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Character ages:
Dom- 37, Letty-32, Shadow (Tracey) 30,Dom jr.-9, Mia-30, Vince-37, Leon-34, Brian-34, Lilly-23, Alex-5, Olivia-26, Nina-27

CHAPTER 7- Miami
Letty's POV

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"…he asked me if I knew his dad…"

I sucked my teeth. I knew this was coming. "And what did you tell him?" Shadow answered matter-of-factly."The truth: that I'd never met the guy. I didn't know what to say or what you had or hadn't told him so I just stuck to 'my name's Benitt and I aint in it'!" she got up and came to me when she realized I wasn't really listening. I was lost in my own thoughts. Wondering what to say to him when he got home or whether I should say anything at all considering it wasn't me he chose to talk to.

"Hello, are you listening to me," I gave her a quick smile and turned to walk away but she grabbed my shoulder and whipped me back around. "Letty, this is serious. You have to tell him everything or at least give him the option of meeting his dad for himself, shit me too! I think it's time we called them." I was furious now. "You think it's time? Who are you to butt into any of this? This has nothing to do with you Tracey!" Shadow raised her eyebrows with a hurt look on her face. But that was quickly replaced with the same furry I was feeling. "Damn you Let. How dare you, this has everything to do with me. Sure I didn't know you during your relationship with Dom and the team but I was there when they weren't. I've helped you raise that boy for 9 years and I love him as if he were mine. I've been here through all the Good, the bad and now I'm gonna be here for the ugly. Anything that has to do with Jr. has to do with me. So don't stand there and tell me I don't have the right to make a call. You got that?"

I was a kinda taken back and it took me a few seconds to recover. I had some words ready for her, but she was right. Plus I didn't mean to snap at her. All my frustration, worry and anger were directed at the wrong person. Shadow's done nothing but be a great friend to me and she has been a part of Dom's life since birth…I had no right to talk to her like that. "I'm sorry. It's not you Tracey….you know that." She gave me a smile in an instant and it was like she turned her anger switch off. "Yah I know." We hugged each other and I told her I was scared to make any moves; scared to talk to Dom in fear that he'd hate me and then having to face his father and the team. "Anyway, They're probably long gone somewhere else. I wouldn't know how to find them even if I wanted to." Shadow cleared her throat and stepped back a little. "Okay…so I haven't been entirely honest with you either."

I gasped and feared the worst. "What? What have you done?" She quickly put up her hands. "Nothing loca, sheesh. I just kept Leon's number when you told me to burn it 7 years ago. I figured this day would come and it'd be smart to hang on to it." I nodded. Not really mad at all. I finally smiled and smacked her arm. "Thanks." We decided to sleep on the idea of calling Leon, well I did. The next day came and went and I'd avoided anything that would have brought it up. Shadow hung around all day, waiting for me to call I was sure and after dinner she just decided to stay the night.

After saying goodnight to Dom I jumped in the shower and then threw on some pjs and climbed into bed. I sighed contently as a layed down on my fluffy comforter. I closed my eyes and grinned to myself, elated about the sleep that was about to overcome me. Just as I felt my REM cycle taking off there was a knock at my bedroom door. I groaned loudly and glanced at the clock. It was almost 1 in the morning and I had to get up in 6 hours. "Go away Tracey!" I yelled towards the door. And then she just walked in. She was holding her phone and I shook my head. "Are you kidding Shadow, it's 1 in the morning." I watched her press some buttons and started feeling a knot in my stomach. "You're avoiding this. Do it now. Otherwise, later, will turn into tomorrow and then the next day and the day after that; before we know it, Dom will be 20 waiting for you to make this call so just do it."

She tossed the phone to me and I threw it back at her. "Do you know what time is? You're crazy…I haven't talked to any of them in 9 years and now you expect me to call them at 1 in the morning!" Shadow smirked and threw the phone back at me again. "It's only 10 there…now make the damn call." I curled my lip up at her. "I really don't like you right now…I just want you to know that. I hope it bothers you." She stuck her left hand on her hip and held up her right checking her manicured nails and then looked back at me shrugging. "Not one bit…" I couldn't help but giggle a little and then I just shrugged also. "Whatever, it's probably a dead end anyway. That number is 9 years old. I'm sure he's changed it by now." I looked down at the phone and then felt the knot in my stomach get tighter if that was possible. I started to realize what if he hadn't changed it? What if he answers…or someone else? "Wait…what if it works?" Shadow chuckled. "GREAT…because that's the idea loca."

I shook my head. "Oh GOD, No. Don't make me do this I don't wanna talk to them. I don't wanna talk to Dom either. I don't LOVE him!" I sat up and Shadow came to the bed and sat Indian style in front of me and grasped both my hands in hers. She looked at me intently and spoke to me as if I were 5. "Letty, how old are you?" I looked around kinda confused and replied in a dry voice. "32." Then her voice got a little sharper and said. "Right, 32 fucking years old. You are a grown ass woman! You're raising a great boy on your own…and everything you have, you got by yourself. You, Letty…you didn't ask for any hand outs and nobody gave you any…you've been through it all so what on Earth are you afraid of?" I opened my mouth to answer but couldn't think of anything to say so I just closed it and slumped my shoulders a little bit, frowning and feeling like I wanted to cry.

Shadow tsked at me and then pulled me into a hug. I welcomed it and rested my head on her shoulder for a minute. She sighed and brushed my hair with her hand, whispering. "Look, if it turns out to be bad blood in this whole thing then we drop it ok? But do this for Dom Jr. If you don't love your ex that's fine but that's still his dad." she leaned her head back to glance down at me. I looked at her and then sat up saying. "You're right, it's time…soon Dom's going to come to me himself and who am I to keep him from his family? It's not like any of them, including big Dom, did anything wrong." Shadow had a big smile and her face and she bounced the bed and clapped. "That's what I'm talking about Let! Plus, I have been itching for this drama for 9 years. I am ready!" I chuckled and smiled too, but it didn't reach my eyes. I was still scared shitless but I was doing this for my son, it wasn't about me. I looked down at Leon's name and number on the little screen and inhaled deeply before pressing the call button. I heard the ringing back in my ears and then someone picked up. My breath caught when I heard him say,

"HELLO?"

PS…those waiting on THE RETURN…I've written and erased a million times trying to get this chapter rite…I don't want it to suck or be Corny! So bare with me. Thank you amazing people!
Alex_Diesel