This story is based on the characters from the movie "The Fast and The
Furious", none of which I own. All other characters are my own, as well as
this story. If anyone has an overwhelming urge to sue, I suggest you find
someone with more money.
This story is the continuation of "TFATF", and the only exception is that Jesse survived.
FEEDBACK, please
FRIENDS AND ENEMIES, SEQUEL TO I BELONG TO YOU by Heidi
CHAPTER 1
Nikki woke up slowly, stretching and smiling. It was nearly 8 a.m. God, she loved how good sleep felt, how good it felt to sink into it and stay in it. Her twelve week old daughter, Daisy Dominique Toretto, got her out of bed every single morning at 6 a.m. sharp. She had explained the theory of sleeping in to Daisy, but she just didn't seem interested in the idea. Not that Dom didn't help -- he was usually up at that time anyway, getting ready to go to work, but every week-end he left her sleep in and got up before the baby would make a sound. Nikki listened to the soft sounds coming from the nursery and pushed the door open slowly. Tears actually filled her eyes -- this scene was almost more beauty than her heart could take. Dominic, her muscle bound, tough-guy, rough-neck trouble maker was sitting in a rocker, feeding his tiny daughter, her fist wrapped around one of her father's fingers. He was so incredibly gentle with the baby, so protective -- the way he was with her. Like they were precious diamonds, precious crystal that had to be taken care of and he had taken on this role so beautifully. "Good morning." "Hey, beautiful. Did you enjoy sleeping in?" She walked over and kissed her daughter and then her husband. "Very much -- it was lovely." She stretched and he let his eyes move over her nightgown clad body. She had changed since the birth of the baby -- before she was born Nikki was all hard muscle and had such perfection. Now she was curvier -- her breasts and breasts were rounder and fuller, and she had a tiny little pooch instead of the six pack muscles in her abdomen. It was invisible to the eye but he could feel it when he ran his hand over her naked flesh. She claimed she wanted to get the six pack back but never worked out -- she knew it turned him on even more than the hard muscle had. She could still put any supermodel to shame but in Dom's eyes, she had been a girl, now she was a woman and it excited him to no end. He wondered about people who said that sex changed or slowed down after the birth of a baby -- for them, they couldn't even wait the six weeks they were supposed to and it had gotten only better and better and her appetite for sex had always been over the top but now .... he wondered if he could keep up with her sometimes. She was wilder than ever and it was all for him. "How's our daughter?" She sat down on the floor across from the rocker and he smiled, looking down at the auburn haired, charcoal eyed baby girl. "Three months going on sixteen years, I think. She's gonna have trouble with her old man when all those boys come sniffing around." Dom smiled staring down at her. His little Daisy -- perfect in every way and without a doubt the most beautiful baby that had ever been born. Even the nurses at the hospital said so. "I already feel sorry for them." Nikki laughed, thinking about Daisy introducing boys to a man built like her father. She couldn't really imagine Dominic looking any different in sixteen years than he did now. "She's ready to hit the crib. We played and read and I explained to her about how nasty boys are and how she was born. She was very interested to discover she was made in the backseat of a truck, her mother in stiletto heels, a leather mini skirt, and no panties." Dom laughed quietly, smirking proudly at the memory, and Nikki smiled. "You're insane. I am married to an insane man." Nikki stood up and took the nearly sleeping baby out of her husband's arms. She sat the bottle down and burped her and put her in the crib. She was such a good baby, such a good sleeper. "So is the bed still warm, I was thinking we could make it really hot. Maybe you could put those heels on again -- just the heels." Dom growled into her ear, grabbed her around the waist and they stood staring down at their child. His hands roamed over her breasts and she tried to keep in a moan. "You are a pervert, as I've told you many times before." "And I've proven it many times before, Mrs. Toretto and I'd like my chance to prove again right now." She turned in his arms and kissed him. Her own private Adonis -- she actually burned like fire for him. Now where the hell were those stilettos?
