A/N: Hey, please don't kill me. I would like to start off by saying how unbelievably sorry I am for not updating all summer. It's been killing me that I haven't gotten a new chapter out in forever but I couldn't bring myself to write one. I'm not trying to make excuses and truly I don't know why it's been so hard to write. I think part of it was me outlining the story and realizing how much I want to get in and thus how much time it is going to take. It's a daunting task but one that I really want to complete for you and for me. Second, I think I fell out of love with the idea of Love there for a while. Either way anything that I wrote just turned out to suck and I couldn't let any of you read it, I don't like torturing people. I've finally got my inspiration back and I got this out as soon as I finished so I apologize for any typos. In regards to future chapters I have to say that I am getting to the end of my undergraduate work and am trying to put most of my energy in to getting good grades and volunteering so I have actual work experience when I graduate. Meaning that I, sadly, will not be updating as much as I have previously (before I fell of the earth there that is). That being said this story really means the world to me as do all you who read and comment so I will be dedicating a portion of my time to making sure this gets finished, and is readable. To everyone who messaged me to make sure I hadn't died (especially memoriaregalis and .tears) I would like to give you a hundred thanks and apologies for not responding but I was trying to get space in an attempt to get my muse back. For the record I am alive, not a zombie. I hope this chapter is up to my normal standards (better maybe? Who knows?) and more importantly that you all enjoy it.

Tread Marks Chapter Twenty-One

I'm not negative. I'm just positive you're gonna mess it up.

"Where's Mary?" Vince says after he ascends from the basement to see the rest of the team lounging in the living room dressed for the races.

"Outside, I think she's psyching herself up," Mia says tossing some chips in her mouth. Some action movie is on the television as the team waits for address of the races to be texted to them. Moving the curtain out of his way he looks out the window to see Mary laying across the hood of her car legs propped up on the grill as she stares up at the darkening sky. Ignoring the memory of her on her back on the Maxima he exits the house closing the door behind him loudly but the young girl doesn't look up or otherwise indicate that she'd heard him. He doesn't say anything until he is leaning against the Chevelle next to her legs.

~MVMVMVMVMVMVMV~

The air isn't cold but the hood of the Chevelle is as Mary lays her back against it. She can hear the sound of the television and Leon laughing coming from inside of the house, the sound is comforting even as her brain runs in ten directions at once, none of them positive. She is lost in her own world when she hears her name. The sudden noise causes her to jump up at its unexpectedness. She sees Vince leaning next to her as her eyes snap open.

"Fucking hell, Vince you scared the shit out of me," she says resting her weight on her arms as she sits up.

"Calm the fuck down," he says crossing his arms angrily.

"I'm fine," she says attempting to sound flippant but it comes out strained.

"What horrible scene were you thinking about?" Vince says but he isn't looking at her. The fact that he seems to know what she was doing out her irritates her.

"This conversation."

"Fucking sure." Rolling her eyes she drops back down on the hood trying to ignore him even as she can smell his shampoo mixed with a slight bit of sweat. He doesn't say anything.

"I could die, I mean it's an actually possibility if I crash," she finally admits but she doesn't move. He just lets out an amused grunt and she fights the urge to kick him.

"Yeah you could easily," he says his gruff voice and his words causing her to sit back up to glare at him. "You don't even have a roll cage or a five point restraint belt."

"Fuck you," Mary says pushing against his shoulder because she knows she has all the safety stuff in her car. He made sure she did. "But I could still crash."

"Doubtful."

"But possible."

"You'd just walk out with a couple of scratches praising the adrenaline rush," he says giving her a critical look.

"Probably. And I'm not wearing that stupid seat belt you put in my car," she says referring to the complicated and excessive seat belt he had installed in her car when she was having lunch with Mia that afternoon. It had at least three belts, a quick release, and made her feel claustrophobic but he refused to let her take it out.

"Yes you are."

"It looks stupid, I'll look stupid." Still he doesn't relent. "You might as well have filled the car with bubble wrap too." She throws her hands up in frustration as he smirks at her, amusement in his eyes. She moves to kick him but he knocks her leg away.

"I'll keep that in mind." The front door opens and the team files out, their boisterous voices filling the almost quiet street. Dom is the only one missing as they stand around their cars waiting for him.

