A/N: Howdy. Just finished my finals so that should mean more updates. We've just started the 'Race Episodes' as I like to call them so enjoy and let me know what you think.
Tread Marks Chapter Fourteen:
You Can Have Any Brew You Want... As Long As It's a Corona.
Dom decided that, as a recent graduate, Mary deserved that Saturday off. Dragging herself into the fort close to noon Mary carries a pile of envelops and notebook she finds Mia cleaning the living room alone tossing stuff into a large garbage can and vacuuming. "Hey, you want help?" Mary asks as she closes the door behind her.
"Are those what I think they are?" Mary asks.
"Depends, do you think they're all the love letters I've written to Vince," Mary jokes setting the stack carefully onto Mia's freshly cleaned coffee table.
"I wouldn't be surprised," Mia mutters.
"What?" Mary asks being unable to distinguish Mia's mutterings as words in the English language.
"Nothing, so I take it they are your acceptance letters."
"Yes, although more like rejection letters stating that I took the SAT's too late to be admitted. Which is my fault," Mary adds as Mia turns to glare at her.
"Then no, I'm good here you just work on those," Mia says. Climbing into the lazy boy Mary begins the arduous process of opening all the letters the comparing the schools that actually let her in.
It was in that spot that Dom found Mary when he comes home later that evening. "Hey Mia," Dom says kissing her on the top of the head and grabbing a Corona from the fridge. Glancing into the living room he sees Mary curled up surrounded by papers while glancing between them and the notebook in her lap.
"She's been at it all day," Mia explains. "She's taking it seriously, picking a college."
"I didn't mean she had to do it today."
"I know but I wasn't going to tell her that. She needs to get her spot secured earlier rather than later, she's already behind. Thanks for making her go. She needs to get her education at least as a backup."
"Of course, you're right. Plus Vince would have had my head if I let her abandon it."
"What? Why?' Mia asks confused by Vince's supposed opposition at not going to college.
"Nothin'," Dom says but Mia is still looking at him for an answer when Mary walks into the kitchen holding her notebook.
"Oh, hey Dom. Good you're both here cause I've decided. The winner is… USC, and no not because Mia goes there honest. It scored the highest," Mary says holding up a complicated looking chart.
"It's going to be so fun with you there too," Mia says happily.
"Good choice," Dom says patting her on the back.
"I think so," Mary says uncertainly looking at her chart again.
"You're narcotic," Mia says.
"Compliment," Mary grins just as the front door opens and the rest of the team flood in. Following Mia and Dom out of the kitchen Mary quickly picks up all her papers and puts them away not wanting to continue messing up Mia's house.
"Everything ready?" Dom asks. Vince only nods as an answer and sits next to Leon on the couch.
"When do the races start?" Mary asks eagerly.
"Couple hours," Dom answers as Mary perches her on the arm of the couch next to Vince.
"I call shower first," Letty says.
"Letty actually wants to get ready early," Mary says as if this meant that the world was ending.
"Gotta look good for the races, girl," Letty explains.
"Wait, what do you even wear to this kind of thing?" Mary asks looking down at her grease stained jeans and plain tank top.
"Not that," Leon says catching her appraising herself.
"No way. Just imagine what Leon's wet dreams probably look like and there you go," Letty says.
The team laughs but Leon just nods and says "Yeah pretty much."
"Really?' Mary says as she stops laughing abruptly.
"Yeah. Fast cars, loose half naked women, and high stakes," Leon says.
"She's going to faint," Jesse observes as Mary processes this information.
"Shut it. I'm fine. I just need to… I'll be right back," Mary says grabbing her bag and hurrying out of the house.
"Oh the good old days, remember the first time I went, I think I tried on a hundred outfits first," Mia says.
"You still do," Letty says.
"You better watch it or I'm taking the bathroom first," Mia says. The two women quickly head up stairs and the guys hear Letty's triumphal holler as a door slams shut. Leon and Jesse eye each other before both taking off towards the downstairs bathroom shoving the other along the way.
"You got everything worked out," Dom asks Vince once they're alone.
"Ya, it will be an easy win. I got it," Vince says.
"You're right I know you do. Things just aren't looking too good right now."
"Again?"
"Yeah. Hiring Mary bought us some time but it's running out."
"Racing gonna cover it?" Vince asks feeling the weight of their responsibility settle over him once more.
