Chapter 4
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Los Angeles, California
Many things had changed in the absence of Dominic. Mia had put the home for rent to have a little more money to pay the rest of their debts. Because no matter how much money Dom had earned with the trucks, she didn't know where it was hidden. She had made up herself a small nest above the snack bar. For lack of mechanics, she had closed the garage up to new order.
She had remained strong since nobody was there for her anymore. Brian was dead. Vince was in jail and the others had left her. She did not even have heard of Dom. As a loving and protective elder brother, he sucks!
She had been visiting Vince as often as she could. They had kept their ancient quarrels aside. They never mentioned Brian's name again and they had started to become the strength of the other one.
Vince went out at the end of one and a half year for good behavior. He had not done his three years but remained watch by an agent of probation. All that they had had against him was this attempt of theft. They could prove nothing for the rest. It was at the time of his release that he had learnt Letty's arrest and still no news of Dom.
He had naturally moved in with Mia. During his incarceration, his mother's illness had overcome her. He couldn't forgive himself for not being there. He sold all that's left of her to end up paying debts and started from scratch by reopening the garage. This made a thing furthermore to be added to grievances that he hold against Dom.
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Shyly, they saw Jesse reappeared. The kid was even more unsettled than before. He was still dedicating an unbounded admiration to Dom. That had created some argues with Mia and Vince. Jesse also felt responsible for Brian's death even if he did not speak about it with Mia. He knew that he was the one they had aimed at. Then, he spent all his time at the garage to pay a moral debt which he did not have. He had moved in on the second floor at DT. He was slepping in a camp bed between tools and pieces of bodywork.
They had just got by during two more years. Mia had had no difficulty to keep them away from street races. Their hearts were not in it anymore.
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Dominic hadn't expected so much hostility when he came back. He first went home to discover that foreigners lived in there. He was angry as a bull when he had joined Mia at the snack bar.
- At least, this had not changed.
She had lifted up her head to meet his eyes. She had stayed motionless for a while.
- Dom?
- Come here sweetheart and give me a hug. After that, we'll talk.
Mia had realized his presence and his words began to make sense.
- What? Cat got your tongue?
She saw red.
- It's a joke, right?
- What?
- You disappear to God's only know where. You gave me no news. I almost thought you were dead! You left me with all this shit to deal with and now you want me to hug you? God!
- Mia! Don't start. Not now.
- Your warnings don't scare me anymore! What do you want? Why you're here?
- I'm back for good. I will not leave you.
- I don't care!
- Oh! Really? You want to argue? Okay as you wish! Who are these people in my house? Where do you live now?
- Your house? That's my house too! I'm a big girl, I can handle myself. It's not your business anymore.
- It is when strangers live in my house!
- We were almost broke when you left. I had to do that. I was all alone. Brian was dead. Vince in jail and all of you had disappeared. I hadn't any choice.
She had been moving towards him, going around the counter, shouting and pointing her finger at him. Yet, her voice began to run low and she started to cry. That was too much emotion to deal with at the same time. Dom took a step ahead and held her tightly.
- Mia, I'm so sorry baby… I'm here now. I'll make all this shit better. I promise.
- You've got a long way to go.
- I know.
He knew he couldn't go out of it victoriously.
- And the garage, did you sell it?
- No. I had closed it. Now Vince and Jesse run it.
- Vince?
- Yes, V had been freed about two years ago. Jesse had just come back. You know that he had nowhere else to go.
He released her and headed to the street.
- Where do you go?
- See them.
- I don't think that's a good idea right now. V's gonna be mad as hell!
- I have to, Mia.
He turned back.
- Dom.
- Yes?
- I think you should know that I'm with V now.
He stared at her but didn't dare to reply.
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When he arrived at the garage, Dom hesitated to enter. He could deal with Jesse but V… His childhood friend had been through hard times because of him. The trucks had been his idea then Vince was shot, he went to jail and Dom was not here for him. Two years at Lompoc had changed him. He didn't how V's gonna be now.
When he walked in, the guys were bent on a car. Jesse was the first to see him. He stayed there, his mouth wide open. Then, Vince looked up and saw what had petrified Jesse. His chaps clenched. He went right to Dom and punched him hard in the face. Dom let it go. He deserved it.
- Get out of here! Now!
- No. If you want to fight then we'll fight but I won't leave.
As angry as Vince may be he knew that he didn't stand a chance against Dominic. So, he decided to ignore him.
Dom didn't know what to do. He could have manage a fight but not disdain. Vince had never been the disdainful type. Obviously, it had changed too. He couldn't stay here right now and he didn't want to go back to the snack. He choose to go to Hector's. There he could get back his car and renew an old friendship.
At the end of the afternoon, he rode back to the snack. The guys were there too. With Mia's help he began to explain what had happened. He was forced to accept his faults. That was a bitter pill to swallow to him.
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He put down his bags to the garage.
During the following weeks, he began to work Mia on so that they could get back home. As she had persisted in refusing, he rented a flat not so far from the garage. Two bedrooms so Jesse could move in too.
It was at this moment that he asked Anna to join him.
