It was funny to watch Vince when he was serious about something. His chin got real high and he stared down his nose at people. Those cobalt blue eyes of his got narrow and his walk took on a purposeful quality that conflicted badly with his scruffy appearance. Looked like a hobo on a mission.
It was late Saturday morning and the three of them were heading in to the garage. Nothing unusual about that, it was where they always went, work and play equally at home there. They intended to work more on the Jaguar, finding something bordering on bliss in its classic lines and modern power. They’d scoffed at it when it arrived but all of them had become attached to the little roadster. Some of us are a little too attached to its owner too, Leon thought glaring out the window.
He hazarded a glanced at his front seat companion.
Vince was on a collision course with Dom’s temper. It hadn’t taken as long as he’d thought it would to convince V that he was the best one to tell Dom about the ‘Andolini Situation’, as they’d dubbed it. Leon had a sneaking suspicion that Marco wasn’t really the issue Vince wanted to talk about. His beef with Dom was all about Letti.
Vince and Letti were tight. They’d known each other as long as they’d known Dom and Mia. She gave him a lot of shit, she gave everyone shit, but the banter between them was remarkably similar to the Toretto siblings constant ribbing.
The garage felt empty without her, almost like it missed her as much as they did. Vince was taking it hardest, moping around like his dog died. The only one that didn’t seem to care was Dom, flirting with that spoiled little thing from Beverly Hills. Leon hated seeing it but not nearly as much as Vince did.
In his defense, Dom was a natural flirt and women flocked to him. You’d think he was a rock star or something with all the attention he got. Usually Leon only paid enough attention to Dom’s conquests to see if he could learn something useful or pick up a cast off. Truth be told, Jesse and Vince did the same thing. They all knew it wasn’t serious and that Dom would go back to Letti. He always did.
Followed the same pattern every time too. First he’d brag about it, go back for seconds if it was good, and then he’d start to feel bad. He’d beat himself up for a few days and turn into the model boyfriend for a couple weeks before the pattern repeated itself.
Suspicious once when Dom was in the middle of one of his ‘perfect boyfriend’ moments, Letti had asked Leon if he knew why Dom got like that and he’d lied. Said he didn’t know and that Dom was just moody. He’d even gone so far as to joke that Dom was living proof that men got PMS too. Felt like a shit for lying but would have felt worse if he told her the truth, Dom would have made sure of it.
This time it was different. Both of them were acting different.
Dom was acting like Letti didn’t even exist anymore. He didn’t talk about her, didn’t ask about her, and wasn’t interested in hearing about her either. He was being a complete asshole.
Since the scene at the garage, Leon had only talked to Letti once and she’d been defensive and angry. He’d played moderator for years, but this time all his tried and trusted techniques failed to sway her. She’d hung up on him. She also wasn’t taking calls from Vince or Jesse. It was like she wanted nothing to do with any of them. Her only connection to the team lately was Mia.
And what was the deal with Mia and Dom? That shit was strange too. Leon couldn’t imagine a single scenario where Dom would hit Mia and he also couldn’t come up with a reason for the big guy to be so mad about it that he cut her off completely. What the fuck is that all about, he thought as he pulled into the shop’s parking lot.
“Leon! Shit, you even listening to me, man?”
“Huh?” Leon glanced over at the passenger seat to find Vince glaring at him. Apparently there had been conversation he wasn’t listening to. He cocked an eyebrow at his friend as he parked the Skyline next to Dom’s car.
With an angry shake of his head, Vince unhooked his seatbelt and started to climb out. “I said, I think you and Jes should go get coffee or some shit. Wanna talk to Dom alone, brother.”
Although he wanted nothing more than to leave Vince alone with the burden of giving Dom bad news, Leon knew he couldn’t do it. He and Vince might have their problems but they were family and family stuck together. Not wanting to get shit for being mushy he explained it a different way. “Nah. You need the backup, pumpkin. Plus I don’t trust you to get our side of the story straight, man.”
“Fuck you.” Vince growled, glaring hard at the garage. The lights were on inside but all the doors were still closed.
Leon pushed the seat forward for Jesse to climb out mumbling a half hearted, “Fuck you too.”
Vince was about to say something else but was interrupted by a loud crash followed by a bellowed expletive and another smaller crash. All three of them stopped dead in their tracks. Dom was in one of those moods.
The expression on Vince’s face hardened. He was ready for a fight. From the sound of it so was Dom. Leon changed his mind about staying, figuring the odds of Vince even raising the subject of Marco were worse than winning on one spin of the roulette wheel.
Leon glanced at Jesse and slapped Vince on the shoulder, “On second thought, coffee sounds kinda good. Whatcha say, Jes? Wanna hit the Krispy Krème?”
