her. He took a deep breath and put on his poker face. In an instant he went from a concerned soft-hearted hero to a rich man who knew he was above everyone. It was nothing more than a mask. He hated taken on this persona, but in times like this, it was a necessary evil.

"Dad, I knew you'd be here in this…restaurant." She ended the sentence with a look of disgust.

Trent fought to roll his eyes and kept his poker face on. Gods, she truly was a bitch.

"Yes, I came here with Micah to celebrate my last day of freedom before you shove me into that fancy prison."

The woman rolled her eyes. "Please dad, it's a nursing home and the best money could buy. You'll hardly be wearing an orange jump suit."

"Call it what you want. I still have a few hours before you come to take me away."

The bitch's visage took on a cold look. "Yeah, about that. I need to be in Hawaii for a photo shoot in the morning. I've called ahead and they can take you in right now."

The man panicked. "But you promised!"

"Ugh, you are such a burden! Would you give up already? You can't even remember to change your own diaper!" She said this last part loud enough for everyone to hear. The older gentleman blushed.

Trent had heard enough, and he made himself known. Before he could say anything, the blonde noticed him. Her eyebrows went up and she looked him over licking her bottom lip. "And who are you?"

Trent tamped down his feelings of discomfort at her predatory look and kept his mask on. "I'm Trent of the Mercers. The three of us were discussing arrangements for Roxie, his chihuahua. I have agreed to take her into my home."

The bitch laughed cruelly. "You really want that fleabag?"

Trent nodded looking completely in control. "A fine pedigreed lady such as Roxie deserves better than a kennel to live out her golden years."

The blonde looked him over. "If that's the case, I can't just let you have her for free."

The older gentleman's face looked defeated.

Trent wanted to call her out for being an obvious gold digger, but he kept his voice neutral. "And just how much are you asking for? You just called her a fleabag."

"And you just told me she was a pedigree." The blonde paused to consider.

Trent very much doubted she even knew what to ask for.

"Five hundred dollars in cash."

Trent considered her demand for a moment. "And what of Rex, the other chihuahua? Is that what you asked for him too?"

She gave him a colder calculating look and then looked at her father. "No, I'm planning to ask more for him. He's worth at least a grand. He had a diamond collar. For 500 dollars more, I'll sell it to you as well."

"So, you're a thief? Trent asked.

"I never said that."

"You didn't have to." Moriah said as she approached them.

"And who are you?"

His family's lawyer. From what I heard, and I heard everything, you've stolen not just a collar but the dog it belonged to."

The blonde looked at her with hatred. "How dare you accuse me of stealing! My dad has been declared incompetent! I doubt he'll even remember anything in a few months!

"But he's fully aware of it now!" Trent said. "I've heard everything your dad said. He loves those dogs more than his own life. He doesn't trust you and would never let you have those dogs. That's why he was so desperate to find a place for her to live."

The blonde crossed her arms over her chest. "Fine, I'll let you have the dog for three hundred."

And what about the diamond collar? If I'm going to buy Rex, I want his collar as well. It's part and parcel."

"I sold it already."

"Not without the paperwork. It's more like you fenced it to some lowlife." Micah said from behind her.

"Excuse me?" She said looking at the younger man.

"You heard me." He said looking her straight in the eye. "From the moment you told Mr. Hadley that he was going into a nursing home, he was scared for his dogs. He gave me all the paperwork pertaining to Roxy and Rex. That includes shot records, proof of pedigree and the receipt from the jewelers. He even had the insurance papers for both the collars.

All this time, the older gentleman had been watching the exchange. His next words were a reminder of his mental illness.

"No, I don't trust you! You're nothing but a brat and a bully. You can treat me like garbage, but you're not going to have Roxy!"

The blonde gave her father a cruel look again. I'm not going to keep Roxy, I'm going to euthanize her."

The man's face shattered.

Trent had enough.