"What's going on here," Letty asks pointing to Mary. "You look so wholesome." Mary looks down and while it is true she isn't as done up as last time it was hardly conservative. She's practically had to force her jeans on they were so tight and her green cami showed her belly button and cleavage.

"You need a dictionary," Mary says pulling her cami down self-consciously. "I'm racing I wanted to be comfortable."

"So?" Leon asks thoroughly confused.

"Believe it or not but those skimpy outfits are not comfortable," Mary says hitting the back of Leon's head.

"Who knew? No wonder the girls are so eager to get out of them," Jesse says and Mary isn't sure if he meant that seriously or if it was joke. Either way the group is laughing when Dom exits the house locking up behind him. The team takes their cue and get in to their cars. Once Mary is in hers Dom leans down to look through her window as he hands a roll of cash to her. He doesn't say anything as she pockets the cash only walks to his car. The cash is like a weight in her pocket and she can't remember having that much money at once before, at least in cash, and definitely not that much to bet on herself. She glances over at Vince who just nods at her and starts his car. She takes a deep breath and follows Leon away from the house.

~MVMVMVMVMVMVMV~

They arrive at a different part of town, at a different warehouse, but the scene before her is hardly different from the last time she was here. As they navigate through the crowd Mary notices that people are more eager to get out of their way, or more likely Dom's way, than they were last time. They park and when she exits her car the similar, but still energizing, sensation of excitement flows over her. Resisting the urge to look under the hood of her car to make sure she installed everything correctly she goes to stand with Mia who is gossiping about racer girls with Letty. Although Mary doesn't have a leash this time she is happy that Vince is always within an arms reach as she and the girls wander around the cars nearest to them.

"Hola Chicas," a man says and when Mary turns around she sees Hector walking towards them.

"Hey Hector."

"This the car I've heard about?" he says admiring her Chevelle.

"Hell yes," Mary says proudly. He hums appreciatively when she allows him to pop the hood.

"Nice girl, I didn't think you had it in you."

"Want to underestimate me again? I'm racing tonight."

"Naw girl, that's be something I'd rather watch." Mary, however, doubts that he is doing so because of her supposed racing skills.

"Probably for the best," Mary says.

"Yo, Dom," Hector says walking towards the larger man. "Everyone is asking how you're doing this tonight." With his arms around Letty Dom takes a moment to process what Hector has said before responding in that commanding way of his.

"I'm up for a 2K in the 2nd," Dom says. Two redhead men who look as if they could have been twins groan in disappointment as a crowd gathers around them. A darker skinned man pushes his way through the crowd with Dixon trailing behind him. Mary sizes the man up assuming this is Langton Jackson.

"Dom!" the man says and Dom slowly turns his attention to him.

"Jackson. How's it going Dixon?" The younger Jackson is about to open his mouth until his brother shoots him a look urging him to do the opposite.

"2K you say?" Langton says. There is a moment where the two men are staring the other down and Mary is reminded of wolves battling for dominance.

"Yea."

"I'm in." After one last look the two brothers push their way through the crowd and disappear into it.

"Cool, we'll get in on the first then" one of the redhead says to which the other nods in agreement. Although Mary is about to speak she finds Vince's light shove onto the small of her back pushing her forward comforting rather than annoying.

"Count me in too," Mary says. The redheads grin to each other as if expecting an easy win and one of Hector's crew jumps in the ring too.

"Good luck guys," Dom says placing an arm around her shoulders. Mary just smirks at his posturing as the two redheads, who look like they'd love a chance to beat Dom anyway they could, quickly up the ante to 1k. Handing the roll of cash to Hector she grins at him then heads off to get her car in to position.

~MVMVMVMVMVMV~

Her car is stopped at the line, waiting for the redheads to get into position, as she drums her fingers on the wheel. She'd gotten a reassuring squeeze on the shoulder from Dom and a devilish grin from Letty before she'd gotten in her car and she wasn't sure where the rest of the team was. Leon was undoubtedly listening to the police scanners near the finish line. The thought of the illegality of her actions didn't help to slow her fingers down as she chews nervously on her bottom lip. Mary watches Vince make his way through the crowd until he is leaning down against her car looking at her through the open window.