Jesse looked at the garage, then at Vince, then back at the garage. Shaking his head, he started around to the passenger side of the Skyline. “You think 30 minutes is enough time for Dom to beat your ass, V?”
“Fuck you, Jes. Nobody’s beatin’ my ass.” Vince started walking toward the garage.
Leon couldn’t help himself and taunted, “Better wake up, sweet pea. In the real world Dom always kicks the crap outta you.”
Vince kept walking, giving them the bird over his shoulder.
~~~~~
The sun was bright in the window but she’d never gone to sleep. Letti could smell coffee, and knew the hospice nurse was there. The rattle of pills in the little glass containers as the nurse prepared the days meds floated upstairs. It was a cruel reminder. Good God, soon I’ll be all alone. I don’t think I can take it. Why is this happening to me?
She’d always thought that when the end came, Dom and the team would be there for her. But that was over now. Where Dom led, they followed and after last night there was no way he would take her back. Whatever hope she’d had of working it out with Dom was officially dead.
She looked over at the man beside her in her bed watching him sleep and tried to make herself care that he’d been hurt. He stirred, moaning as he came awake. Where his face rested in her pillow, a dark, bloody stain had formed. Forcing concern into her voice she asked, “You alright?”
Marco pushed into a sitting position looking very much like it hurt to do so. “Am I alright? Am I alright? Do I look alright to you?”
She stared at the deep bruises on his back and laid a hand on a small patch of unbattered flesh, “Shit, just a question. Actually you look kinda pissed.”
“Well aren’t you a fuckin’ genius,” he growled, pulling away from her touch.
Letti jumped out of her bed and grabbed her robe, wrapping it tightly around her shoulders before sitting down across from him in the big chair she reserved for piling dirty clothes. Smelled like sweat, gasoline and motor oil in that chair. She crinkled her nose.
She didn’t like it when people spoke to her in that tone. It reminded her too much of her mom’s last husband, Jose and the degrading way he spoke to them both.
Marco looked over at her and his eyes softened. He gingerly touched his forehead and slumped with a sigh. “Look, I’m sorry. Ain’t your fault. I knew what I was in for when I got with you. Asshole just sucker punched me is all. Coward couldn’t face me like a man. Believe me, he’s gonna pay for that shit.”
She tried to keep her expression bland, hiding behind the facade. This too reminded her of Jose. The hasty apology followed by whatever excuse he could conjure. She shook her head.
Marco looked terrible, bearing a striking resemblance to the elephant man. His face was misshapen and discolored by a multitude of welts, bruises and cuts. His yellow eyes were swollen nearly shut and his lips were twice their usual size. Dom had put a serious hurt on him that was for sure. It was kind of embarrassing actually.
She knew she was supposed to say something along the lines of ‘it was a lucky punch’ but didn’t feel like lying. The whole thing was a mess and anger began to rise up. She was angry at herself for not controlling things any better than she was and for making absolutely certain there was no way things could go back to normal. She was angry at Marco for getting his ass beat, angry at Dom for beating him up and especially for dragging her mother into it. She hated him for that more than anything else. Her mom was dying and he was getting her involved in their shit. Not really thinking about Marco anymore she mumbled, “He’ll pay alright. Damn him.”
Marco snorted in response and she glanced up at him not liking what she saw. His swollen eyes were like liquid fire and the smile that cracked his bloodied lips was sort of sinister. He looked kind of crazy. What have I gotten myself into, she thought suddenly needing some distance from him. “I gotta go in a minute, Marco.”
“Why?”
What? You expect me to sit here and baby sit your ass? Like I’m gonna give up my life to sit around icing your wounds. Think again, puto. If he wanted a girl to do that he should have gone after someone like Mia, cause she sure wasn’t going to do that shit. Speaking of Mia, “I’m meeting Mia in Brentwood for lunch.”
His face started to twist into that ugly, satanic mask again. “Why you want anything to do with a Toretto after this shit?”
What the fuck is this? My mom may have put up with this crap, but I sure as shit won’t. Still the words that came out of her mouth were less than fiery. “Mia’s not Dom. She doesn’t have anything to do with this.”
“Bitch is his sister.”
“That bitch is my best friend so shut the fuck up.” She leaned forward in her chair finally letting expression flood her face. She knew she looked like some kind of Harpy but that was okay by her. Nobody talked shit about her girl. And nobody talked to her like that either.
He shrunk back from her like she slapped him which was good. She liked that look. Jose had never backed off.
Taking a kind of wicked thrill in the moment she changed the subject and her expression, sweetly rubbing salt into his wounded pride, “I’ll drop you by the emergency room on my way if you want. Should have those ribs looked at, baby.”
“I’m alright.” He smiled at her like he knew what she was up to and winced getting to his feet. “Don’t need no hospital.” He hobbled to the window and looked down, wincing again. She knew he was looking at the damage done to his car. “Could use a garage though.”