Stepping between them, he faced the blonde. "Enough! I won't let you torment Mr. Hadley for another second. Your father is lucid enough right now to sign Roxy over into my care and I'll do the same for Rex. My lawyers can draw up the necessary paperwork to make me the new owner."

"Fine you can keep the bitch, but I still want my money for Rex."

There was a tense pause and Ms. Winters tapped him on the shoulder and motioned for him to follow her. When he turned towards her, Serena stood by the gentleman protectively.

When they were in a private corner, the lawyer spoke in a low voice. "Sir, I don't think she's going to leave without some compensation. Even if you scare her away, she's the kind of bitch that will seek revenge. If she knows you're loaded and you definitely carry yourself like you are, she could accuse you of anything and I think you know what I'm referring to."

"Yeah, I know she's a gold digger."

"Exactly and she could accuse you of sexual harassment or rape and even if she's proven wrong, your reputation will be ruined."

Trent gave her a shocked look and she nodded sadly. "I saw the way she was staring at you. I can tell she's a snake and if she wants money, she'll find a way to get it."

At his look of acceptance, she added. "She's the worst example of a woman and she makes us all look bad. I can draw up the right documents for everything, but you need to keep that poker face of yours on and don't do anything to seem threatening. Let her think she's won so she won't try any BS later."

"Ok,"

"Take care of business but keep things quick and simple."

Trent nodded and took a moment to school his expression. A moment later he walked back to the gentleman.

Trent kept is expression neutral. "Fine, I'll take ownership of both Roxy and Rex and all their accoutrements."

The blonde gave him a strange look. "Accoutrements?"

Trent rolled his eyes. "I'm referring to their dog beds, favorite toys, whatever your dad has bought for them to bring them comfort.

"Oh, I threw all of that out. They're dogs, they don't need anything but food and a kennel."

Trent fought to school his expressions. Of course, she's that cold.

"Ok, but if I'm I'm going to pay over a grand for Rex, we're going to this legally."

"I want Fifteen Hundred."

"Only if you're including that diamond collar, you don't have it do you?"

She sighed. "Fine a thousand then. I'll have them back here in two hours…as soon as I drop off my dad at his new home."

"No. I want to give Roxy and Rex over myself." At the blondes disgusted look, he added. "I know you've got such a busy life, but I'm sure you can spare another hour before you go off on your next glamourous adventure."

The blonde huffed. "Fine. Get your food to go and well go pick up the mutt."

"Mutts." Trent corrected her.

"I only have one dog, the other is at a kennel."

"Which one?"Micah asked.

"The PetSmart one. Duh."

The blonde looked at the old man. "Come on, Dad. Get the lead out." Without waiting for him to follow, she flipped her hair over her shoulder dramatically and walked out the door.

Trent huffed softly and then looked at the older gentleman. "Before you go, I want you to know that I didn't buy your dogs to be my possession. It's to pay for their freedom and your piece of mind. I swear on my honor that they'll be well cared for with by my son and I."

"I trust you on that; you're a man of integrity. I can die peacefully knowing that they'll be safe. That's all I wanted." Saying this, he held out a hand.

Trent raised an eyebrow sensing a finality to those words, but he only nodded and shook the older man's hand. Then, he pulled out his personal business card. It had the Dojo's name on the front and his number on the back. Handing it to Noah he added. I'll be be in town for the next week at least. Once the dogs are in my custody, we can keep in touch."

The young lawyer gave him a nod and tucked the card into his pocket.

Shanking his hand, he added. "I'm going to tail them, and keep an eye out for him. Is there a better place to meet up?"

Just then, Moriah Winters came up to them. "This place has wonderful food, but it's about to get pretty busy. We should take this to a more private setting. We're staying at the Marriott here in town. We can temporarily use their business office until everything is completed."

Soon it was just him and the two lawyers again.

Trent sat back down in the booth with an exhausted sigh. He hadn't planned for things to go like that. In the last thirty minutes or so, he'd taken on two more needy animals and fended off a nasty villain.

And he'd done it without being in spandex.

(This story continues in the next chapter)