CHAPTER 2
A few hours later, Dominic and Nikki were seated in the newly expanded kitchen, Daisy in her swing, and they were fixing lunch. "I still can't get over Mia being pregnant. I'm so happy for her. She loves Daisy so much -- she's going to make a fantastic mother." "Yeah, I know. She's always had that "mom" quality to her -- even when she was a little girl. I'm glad that she and Brian got that house just two doors down from us although sometimes I really miss living with her. This house used to seem small when all those people lived here -- now it is just the three of us -- other than Leon and Jesse in the back house." Dom smiled at her. "Mia and I had some tough years, ya know, but Mia rose above it." Nikki reached up and touched his cheek. "As did you. Dominic you are a magnificent father -- she worships you." He smiled but didn't look up. She was Daddy's girl but her mother's soul. "Dominic Toretto! I thought you were doing the dishes last night?" "I did do them." Dom looked over at the sink that was full of bubbles. Before he could say anything Nikki reached in and let out a scream. She pulled out her hand, which was bleeding profusely. "What the hell??" He grabbed her arm and looked at it closely. "Dom, the sink is full of broken glass." The baby was screaming and Nikki pushed him toward her -- he grabbed a bottle of water and gave it to the baby and went back to Nikki's arm. "Do you think you have any glass in here?" She shook her head no and he lightly ran his hand over her arm, feeling it and making sure. He pulled out a first aid kit from under the sink and cleaned it and wrapped it in a towel because it was still bleeding. "Hold it tight. How the hell could this sink be filled with bubbles if I emptied it last night?? And where did the glass come from??" He reached in slowly, it was truly filled and he pushed slowly until he got to the stopper and pulled it out. The bubbles and water went down the drain and Nikki and Dom stood staring at the sink -- it was filled with broken glass -- beer bottles, glasses, soda bottles. "Oh my god. Who would do this? How?" Dom walked over to the backdoor -- it was locked -- he checked the front and it was also locked. "I'm frightened." Dom took her in his arms and held her tightly. "Don't be -- someone's idea of a sick joke." "No, it wasn't -- this was intended to hurt someone. Whoever did this knew I would reach in." "Or me." She shook her head. "You were supposed to be at the garage today, remember? Our little wrestle in the sheets and you called in sick ... again." She couldn't help smiling. Dom had taken off a lot of time from the garage since Daisy had been born -- he loved being home with them. "Dominic, whoever did this, did it while we were upstairs making love, while our baby girl slept in her crib down the hall." She shuddered in his arms. "You know what? I want you to take Daisy and go upstairs to our bedroom and I'm gonna go over this house inch by inch. You're right -- that's when they were in here and had to have heard us and knew we were preoccupied and did this. So they did know that we were both home but you were more than likely the target. This makes me so fucking furious." He kissed her head but didn't let her go right away. They both stood there, looking at the sink, at the baby, at their home. "Let me put some bandages on that arm -- you aren't bleeding as much. Does it hurt?" She nodded and he got her two Tylenol and a glass of juice. He dressed her cuts and kissed her fingertips. "Go ahead -- take my little girl and get your cute ass upstairs. I'll be up in a little bit. Don't answer the phone." "Why????????" "I don't know, Nik -- I'm a little paranoid right now." Nikki picked up the baby and they went upstairs. Dom started in the kitchen, first cleaning out the sink very slowly, looking at the bottle labels -- every kind of beer, not just the Corona he kept in the house. There was Jack Daniels and Cuero and Pepsi and Coke. The glasses were black -- they didn't have anything like this in the house. It was bizarre. Then Dom started in the kitchen -- the windows were locked, the door -- he checked it again. He opened it and went into the backyard -- everything was as it always was -- the table in the same place with the hurricane candles on it. The barbeque, the chairs, the lights that connected to the house that Jesse and Leon shared. His garage that his old charger used to be in was still locked, his truck and Nikki's Benz looked fine but he knew he'd check them later. The door lock and screen had not been tampered with. Dominic went back inside and locked the door. He went into the dining room and then the living room -- nothing was out of place. He walked out front and noticed a rose tucked into the pot of