New chapter time guys n gals. Shout out to my girl Tempest, thanks for beta'ing again girl, your a star. Thanks again for allowing the use of your characters and backstory, its helped a lot. if you havent read them guys go read "Adrenaline" and "She's Bonnie" coz they're both brilliant, and they'll help with this. I also recommend "Tough but Tender" too. Shout out to Cheer and the other usual suspects, you know who you are. i also recommend "America's Fates" by Penning Fantasy, and "The Ultimate Betrayal" stories by Cheer, all great stories. Enjoy the chapter boys and girls!

Chapter 20: Now Has Come The Day, That I Take The Lead And I Make You Follow

Knight grinned as Becky's car pulled up to the line, and bent down to the window –"Guess now I get to see what you can really do. Gonna smoke her?"

"Gonna try. Gonna be tough when she has a Skyline though."

"Yeah but she isn't Kat," Knight replied –"From what I gather, the car was her brother's and while she can race, she's not as good as the rest of the team. She's still good, but…I think you can take her."

"But if I do, won't it cause trouble for you?"

"Like that'd stop you," Knight said teasingly, then kissed her –"Good luck."

"Thanks," she replied and wound up the window as Knight backed away from the car. The Eclipse's engine revved up, and Knight glanced across the roof at the Skyline with the dragon painted on the side. An NSX was on one side, gold, with a carbon fibre hood, and a Silvia similar to Letty's but in metallic green with what looked like a dolphin on the side. Knight hated the design. Dom started off the race, Becky managing to get away fastest. Knight knew she needed to, if she was going to beat the Skyline. He just hoped Nyssa wasn't on form tonight. He pulled up a visual on Karr's display, the car commenting –"She's doing well. If she wins, does that mean I can beat the next Skyline we race?"

"Depends on the driver. But I still don't think people would believe it," Knight replied, watching as the Skyline surged forward, Karr's graphic indicating Nyssa was using her nitrous. Becky must have noticed as a second later, the Eclipse surged forward too. Even with nitrous, the Skyline was catching up, Knight guessing Nyssa had used her second shot of nitrous as well. Unconsciously, he crossed his fingers, Karr bringing up the finish line as the blue and pink Eclipse tore over the line, the Skyline's nose just level with its door's as it crossed the line as well, the NSX crossing a second later, a full car length ahead of the Silvia. Knight grinned –"She did it."

"Good. Maybe I can beat one now?"

"Hold your horses hot shot," Knight replied, watching as Hector's crew drove off –"They're leaving."

"Shall we pursue them?" Karr asked. Knight frowned –"Probably. But we aren't."

"May I ask why?"

"If we follow, and there's a heist tonight, we still don't know that it isn't the Toretto team. If we stick with them, we might prove them innocent. And that could be helpful."

"How?"

"Just a hunch," Knight shrugged –"C'mon, think it's our turn to race now."

Knight pulled up to the line. Alongside Karr was a grey-black Subaru Impreza RS with blue tinted windows and blue and white flashes on the side, a silver Nissan 350z with aqua coloured underglow with windows the same colour and a blue spoiler, with a blue snake pattern down the side and a red RX-8 with a similar pattern to Dom's. Knight bet that wasn't sitting well with "the King of LA" as he waited. The all clear came from Leon, and Dom set the cars racing, all four level at this early stage of the race. Karr's monitor displayed images of the four cars from the front, the rippling gold light on the cars black and silver nose looking menacing as ever, as if the car was trying to feel out its opponents. Knight hit the pursuit button, giving the Trans-am extra speed, starting to edge out ahead of the competition. The Subaru surged ahead, and Knight shook his head –"Too early," and hit the car's turbo boost and raced up behind the Subaru, cursing as it suddenly changed lanes –"What the?" Knight cursed, hitting the Trans-am's breaks to avoid hitting the Subaru as the other two cars started to close, the RX-8 slightly ahead of the Nissan. Knight started to switch lanes to get around the Subaru, cursing as its driver blocked him –"Son of a…"

"We could Turbo over him?" Karr suggested. Knight shook his head, glaring at the Subaru's "Tommo-1" license plate –"Got a trick up my sleeve," he told the car, and swung towards the Nissan slightly. The Subaru started to shift, and Knight swung the wheel back around, and hit nitrous, the Trans-am racing around the Impreza and pulling into the lead. Both the RX-8 and the Nissan hit their nitrous, surging forward in a ditch effort to win. Knight hit the turbo boost, and the Trans-am bolted forward, crossing ahead of the other cars by a full length –"Hah."

"Over-rated, underpowered pieces of junk," Karr muttered. Knight grinned –"They weren't that bad."

"They had no chance against me," Karr replied –"I am the future of the automobile industry."

"If you say so," Knight replied, laughing as Karr made an irritated noise –"I think the Foundation is trying to keep you and the other cars a secret for now though. And for the moment, we're trying to keep what you can really do a secret too, so clam up, got it? Let's get out winnings"

The Trans-am didn't reply, and Knight groaned –"Don't sulk."