~~~~~
Dom’s phone was ringing. He pushed out from under the Jag and groped through his pockets for it. Flipping it open he growled, “Yeah?”
“Hi Dom. How are you?”
Female voice. Sort of familiar. Breathless and soft. Reminded him a little of Marilyn Monroe only it was too high. He hated it when people didn’t announce themselves on the phone. The guessing game had gotten old back in junior high. Still, he had to play. He ran a towel over his face and sucked in a slow breath willing himself not to sound as irritated as he was. “Not bad. You?”
She giggled. “You have no idea who this is do you?”
And she hits a high fly ball. It’s going….going….gone! Over the wall, a homerun folks. Shit. I do not need this right now.
Her voice was playful. “I’ll give you a hint. Red snakeskin mini skirt.”
Oh, that was real fucking helpful. He racked his brain for a red snakeskin mini and came up empty. A noise in the garage distracted him and he turned to see Vince storm in and toward the back where there was a coffee pot. Great, he’s all sunshine and roses today too. Fuck. Can this get worse?
“Boy, you do have a bad memory don’t you? Okay, another hint, but this is the last one you get. Bet you didn’t forget my car. I drive a dark red Boxster. Remember me now?”
Oh yeah, he remembered. Johnny’s baby sister. Barely 18 and more off limits than the gold at Fort Knox. Nearly as well protected too.
“Yo Dom, need to talk to you, man,” Vince interrupted just as Chaisee started to speak again. Angered by the interruptions, Dom waved him off and tried to focus on the girl’s voice again.
She was midway through what ever she’d been talking about. He missed the first part catching only, “Does that sound good to you?”
Not wanting to fight with yet another female he said, “Yeah.”
“Great! I’ll see you then. Bye.” And she hung up before he could get her to repeat whatever he’d agreed to.
~~~~~
Mia was positively glowing. It was a 180 degree shift from the day before. It was also 180 degrees from her own mood. Everything was fucked up. Forget about if for a minute will you? Something good is happening to your girl. Be happy for her. Letti plastered what she hoped was a convincing smile on her face and started toward Mia’s booth near the back of the Pee Wee Muldoon’s.
“You sure look happy today. What changed?” Letti asked. Mia blushed, a sure sign that she’d met a guy. Letti sat down, determined to maintain a happy façade even if it killed her. “What’s his name, Mia?”
“Trevor.”
It was the first thing she’d found funny in days and she laughed outright. Trust Mia to fall for a guy with a name like that. Among her motley cast of crushes there had been a Fredrick, a Jerald and even a Nigel. Where she dug up these guys with stupid names was beyond Letti. “Trevor what?”
“Bentley.”
“Trevor Bentley? Good grief. Lemme guess. White guy, prettier than both of us put together, met him at school, he belongs to a frat, drives a Beemer and he’s really smart, right?”
Mia looked genuinely shocked. “How did you know that?”
Letti just shook her head thinking, history honey, nothing but history. “You gonna go out with him?”
“He asked me to a party tonight.”
“Cool.” Before she could say any more the waiter showed up and took their orders.
They chitchatted idly about school and Trevor for a while. It was shear torture to sit there and pretend nothing was wrong and Letti thanked God when their food finally arrived. They didn’t talk much as they ate, slowing down their conversation to compensate for empty bellies. Even though she ate slowly, the meal still ended too quickly.
On the drive over she’d come to a decision. There hadn’t been much of a choice really.
It was over with Dom of that she was sure. The fight last night had clinched it. Even if it he hadn’t been out on his porch, he would have found out anyway. She could only imagine the gossip that was flying from her appearance at the races. Once the rumors started, Dom would have to protect his reputation and the only way he could do that was to make her the villain. If she was going to salvage her relationships with the team, it had to start now. They were the only real friends she had and she couldn’t take losing them too. They had to hear the truth from her even if it was via Mia’s big mouth. No matter what, it would still go over like a ton of bricks, but at least this way some they’d have to hear her out.
She looked at Mia and took a deep breath. Watching her best friend carefully she said, “I started seeing someone new myself.”
Mia dropped her fork into a puddle of catsup. It splashed and dotted her shirt like blood. She didn’t notice. Her eyes were wide as she stuttered, “What? You have a new man? When? Who? Does Dom know? Oh my God!”
You are so predictable, Mia. Exactly how I thought this would play out. Letti leaned back in her seat, trying to sound happy and like she didn’t need Mia’s approval. “His name’s Marco. And ‘oh my God’ is right, the boy is hot.”
“Oh.” Mia deflated and looked ready to cry.