daisies that sat out there. He picked it up -- it was unusually dark -- almost black. It definitely hadn't been in there yesterday -- Nikki had just bought the pot yesterday morning. Nothing else was changed. He put the rose into his pocket and walked back in the house, locking the door behind him. Dom went down into the basement and everything in his weight room was normal. Upstairs he started in the guest room -- nothing. Next was the computer room -- nothing was different. He even checked his email, not sure of why. He was operating on automatic pilot at this point. Nothing on there but two emails -- one from Letty -- she was jabbering on and on about how cute Daisy was and how everyone was a big family and how her and Vince were getting along in their new house and she was calling Nikki later today. The other was from Mia -- she wanted to talk to him about their mother but wouldn't say what it was about. Dom made a mental note to call her later and then went back to checking the house. He checked the guest bathroom and then moved into their bedroom -- Nikki was laying on the bed with the baby next to her. She looked at him and he winked but didn't say anything. He checked all the windows and then the bathroom. Everything was normal. He went into the nursery next, his heart beating so hard in his chest he felt it could burst right through. He would gladly kill anyone who tried to hurt his loving wife or his precious child with his bare hands, he would happily spend the rest of his life in a jail cell than let the person go to the police -- Dominic was a man who believed that vengeance was his when it came to his family. Although he had spent hours in there with Daisy early, she had also slept for hours while he and Nikki were in bed. He looked everywhere in her room, but it was as always. Dom was finally satisfied and walked back into their bedroom and got into bed, the baby between them. She squealed in delight when Dom laid down next to her. He had to laugh and lifted her above him. "Be careful -- she's got a tummy full of milk and water." Nikki whispered and he laughed. "Who cares -- I've been puked on before -- by her ... and come to think of it, by you, when you had morning sickness." "Thanks for the reminder. Dominic, what's going on? Did you find anything?" "Nothing." He didn't mention the black rose. "Everything is locked up tight." He stood up with Daisy and put her into another swing they kept upstairs and turned it on. She was in her baby version of heaven, looking out their big window. He laid back down with Nikki and pulled her close. "Baby, I don't know what the fuck is going on or how it happened. It's bizarre -- we have no enemies that I know of -- and such a weird way to go after someone. Can we do something -- I need you to agree to something?" "Anything you say -- just keep us safe, all three of us. Especially Daisy." She snuggled even closer to Dom. "Let's keep this between the two of us, okay? No one on the team." "Why? Not even Mia and Brian?" "Not even them -- I don't know why -- I'm going on instinct here." "Dominic -- do you think it is one of our family? We've all been getting along -- hell, even Letty and I are so close." "Oh yeah, she sent me an email -- she said she'll call you later. I want you to check your email later and see if there is anything bizarre on there. But Nik, I don't necessarily think it is anyone in our family -- I mean, I know it isn't ...... but I just want it between us for now. Let's just say you cut your arm on a broken glass." "I did." She smiled at him and kissed him, running her hand down his chest. She felt so safe -- she was scared but at the same time, totally safe in Dom's arms. Suddenly she felt something and it wasn't what she expected. "Ouch!" He looked at her and she lifted her finger -- she had pricked her finger on the thorn of the rose in his pocket. "I'm so horny." It was a weak attempt at a joke and he knew it. "Dom, what is in your pocket?" He reached down and pulled the black rose out. Nikki recoiled from it. "What the hell is that?" "I don't know -- I meant to put it away. It was in the pot of daisies you sat on the porch yesterday." He got up and put it into a drawer. Back in bed, he took her finger and sucked the on the blood. "You got pricked." He started to laugh and she didn't crack a smile. "Someone has a fucking sick sense of humor, Dom, or that was some sort of warning. A black rose in the daisies? Glass in the sink?" She was getting louder and he pointed at the baby and she settled down but was still upset. "I'm scared." "I know, I know. I'll never let anyone hurt us -- you know that." "Will you change all the locks today? Someone obviously has a key -- who has keys to this house?" "Mia, Brian, Vince, Letty, Leon .... fuck babe, the whole team does." "Then don't bother to change them -- we'd have to give them out to all of them again. Could they have given any of them out? Were any of them pick pocketed or robbed lately?" "Not that I know of but that is a good thought." She looked at him strangely. "I mean, some nut could have picked up the keys from one of them -- at the garage or store, made a quick copy, and returned them before they knew they were missing. That garage gets busy and Mia is busy at the store so much. In fact, if you wanna know who I really think this is ..... I think it is maybe some chick I used to be with." "Who?" "Shit -- the stupid rose reminded me of her. I haven't thought of her in over a year or more. Long before I met you. Her name was Lizbeth and we went out maybe three or four times. It was just sex -- we didn't even go anywhere but her place after a race. I was cheating on Letty, as usual. She was really possessive and after those few times together, she thought it meant something -- or I guess it did to her although I never told her I loved her or promised her anything. In fact, I made it clear to her from the first night before I touched her that it was just sex, just for kicks and she agreed. When I told her I didn't want to see her anymore she just went nuclear -- screaming fight, scratching, pulling her own hair. She pretty much freaked me out and I tried to ban her from the races but she hooked up with some guy who kept bringing her but that never stopped her from coming on to me every time she saw me. She started leaving roses on the porch." "Black roses?" "No, but she thought she was gonna get me back then. I figure, if it is her, she's jealous about me and you and that little girl over there and all we have. This chick used to send me gifts in the mail, call me and hang up at least two dozen times a day and deny it when I asked her about it. Then one morning we woke up and the house smelled great -- she was downstairs all dressed up and cooking breakfast." Nikki stared at him. "And I thought I hooked up with freaks." "No shit. She was a nutcase. I'm gonna track her down with the help of Jesse and the internet and see what's up with her. But honey, suddenly I'm not too worried anymore. I'd be willing to bet anything it is Lizbeth and we'll change the locks today and tell the team what happened. Okay?" She kissed him quickly and then glanced over at the now sleeping baby. The sun was shining in, just warming her, she was in her husbands arms, and things would be right with the world again very, very soon.
This story is the continuation of "TFATF", and the only exception is that Jesse survived.
FEEDBACK, please
FRIENDS AND ENEMIES, SEQUEL TO I BELONG TO YOU by Heidi
CHAPTER 1
Nikki woke up slowly, stretching and smiling. It was nearly 8 a.m. God, she loved how good sleep felt, how good it felt to sink into it and stay in it. Her twelve week old daughter, Daisy Dominique Toretto, got her out of bed every single morning at 6 a.m. sharp. She had explained the theory of sleeping in to Daisy, but she just didn't seem interested in the idea. Not that Dom didn't help -- he was usually up at that time anyway, getting ready to go to work, but every week-end he left her sleep in and got up before the baby would make a sound. Nikki listened to the soft sounds coming from the nursery and pushed the door open slowly. Tears actually filled her eyes -- this scene was almost more beauty than her heart could take. Dominic, her muscle bound, tough-guy, rough-neck trouble maker was sitting in a rocker, feeding his tiny daughter, her fist wrapped around one of her father's fingers. He was so incredibly gentle with the baby, so protective -- the way he was with her. Like they were precious diamonds, precious crystal that had to be taken care of and he had taken on this role so beautifully. "Good morning." "Hey, beautiful. Did you enjoy sleeping in?" She walked over and kissed her daughter and then her husband. "Very much -- it was lovely." She stretched and he let his eyes move over her nightgown clad body. She had changed since the birth of the baby -- before she was born Nikki was all hard muscle and had such perfection. Now she was curvier -- her breasts and breasts were rounder and fuller, and she had a tiny little pooch instead of the six pack muscles in her abdomen. It was invisible to the eye but he could feel it when he ran his hand over her naked flesh. She claimed she wanted to get the six pack back but never worked out -- she knew it turned him on even more than the hard muscle had. She could still put any supermodel to shame but in Dom's eyes, she had been a girl, now she was a woman and it excited him to no end. He wondered about people who said that