"Now? Ya. Long run, no it aint. We need another source of income."
"We could always boost for Harry," Vince says not liking the idea.
"Yeah, but you don't make a profit unless you jack a lot of cars."
"And then there's too much chance of getting busted."
"We need one job with a big paycheck then we'll be in good condition and on our feet."
"A holy fuck grail of jobs," Vince says knowing that everyone wants one of those jobs. "I'll ask around."
"You got eyes on Mary tonight or do you want me to have Leon take her?" Dom asks. Vince just stares at Dom a bite in his look clearly stating that he'll be the one keeping an eye on her. "Yeah that's what I figured."
"Don't keep me in the dark like that again," Vince growls still not liking the idea of Mary at the races. "I can't have your back if I don't know what's going on."
"I didn't tell you cause you wouldn't have had my back," Dom argues.
"And what does that say about you Dom?" Dom stays silent observing Vince, who's never had a problem with what Dom did for the team before.
"What does that say about you Vince?"
"What?"
"What's up with you two?" Dom asks and Vince doesn't like that Dom has managed to turn the conversation back at him.
"Nothing. We shouldn't be pulling her into this life. Leon was boosting cars before we met him and Jesse has been hacking government agencies probably since he first saw a computer. And Mia! You would never get her into this."
"Mia goes to the races."
"We're considering doing a serious job here Dom. A job I am more than happy to do, you know I like it. But is it going to stop at the races for Mary? Like Mia? Yeah that's what I figured," Vince says when Dom doesn't answer.
"What's this interest for, V?"
"Again Dom? I'm not interested in her for that," Vince answers and although the topic at hand is making him uncomfortable he doesn't show it.
"V, I get the attraction," Dom says before quickly explaining when Vince shots him a look that could kill and doesn't help his point. "I mean the girl next door who works on cars, drives like an angel straight out of hell and deals with your shit. I fell for that kind of girl so I see why you…"
"Dom, I don't," Vince says trying to make Dom get it, even if it might not be true.
"Okay man. Just remember you're a dog. I am one too. Nothin' wrong with it but that doesn't change when you get a girl long term. You're still a dog, trust me. It's hard to stay with only one. You're gonna wanna play the field after so much time," Dom says.
"I know who I am and I'm not the relationship type. I aint about to promise or start shit with anyone. I'd fuck around, I know," Vince says.
"Who knows, your loyalty runs deeps," Dom backtracks when he notices Vince's fatalistic outlook and realizes that he's putting his own shitty feelings onto Vince. Vince barley even hears the other man. "What about you man, I drag you into this?"
"Naw brother, I dragged you down," Vince says causing Dom to laugh and hit Vince on the back. Dom gets up deciding to go find Letty and forget his own disloyal thoughts concerning their relationship.
As Vince sits nursing his Corona and telling himself that Dom didn't tell him anything he hadn't already thought about he hears Jesse yelling up that the bathroom is free. The door swings open and Mary runs in her hair wet and carrying a large bag with clothes and what looks like a toiletry kit.
"Hey," she says as she rushes past him and up the stairs leaving the smell of peppermint in the air.
"I have no idea what to wear," Mary says throwing open Mia's bedroom door to see Letty lounging across Mia's bed while the other girl holds two shirts up to herself in the mirror.
"Well come on in," Letty says sarcastically.
"I'm serious" Mary says as she frantically dumps a pile of clothes on the bed.
"Hey, I just cleaned that," Mia shrieks.
"Sorry Mia, but this is an emergency. And really this is your own fault you should have warned me."
"My fault? Please," Mary says deciding on a red lace cami that looks two sizes too small.
"Why are all your skirts plaid?" Letty asks holding up two near identical plaid skirts.
"Not true. I think I have a plain black one around here somewhere," Mary says looking through the pile and coming up empty. "… Or not. I like the school girl thing. Oh shut it," she says angrily grabbing the skirts out of Letty's hands.
"This one," Letty says holding up a short black and gray pleated plaid skirt.
"That won't cover anything! … Which is the point," Mary says feeling stupid. She pulls the skirt on over her black lace underwear then eyes herself in the mirror.
"Hot," Letty says and Mary has to agree it looks pretty good. "You don't have any good shirts," Letty says holding up a white polo in disgust. "Here we go," Letty says holding a plain black tee shirt that is two sizes two big.
