Author: Moon Roses or Moony
Rating: R for language
Disclaimer: Don't own anything.
Feedback: Not necessary but greatly appreciated.
Recap: "No shit vato," Shorty answered softly. No shit. She was home. Finally.

Chapter One

Two weeks later...

"The hell is takin' so damn long?" shouted Shorty's brother from the top of the stairs.

Rolling her eyes at her reflection in the mirror she matched him shout for shout, "Chill! I'll be up in a damn second." Shorty could hear her brother muttering from the living room and the rest of the team snickering at the display. Why was he getting so worked up? Did he think the races would start without him or something? Every racer in town knew the team was going to show tonight. So why was he making with the trip case?

Stepping away from the vanity she looked herself over once more in the mirror. Deciding she looked fine she grabbed her wallet, stuck it in her back pocket and clipped the chain onto her belt. Now all she needed was her elusive keys and cell. Might as well start anywhere. Tossing the duvet and pillows around her bed she found used socks, a bra, and a pair of her brothers jeans that she had "borrowed" and fully planned on giving back. Once he got a better pair. But for good measure she hid them under her bed. Looking over her desk, the dresser, the vanity, the bathroom and finally her laundry hamper she was no closer to finding either the phone or the keys. What were the chances that the team had them? Snatching a hoodie from the closet she stomped up the stairs two at a time.

Having heard Shorty making her way up the stairs the team had already started towards the door, eager to get to the Saturday night races. She followed right on their heels. "Yo! Who's got my keys?" she called. A hand a few bodies ahead of her shot into the air and jingled them before tossing them back to her. She caught them with ease and called "Cell?"

Her brother smiled to himself as he handed her the cell. She never could find her shit when she needed it. "That what took your ass so damn long?" he asked as he locked the front door and moved towards his car.

"Maybe," she winked at him and shouted to the rest "Let's do this!"

The team all slid into their cars, engines revving and filling the air with its beautiful call and smell. Shorty followed the team as they made their way through the streets of L.A. Around her she could see other racers cruising, all of them likely to end up in the same place. The warehouse district. Usually bustling with business during the day, it was always deserted at night. The lights in the area having all been broken or burnt out and never fixed cast the streets into complete darkness.

Complete darkness, until of course you neared the meet up point between the two main warehouses. The car lights combined with the neon glow and pounding music would alert anyone to what was going on. Following her team through the crowd, one by one they all backed into a spot and stepped from their respective cars. Throwing her coat onto her seat through the window and sliding her cell into her back pocket she sat on the hood of her brother's car where the rest of the team had gathered. Shorty turned to her brother and laughed when she saw he had a woman under each arm already. Man, did he work fast. "You racin' tonight?" she questioned. He shook his head at her and returned his attention to the girls hanging on his every word. Well that sucked. Blown off for a bunch of racer chasers. Made a girl feel all warm and fuzzy inside.

Jumping off the car, Shorty walked along the long line of cars before setting her sights on a small group of guys crouched in a huddle. Observing from a distance for a minute she knew she had found something better to do than standing around. Honestly, who could pass up a chance to roll dice? Pulling a wad of bills from her wallet she stepped up to the group and waited.

"Baby, I got a woman at home. I ain't looking for pussy," laughed one of the men before he turned to look up at her.

So that was how they were going to play. Well she liked it rough. And she was definitely going to enjoy taking these guys for all they were worth. "Outstanding, cause I'm not offering it. Only here to pocket your money fool."

"Is that right?" he asked before standing up to his full height and looking down at her.

"That's right," she countered, attitude in full swing.

He looked her over. Searching for something. Checking perhaps to see if she could roll with the big boys. His eyes traveled the length of her body seemingly measuring her ability, and all the while she kept a steady gaze. Chump. Trying to intimidate her. Shorty narrowed her eyes dangerously at him. Bitch please.

His laughter crept from his body slowly. A low rumbling that soon gave way to a wide grin. He threw a fist out for her to touch and looked down at the rest of his crew. "I like this girl,' nodding his acceptance and pointing at each man in turn he introduced them. "That's Levis, Draden, Jimmy, Luke, Ben, Reese and I'm Spence."

"Shorty," she glanced around the small group. Well, this was going to be fun. She dropped the cash into the pile and crouched beside Levis.

"Well shit, looks like we got ourselves a big spender," Draden smiled at her.

"This is the beginning of a beautiful friendship Miss Shorty," laughed Spence and he handed her the dice.

Soon after she was in hysterics, unable to believe the stories she was hearing. She quickly decided that Luke passing out after a few too many and waking up with an unflattering haircut was her favourite. Mentally filing this group of guys on her friend list she continued right on winning their money. The people in L.A. definitely rolled on higher stakes than New York. This was too easy. It was like taking candy from a baby, highly amusing and equally as rewarding. And look at that. It was her turn again. That was when she noticed her brother walking around looking for someone. No doubt he was searching the crowd for her. She had been gone for close to an hour and as he passed her she caught what he was saying. "Where the hell did she disappear to?" Turning to another teammate he snarled, "Your ass was supposed to be watchin' her!"

Shorty let them pass her by. No way was she giving up such a huge payload. She had already cashed in on close to eight grand. Her team would call her when they really started worrying about her.

It was less than fifteen minutes before her phone was ringing. Flipping it open she answered with a cheeky, "Yo!"

"Shorty? Where you at?" the voice asked. She could hear her brother in the background asking the same thing with a few personal touches. Yeah. Big brother was pissed.

"I'm rollin' with Spence's crew."

"Shit," was muttered and Shorty could hear rustling and a soft voice relaying the information he had received to her big brother.

Again she heard her brother's voice in the background. Quite clearly, in fact. "Figures she'd hook up with them. Can't never be flowers and butterflies. Always gotta be thugs and gangstas."

Shorty laughed when he finished his rant. What the hell had he just said? The phone was passed to her brother and a faint "There she is," alerted her to the fact that they had spotted her.

"Shorty, I want you to meet someone."

"Ok, give me a few."

"Now," her brother answered.

"Just a sec."

"No, Now!"

"Yeah. Fine. Bye," Shorty answered and hung up. The die were handed to her again and she rolled. Who did her brother think he was? Who was he to order her around?

"Shorty!" he yelled from his spot. "Shorty!"

"Well boys, looks like I'm out," she said to the group. "Brother bein' all overbearing and protective. Even mentioned fruit and bats or some shit."

"SHORTY!"

Spence laughed as she got to her feet. "Brothers never like me."

"MICHAEL!" Oh shit. Now her brother was really pissed. He was using her real name. A name that had not been uttered in a long time. This was not good.

"Be seeing you Miss Shorty," Spence said.

"MICHAEL!"

"You betcha!" Shorty answered.

"MIKE!" her brother shouted. He had shortened her real name now. She was in trouble. Who could be so damn great that he needed to introduce her to them this second?

"MIKE!"

She had better move fast or she was going to hear the name she hated most. She smiled at the group. Time to face the music.

"MIKEY!" And there it was. That goddamn name she hated with a passion.

Shorty snapped around like a tornado." Jesus Hector! What the fuck?"