sex changed or slowed down after the birth of a baby -- for them, they couldn't even wait the six weeks they were supposed to and it had gotten only better and better and her appetite for sex had always been over the top but now .... he wondered if he could keep up with her sometimes. She was wilder than ever and it was all for him. "How's our daughter?" She sat down on the floor across from the rocker and he smiled, looking down at the auburn haired, charcoal eyed baby girl. "Three months going on sixteen years, I think. She's gonna have trouble with her old man when all those boys come sniffing around." Dom smiled staring down at her. His little Daisy -- perfect in every way and without a doubt the most beautiful baby that had ever been born. Even the nurses at the hospital said so. "I already feel sorry for them." Nikki laughed, thinking about Daisy introducing boys to a man built like her father. She couldn't really imagine Dominic looking any different in sixteen years than he did now. "She's ready to hit the crib. We played and read and I explained to her about how nasty boys are and how she was born. She was very interested to discover she was made in the backseat of a truck, her mother in stiletto heels, a leather mini skirt, and no panties." Dom laughed quietly, smirking proudly at the memory, and Nikki smiled. "You're insane. I am married to an insane man." Nikki stood up and took the nearly sleeping baby out of her husband's arms. She sat the bottle down and burped her and put her in the crib. She was such a good baby, such a good sleeper. "So is the bed still warm, I was thinking we could make it really hot. Maybe you could put those heels on again -- just the heels." Dom growled into her ear, grabbed her around the waist and they stood staring down at their child. His hands roamed over her breasts and she tried to keep in a moan. "You are a pervert, as I've told you many times before." "And I've proven it many times before, Mrs. Toretto and I'd like my chance to prove again right now." She turned in his arms and kissed him. Her own private Adonis -- she actually burned like fire for him. Now where the hell were those stilettos?
CHAPTER 2
A few hours later, Dominic and Nikki were seated in the newly expanded kitchen, Daisy in her swing, and they were fixing lunch. "I still can't get over Mia being pregnant. I'm so happy for her. She loves Daisy so much -- she's going to make a fantastic mother." "Yeah, I know. She's always had that "mom" quality to her -- even when she was a little girl. I'm glad that she and Brian got that house just two doors down from us although sometimes I really miss living with her. This house used to seem small when all those people lived here -- now it is just the three of us -- other than Leon and Jesse in the back house." Dom smiled at her. "Mia and I had some tough years, ya know, but Mia rose above it." Nikki reached up and touched his cheek. "As did you. Dominic you are a magnificent father -- she worships you." He smiled but didn't look up. She was Daddy's girl but her mother's soul. "Dominic Toretto! I thought you were doing the dishes last night?" "I did do them." Dom looked over at the sink that was full of bubbles. Before he could say anything Nikki reached in and let out a scream. She pulled out her hand, which was bleeding profusely. "What the hell??" He grabbed her arm and looked at it closely. "Dom, the sink is full of broken glass." The baby was screaming and Nikki pushed him toward her -- he grabbed a bottle of water and gave it to the baby and went back to Nikki's arm. "Do you think you have any glass in here?" She shook her head no and he lightly ran his hand over her arm, feeling it and making sure. He pulled out a first aid kit from under the sink and cleaned it and wrapped it in a towel because it was still bleeding. "Hold it tight. How the hell could this sink be filled with bubbles if I emptied it last night?? And where did the glass come from??" He reached in slowly, it was truly filled and he pushed slowly until he got to the stopper and pulled it out. The bubbles and water went down the drain and Nikki and Dom stood staring at the sink -- it was filled with broken glass -- beer bottles, glasses, soda bottles. "Oh my god. Who would do this? How?" Dom walked over to the backdoor -- it was locked -- he checked the front and it was also locked. "I'm frightened." Dom took her in his arms and held her tightly. "Don't be -- someone's idea of a sick joke." "No, it wasn't -- this was intended to hurt someone. Whoever did this knew I would reach in." "Or me." She shook her head. "You were supposed to be at the garage today, remember? Our little wrestle in the sheets and you called in sick ... again." She couldn't help smiling. Dom