"Bit boring," Mia says eying the shirt critically.
"For now, pass me the scissors."
As part of the typical race night routine the boys are chilling downstairs drinking while waiting for the girls to finish getting ready. Although they don't complain (too loudly they are used to it after all) it still feels like a lifetime before the girls make their way down. Stomping down the stairs in her new pair of black combat boots, complete with red flames, Letty eagerly grabs Dom's drink as he eyes her tight black skirt and the crop top she has on that ends way above her belly button. "They'll be down in a sec," Letty says enjoying Dom's reaction, to the point of giddiness although she is smart enough to cover it up. She does, however, discreetly grab his ass.
Vince glances over Mia's pleather skirt and red spaghetti strap top before his moves to Mary. His eyes travel from her feet all the way to her head slowly and fiercely as he takes a long drink from his corona. She's wearing black ankle boots with a tall heel he notices as his eyes slide up the black knee socks she's wearing as well as the ample amount of naked skin between them and the bottom of her plaid skirt. Taking a moment to enjoy the sight of her bare legs and the skin the skirt exposes as she walks Vince then moves his eyes upward. He can't see her belly button in the space between the large studded black belt and the black shirt she is wearing but enough of her pale skin is showing that his eyes linger. The shirt is tight and stretching invitingly across her chest. The deep V shows off enough of her ample cleavage to be sorely tempting and her wavy red hair falls around the barely there cap sleeves of her shirt. Vince takes another slow look of her, unable to resist the temptation or stop the tightening in his pants, even if she is staring right at him.
"We ready?" Mary asks happily clapping her hands together. 'Confident, shameless, and yourself, which we all know is a bad ass,' Mary thinks to herself remembering the pep talk Letty had given her. As she descends the stairs she repeats 'confident, shameless, badass' in her head as Vince's eyes rake over her and she attempts to remain unaffected, at least visually. She can't help but stand next to him as Dom informs her that there will be some ground rules.
"First, you are not to get behind the wheel of a car, no excuses," Dom says. While nodding to Dom Mary takes in Vince's black wife beater, which shows off his large and muscled arms and the fact that he smells amazing. 'Clean, like shampoo, Vince, and spice…. Dangerous.' "Second, you're riding with Vince. Stay next to him all night. I mean it a three foot leash." 'No complaints here,' Mary thinks but only nods in acceptance while sending Vince a grin. "Next be careful who you talk to and last you can drink as much as you like tonight. Only on race nights and one before the races tops. Once we're back no leaving for any reason. You can bunk with Mia tonight."
"Not like you'd let me bunk with anyone else," Mia mutters angrily.
"Good?" Dom asks ignoring Mia.
"Good," Mary agrees.
"Good, let me get the cash and we'll hit it," Dom says as he and Letty head back upstairs.
Mary turns to look straight at Vince as she takes the corona out of his hand. His hair is brushed but sticking out and the shirt is stretched temptingly across his abs. Tracing the lines of the ink embedded on his arms with her eyes she subconsciously licks her lips. Keeping her eyes locked on his she brings the bottle up to her lips and finishes it off before handing it back to him.
"Damn girl. And here I thought you'd be a light weight," Leon says interrupting Mary's appraisal of Vince.
"I'm Irish and offended," Mary says glaring at Leon.
"Yea we'll see at the end of the night. And damn girls you look good," Leon says smiling charismatically at Mary and Mia.
"Already putting the 'charms' on," Mia says putting air quotes up.
"Watch it," Vince growls towards Leon.
"Oh its charm," Leon says ignoring Vince; something Mary most certainly isn't doing.
"Let's go," Dom says walking down the stairs with Letty and out the door followed by the rest of the team. Mary turns to follow and that's when Vince catches sight of the back of her shirt for the first time. The shirt leaves her back completely exposed except for two straps that connect across her back about halfway down in a flimsy knot. With the whole expanse of her naked back, down to her skirt and belt, accessible and her braless Vince lets out a deep growl that has the area between Mary's legs flooding and her glancing over her shoulder. "You coming Vince?"
A/N: Sorry it's shorter than the last couple chapters have been but I am splitting this area up into smaller chapters. Hope you all still liked it and I'll update soon. Let me know if I over did anything or any thoughts, kind of out of my comfort zone here. ;)
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