Chapter Three
Payton sat in the passenger seat of Dom's red corvette. They had just gotten past border patrol with ease. Jesse and Mia were in a car a half hour behind them. Vince and Leon were a hour behind them. Dom thought it would be too noticeable if they all left together. Especially since they were all apparently wanted for street racing and betting, along with car jacking. Payton didn't care though. She herself was guilty of hanging out with street racers. She leaned back into the back of the seat.
"How can you be tired?" Dom asked her. "It's only eight."
"My bed time is seven." she joked which made him grin. "No, dude, it's been a long ass week." She lifted her upper body up to stretch her back.
"So you don't race then?" He looked over to see she had a confused expression on her face. "Correct me if I'm wrong, but I don't think people in New York street race during six o'clock rush hour."
"No we do it around ten thirty or eleven depending on where we can do it, but no I don't race."
"Hard to believe Brain's sister doesn't drive." he said looking from her to the road.
"Oh I drive…I just don't race." She looked around the car. "What about you? You must have put about two grand in this baby."
"Three actually but I haven't raced since January."
"Is it about Lenny?" Peyton asked. Dom gave her a look.
"What do you about Lenny?" he growled.
"Vince said you haven't smiled since her and that's all I know." Dom looked at her for a moment and then return his attention to the road.
"She's been my girlfriend since we were about seventeen. We had our fights like everyone does, but she always stayed by my side. A cousin of the guy that shot Jesse came after us New Years Eve. There was a fight and a gun was shot." His hands tighten on the wheel. "When Jesse got shot we were able to save him because Mia was able to do CPR until an ambulance came to keep the blood pumping. Lenny wouldn't let us take her to the hospital because she knew we would get caught if we took her there. She wouldn't even let Mia do CPR until an ambulance came. When Lenny died we tried to revive her but…" His face harden with pain and then his face became emotionless. "She was too far gone."
"I'm sorry I didn't mean…"
"It's fine." Payton sunk into herself and thought of something to say.
"What happens to the café?" He gave her a look. "You own it don't you?"
"Nah it belongs to my cousin who I was working for along with Mia and Vince in exchange for food. Leon got a job at the hotel so we could pay the rent for the apartment. Jess got a job at the gas station as a car mechanic so we could get two more cars. We put all of Jess' pay check into getting cars; they're our life." He looked at her. "I guess you probably wouldn't understand." Payton raised an eyebrow.
"What you think just because I don't dress like a street racer I can't race? I said I didn't race, not I can't."
"You don't look the type." Payton looked at the clock and laughed. "What are you smiling at?"
"Pull the car over and get out."
"Pull my car over? You better watch how you talk to people."
"So what your gonna tell me I look too girly to race and then not let me prove myself. That's such a load of bull." Dom looked at the girl and then pulled over.
"You here a siren you outrun it, understand?" Payton nodded. "I'm serious." Payton met his eyes.
"Do you really think I'm going to let the people helping me get arrested?" Dom smiled and got out of the car so she couldn't see it. She reminded him a lot of Lenny when they were younger. Peyton climbed into the drivers seat and Dom shut it for her. He walked to the passenger side and got in. Peyton buckled the seat belt and checked the rear view mirror. When she was satisfied she pressed her foot down on the gas. The cars in front of her would not move so she zigzagged in and out of the lanes.
"Turn here." he told her at the last minute. Payton turned quickly which made Dom grab the door.
"Careful." she warned. "A real street racer would A, make that like I did and B, would be prepared for a turn like that." Dom gave her a slight grin.
"Pull into the next parking lot for that hotel. We'll stay there for the rest of the night."
"Not until I show you some real moves, cow boy." Payton replied. She drove another five minutes until there was more cars on the road. "Check this out." She did a ninety degree turn and put the car in reverse. She used the rear view mirror to then drive backwards.
"You're gonna crash." Dom told her. She smiled and turned the car the right way and looked at him.
"You don't trust me?" she asked not taking her eyes off his face. She switched gears still looking at him and smiled. He met her eyes as Payton pressed the brake. Dom looked through the front window to see they were at a red light.
"How the hell did you do that?" he asked her.
"I don't tell people how I do my magic tricks. Besides Brain doesn't like his students to teach others." Dom shook his head and his face darken thinking of Brain.
"It don't surprise me Brain taught you that." Payton glared at him.
"Don't think he's taught me everything. The student has surpassed the master, but she doesn't want to reveal all her tricks in one night." Dom laughed and nodded his head.
"I can respect that. I guess I was wrong about you."
"Damn straight!" She looked at him and gave him a smile. "But apology accepted." She turned her attention back on the road as the light turned green. She made a u-turn and headed back to where the hotel was. Dom stared at the girl who sat on his left and wondered what he had gotten himself into.
So you know what happens next. Hit the little button and review so I have more writting fuel and can see what you guys think.