"I'm not sulking," the car replied sullenly –"You told me to be quiet."

"You sound like you're sulking," Knight told the car as he pulled back up to the start line –"I'll be right back," then climbed out, grinning boyishly at the praise for winning. He gave Dom a wink –"Beat your imitator for you."

"Punk needs a few lessons," Dom replied –"Your winnings."

Knight took the roll of cash, and handed back a third –"for putting me in this one."

Dom looked at him, slightly confused and Brian laughed –"It's called mutual respect bro. Knight's listened to Tej's speeches a few times too many."

Knight flipped a finger at Brian then scooped Becky up into a hug, lifting her off her feet slightly and kissed her –"Guess I got a good luck charm now."

She blushed slightly, making him laugh –"Put me down."

Knight set her back on her feet but kept an arm round her waist and turned around as Dom spoke –"I think we got time for one more. Alright Brian, lets see what you got there."

"Yeah Chumpy," Letty laughed –"Lets see you earn your Bullitt name here. Or if you're forever Chumpy."

Brian grinned –"Dude I almost had you before in the Supra."

"You never had me," Dom replied –"I was owning you till I blew a seal."

"I think Chumpy suits him better than Bullitt," Knight said to Letty. She laughed –"It does, doesn't it? He just has that look about him."

Becky shook her head slightly –"That's not nice."

"I'm only kidding around," Knight replied –"If he delays much longer, the cop's will be here anyway."

"Besides, he'll always be Chumpy," Letty grinned. Brian sighed –"Alright then, let's go bro."

The crowd of racers were already cheering as the cars lined up, Brian's Skyline and Dom's RX-7 in the middle, Edwin on Dom's left and Donny Yen on Brian's right, all four cars revving their engines, flames licking out of their tailpipes. Letty called for the go, Dom taking off rapidly, the RX-7 pulling away from the other cars like the rockets on its sides. The silver Skyline was almost as quick getting away, both cars leaving Edwin's and Yen's in their dust. Knight whistled slightly –"That guy is fast."

"That's why he's the king of LA," Becky said –"He's the only person Tempest has never beaten."

"She's beat Kat?"

"Ok, he's the only person she's raced and never beaten. She's never raced Kat," Becky answered, punching his arm slightly. Knight pulled a hurt face and rubbed his arm –"That hurt."

"You suck at lying," she told him. He grinned and hugged her –"Glad you finally realise that. It's why I don't lie."

She elbowed him in the ribs gently –"Stop bringing that up. It's supposed to be in the past."

"I'm teasing," Knight said softly, running his hands up and down her sides tenderly. She frowned slightly –"It makes me uncomfortable. Makes me feel like you haven't really forgiven me for what happened. Even though it was your fault."

Knight kissed her gently –"I have. Hope you forgiven me too. Must have or you wouldn't have wanted to talk to me anyway. Its forgotten, buried in the past."

"Good," she replied, turning her attention back to the race as the Skyline took the lead, blasting forward with nitrous to do so –"He's gonna do it!"

A second after she spoke, the RX-7 surged forward, its nose just an inch ahead of the Skyline's as they crossed the line. Knight cursed –"Damn."

"What?"

"I bet on Brian."

Becky couldn't help it, she just had to laugh –"That's why I bet on Dom."

"You suck."

"Maybe later," she replied with a wink, leaving him speechless for a few moments –"I hate when you do that."

"Yeah I know you do. You know I only said it to see your reaction," she teased and wrapped her arms round him –"You love it really though."

"Whatever helps you sleep at night," Knight replied, giving her a squeeze as the cars pulled back up to the line, their drivers getting out –"Congratulations Dom. Still the king of LA."

"Like there was any doubt," Dom snorted, lifting Letty up –"My trophy."

Knight glanced at Brian –"You let me down Chumpy. I had money on you."

"That was a mistake," Letty grinned –"No way Chumpy was ever gonna beat Dom."

"I was close," Brian protested, still wearing his trademark grin. Knight shook his head –"Close only counts in horseshoes and hand grenades."

"Brian, remember what I told you after the first time I beat your ass?" Dom asked –"It doesn't matter if you win by an inch or a mile. Winnings winning."

"Amen brother," Leon said warmly –"We'd better get out of here before the cops show up."

"Party time brother," Vince growled, hugging Nyssa close –"Lets get some grub."

"Looks like Ole Coyote's hungry," Leon laughed. Letty grinned slightly –"He's always hungry," she added as Vince pointed at Leon threateningly. The sound of sirens had everyone running for their cars, peeling away rapidly. Knight glanced in his rear-view mirror as Karr pulled away, glad that Becky had pulled in tightly, staying in the Trans-am's slipstream to get that little bit more speed out of her car. The scramble was chaotic, cars weaving in and out of each other, a miracle there were no accidents. The cops weren't nearly so lucky, a couple of the cruisers running into each other, fortunately not at high speeds. Knight set Karr on course for the Toretto's and relaxed as the car disappeared into the night, attracting little attention from the cops.

End of Chapter 20…