had taken off a lot of time from the garage since Daisy had been born -- he loved being home with them. "Dominic, whoever did this, did it while we were upstairs making love, while our baby girl slept in her crib down the hall." She shuddered in his arms. "You know what? I want you to take Daisy and go upstairs to our bedroom and I'm gonna go over this house inch by inch. You're right -- that's when they were in here and had to have heard us and knew we were preoccupied and did this. So they did know that we were both home but you were more than likely the target. This makes me so fucking furious." He kissed her head but didn't let her go right away. They both stood there, looking at the sink, at the baby, at their home. "Let me put some bandages on that arm -- you aren't bleeding as much. Does it hurt?" She nodded and he got her two Tylenol and a glass of juice. He dressed her cuts and kissed her fingertips. "Go ahead -- take my little girl and get your cute ass upstairs. I'll be up in a little bit. Don't answer the phone." "Why????????" "I don't know, Nik -- I'm a little paranoid right now." Nikki picked up the baby and they went upstairs. Dom started in the kitchen, first cleaning out the sink very slowly, looking at the bottle labels -- every kind of beer, not just the Corona he kept in the house. There was Jack Daniels and Cuero and Pepsi and Coke. The glasses were black -- they didn't have anything like this in the house. It was bizarre. Then Dom started in the kitchen -- the windows were locked, the door -- he checked it again. He opened it and went into the backyard -- everything was as it always was -- the table in the same place with the hurricane candles on it. The barbeque, the chairs, the lights that connected to the house that Jesse and Leon shared. His garage that his old charger used to be in was still locked, his truck and Nikki's Benz looked fine but he knew he'd check them later. The door lock and screen had not been tampered with. Dominic went back inside and locked the door. He went into the dining room and then the living room -- nothing was out of place. He walked out front and noticed a rose tucked into the pot of daisies that sat out there. He picked it up -- it was unusually dark -- almost black. It definitely hadn't been in there yesterday -- Nikki had just bought the pot yesterday morning. Nothing else was changed. He put the rose into his pocket and walked back in the house, locking the door behind him. Dom went down into the basement and everything in his weight room was normal. Upstairs he started in the guest room -- nothing. Next was the computer room -- nothing was different. He even checked his email, not sure of why. He was operating on automatic pilot at this point. Nothing on there but two emails -- one from Letty -- she was jabbering on and on about how cute Daisy was and how everyone was a big family and how her and Vince were getting along in their new house and she was calling Nikki later today. The other was from Mia -- she wanted to talk to him about their mother but wouldn't say what it was about. Dom made a mental note to call her later and then went back to checking the house. He checked the guest bathroom and then moved into their bedroom -- Nikki was laying on the bed with the baby next to her. She looked at him and he winked but didn't say anything. He checked all the windows and then the bathroom. Everything was normal. He went into the nursery next, his heart beating so hard in his chest he felt it could burst right through. He would gladly kill anyone who tried to hurt his loving wife or his precious child with his bare hands, he would happily spend the rest of his life in a jail cell than let the person go to the police -- Dominic was a man who believed that vengeance was his when it came to his family. Although he had spent hours in there with Daisy early, she had also slept for hours while he and Nikki were in bed. He looked everywhere in her room, but it was as always. Dom was finally satisfied and walked back into their bedroom and got into bed, the baby between them. She squealed in delight when Dom laid down next to her. He had to laugh and lifted her above him. "Be careful -- she's got a tummy full of milk and water." Nikki whispered and he laughed. "Who cares -- I've been puked on before -- by her ... and come to think of it, by you, when you had morning sickness." "Thanks for the reminder. Dominic, what's going on? Did you find anything?" "Nothing." He didn't mention the black rose. "Everything is locked up tight." He stood up with Daisy and put her into another swing they kept upstairs and turned it on. She was in her baby version of heaven, looking out their big window. He laid back down with Nikki and pulled her