Something about that look galvanized Letti and her failing pride returned. I make my own decisions! Screw you if you don’t like them. Was it so much to ask that her best friend be happy for her? Why was everyone treating her like the leper when it was Dom who was the asshole? What the fuck was everybody’s problem?
She glared at her friend and softened a bit at the sight of Mia’s head hanging, hair tumbled into her plate. She really couldn’t expect anything else from the girl. Family loyalty would win out every time but it still hurt. Suck it up already, Mia! You had to know this would happen. There is no way we will ever get back together. He hates me. I have to move on. She tried to explain, “C’mon, Mia. What did you expect me to do? Pine away ‘til I’m a shriveled up old bag?”
“No I…”
Her nerves were on edge and she didn’t have it in her to try to justify her decision like she’d planned to. She leaned forward, “Look, Mia, Dom and me are through. It’s just the way it is, but it doesn’t mean you and me have to be over too. I know this isn’t what you wanted but I can’t live my life to make everybody else happy. I gotta make me happy.”
Mia finally raised her head, her big doe eyes hard. “Funny. You don’t look happy.”
Letti was momentarily stunned. It wasn’t like Mia to challenge her. Didn’t matter that she was right. Her plan had backfired. Not even Mia would support her. Hurt and feeling abandoned Letti climbed out of the booth and tossed some money on the table saying, “I’m out. I don’t need this shit. Have fun with Mr. Ivy League, okay?”
“UCLA isn’t ivy league…” she heard Mia call from behind her. Trust Mia to correct her when their friendship was falling apart.
~~~~~
Claudia woke up to bright sunshine. The curtains were thrown open cruelly, her eyes seeing nothing but red from behind squinted lids. “There had better be some kind of emergency or I may have to kill you, Margie.”
“Your father’s on the phone. He wants to talk to you, dear.”
“Oh that is just fabulous.” She reached for the phone, “dad?”
“Darling, how are you? Feels like it has been ages since I heard your voice.”
It has been you jerk, she thought. Instead she said, “Indeed. Where are you?”
“Still in Nice, sweet girl.” She hated it when he called her that. “Travel plans haven’t changed.”
Then why did you call? “I see.”
“There is something I need you to do before I arrive, if you have time of course.” Of course. “I have news that should make you terribly happy, darling. Theresa and I are to be married. On the 21st when we return we would like to have a gathering to celebrate with our American friends. I was thinking dinner around 8:00 and was hoping you would arrange it? Margie is busy with the wedding plans.”
I’m in medical school, hellooo, what makes you think I have time for this? And what the hell are you thinking marrying that silicone bag? Claudia felt numb all over but she managed to choke out, “Of course. When’s the wedding?”
“Margie can give you the details. Thank you, darling. See you at the party.” The phone went dead in her hand.
Claudia turned angry eyes on Margie, “You knew about this?”
~~~~~
Vince’s blue eyes were narrow with suspicion and he ran a nervous hand through his bedhead hair saying in a loud, accusing voice, “Who was that on the phone, Dom?”
“Chaisee Tran.” Dom slid back under the car, determined not to let Vince get to him. He could see and hear Vince’s boots get closer to him. He wasn’t going to go away. Fuck.
“What’d she want?” Vince nearly shouted.
“Fuck if I know. Couldn’t hear her cause your gums were flapping.” He rested the wrench on his chest, closed his eyes and prayed silently for just enough patience to get Vince out of the garage unharmed.
“How many hoes do you need, man? I mean, shit, can’t you just be happy with what you got? Letti deserves better than this shit, Dom. What the fuck’s wrong with you?”
Dom’s fist clenched around the wrench but he forced himself to stay where he was. If he had to look into Vince’s face there was no way he wouldn’t hit it. It was none of V’s damn business. “Vince, I am only going to say this once. I am not in the mood. Back the fuck off me.”
“Nah, Dom. Somebody’s gotta set you straight. You’re fuckin’ up, dog.”
Dom was out from under the car and on his feet almost before he knew what was happening. The wrench was still in his hand. He stepped in close and punctuated his words tapping the business end of the tool against Vince’s chest. “I’m fucking up?”
Vince eyed the tool for a second and looked up. You ready to kill me with that, his eyes asked. Dom let his gaze fall to the wrench. It was a ¾ inch torque wrench, the same kind he’d nearly killed a man with. He threw it away like it had bitten him and heard it crash into something metal. His feet felt unsteady under him and his mind reeled. He looked into the angry face of his best friend and almost came undone. All the rage fled his body and he was ready to let the entire thing go, sit in a corner and shake for a while.
But Vince got braver once the weapon was gone and closed what little distance still existed between them snarling, “That’s what I said. You’re fuckin’ up, actin’ like a punk ass bitch.”
Whatever remorse he’d been feeling was washed away by the sudden return of his rage. His fist cocked back and all hell broke loose.
~~~~~
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