close. "Baby, I don't know what the fuck is going on or how it happened. It's bizarre -- we have no enemies that I know of -- and such a weird way to go after someone. Can we do something -- I need you to agree to something?" "Anything you say -- just keep us safe, all three of us. Especially Daisy." She snuggled even closer to Dom. "Let's keep this between the two of us, okay? No one on the team." "Why? Not even Mia and Brian?" "Not even them -- I don't know why -- I'm going on instinct here." "Dominic -- do you think it is one of our family? We've all been getting along -- hell, even Letty and I are so close." "Oh yeah, she sent me an email -- she said she'll call you later. I want you to check your email later and see if there is anything bizarre on there. But Nik, I don't necessarily think it is anyone in our family -- I mean, I know it isn't ...... but I just want it between us for now. Let's just say you cut your arm on a broken glass." "I did." She smiled at him and kissed him, running her hand down his chest. She felt so safe -- she was scared but at the same time, totally safe in Dom's arms. Suddenly she felt something and it wasn't what she expected. "Ouch!" He looked at her and she lifted her finger -- she had pricked her finger on the thorn of the rose in his pocket. "I'm so horny." It was a weak attempt at a joke and he knew it. "Dom, what is in your pocket?" He reached down and pulled the black rose out. Nikki recoiled from it. "What the hell is that?" "I don't know -- I meant to put it away. It was in the pot of daisies you sat on the porch yesterday." He got up and put it into a drawer. Back in bed, he took her finger and sucked the on the blood. "You got pricked." He started to laugh and she didn't crack a smile. "Someone has a fucking sick sense of humor, Dom, or that was some sort of warning. A black rose in the daisies? Glass in the sink?" She was getting louder and he pointed at the baby and she settled down but was still upset. "I'm scared." "I know, I know. I'll never let anyone hurt us -- you know that." "Will you change all the locks today? Someone obviously has a key -- who has keys to this house?" "Mia, Brian, Vince, Letty, Leon .... fuck babe, the whole team does." "Then don't bother to change them -- we'd have to give them out to all of them again. Could they have given any of them out? Were any of them pick pocketed or robbed lately?" "Not that I know of but that is a good thought." She looked at him strangely. "I mean, some nut could have picked up the keys from one of them -- at the garage or store, made a quick copy, and returned them before they knew they were missing. That garage gets busy and Mia is busy at the store so much. In fact, if you wanna know who I really think this is ..... I think it is maybe some chick I used to be with." "Who?" "Shit -- the stupid rose reminded me of her. I haven't thought of her in over a year or more. Long before I met you. Her name was Lizbeth and we went out maybe three or four times. It was just sex -- we didn't even go anywhere but her place after a race. I was cheating on Letty, as usual. She was really possessive and after those few times together, she thought it meant something -- or I guess it did to her although I never told her I loved her or promised her anything. In fact, I made it clear to her from the first night before I touched her that it was just sex, just for kicks and she agreed. When I told her I didn't want to see her anymore she just went nuclear -- screaming fight, scratching, pulling her own hair. She pretty much freaked me out and I tried to ban her from the races but she hooked up with some guy who kept bringing her but that never stopped her from coming on to me every time she saw me. She started leaving roses on the porch." "Black roses?" "No, but she thought she was gonna get me back then. I figure, if it is her, she's jealous about me and you and that little girl over there and all we have. This chick used to send me gifts in the mail, call me and hang up at least two dozen times a day and deny it when I asked her about it. Then one morning we woke up and the house smelled great -- she was downstairs all dressed up and cooking breakfast." Nikki stared at him. "And I thought I hooked up with freaks." "No shit. She was a nutcase. I'm gonna track her down with the help of Jesse and the internet and see what's up with her. But honey, suddenly I'm not too worried anymore. I'd be willing to bet anything it is Lizbeth and we'll change the locks today and tell the team what happened. Okay?" She kissed him quickly and then glanced over at the now sleeping baby. The sun was shining in, just warming her, she was in her husbands arms, and things would be right with the world again very, very soon.