"Hey," Mary says stopping the movement of her fingers in attempt to appear calm but she doubt that he buys it.

"Breathe," he says. It's such an obvious command but she does and feels her heart rate slow to a human rate. Reaching in to the cab he grabs the strap to the ridiculous seat belt and hands it to her. When he just glares at her she attempts to strap herself in.

"All of them?" she asks struggling with the straps.

"Yes," he says. His hands detangle the straps from each other, which Mary had gotten woefully intertwined. His hands are warm against her as he clips the strap one in to place causing her to blush and look up at him only to see him watching her and not what his hands are doing. "Breathe," he says which reminds her that she hasn't in a minute or two. It takes a second but then he is walking to the Maxima and driving it towards the finish line. Pulling her attention from Vince she sees the redheads arguing by their cars. The one in black keeps pointing to himself as if arguing that he is in fact going to win. Mary laughs as they get in to their cars paying no attention to her or Marco, Hector's guy, as an idea pops in to head.

MVMVMVMVMVMVMV

Part Two:

Man, this car can do all kinda things, man. Wanna see?

Breathe. Mary tells herself this over and over until she can't tell if it's her voice or Vince's yelling it into her ear. A scantily clad woman stands between Mary and the redhead's car waving a bright red flag in her hand. Keeping her eyes glued to the flag Mary takes a deep breath. As soon as the flag drops Mary can't even remember that she was nervous. One breath is all it takes for the flag to finish its decent and as soon as it does her Chevelle is jetting down the street. The sound of the cars reverberates throughout the car and she breaths slowly as she watches the Irish twins shot ahead of her jockeying for the first place while she follows with Marco behind her. She is focused but she almost laughs out loud when the twins attempt to knock the other out of the winning slot as they all shoot down the first half mile. Seizing on their distraction she brings her car around the left side and once she's even with them she really starts driving. Streaking past the twins, too fast to notice their startled expressions, she gains a generous lead within a couple second. She can hear their cars attempting to get close but she crosses the line before they get a chance. Sliding the Chevelle to a stop she sees Marco pull in next to her followed a second later by the twins. As soon as she is out of the car she miraculously spots Mia, Letty, and Vince in the crowd. Ignoring her instincts for a more appropriate action she gathers Mia and Letty up in a group hug as their laughs, as loud as they are, are drowned out by the group pressing in on her. The weight of the bodies feels restricting by she is too happy to dislike it as the people around her coo praise and Vince's gaze catches her. She lets her limbs stay tangled with the girls until Letty announces that Dom's race is about to start. Letty and Mia move to get a better vantage point and Mary migrates over to Vince hitting him in the chest in her excitement. He doesn't act like it hurt which considering the muscles she felt was probably true. Mary inches closer to him and justifying such action on the crowd the adrenaline is coursing through her and all she wants to do is reach out and bring his lips down on hers. His stern expression is practically begging her to behave as if he can hear the hungry and wanton thoughts she is having. She almost considers letting it all go and do what her body is telling her to but she doesn't want him to ignore her for the next month so leaves a couple centimeters between them.

"See no need to be so nervous Vince." He grunts in amusement and she can't help but let some of her excessive energy out as grabs his wife beater and pulls him flush against her. His hands go to her waist keeping her from pushing them too close together but she looks up he isn't upset. "I DID IT," she yells over the noise around them. His expression says that he didn't expect any other out come and she can fill her cheeks flush. He spins her around so her back is almost toughing his chest as the next race is about to begin. She hears it start but doesn't really catch it as she stands next to Vince his hands resting on her hips warming her even if the night isn't cold. She isn't shocked at all when Dom wins by multiple seconds or when Vince detangles them before pushing her over to Dom and the team. Jesse has shown up finally and Leon's car, which he is leaning against as the sound of the scanners drift out, is parked next to Dom's meaning the whole gang is there. Dom gets a fair share of congratulations and slaps on the back as soon as him and Letty surface for air. Mia wanders over to talk to Hector who shots her Mary a wink.

"Toretto." Mary turns to the rich Asian kid and his weird friend approach them. "I've got a business proposition for you," he says once he is close enough to Dom that he is almost in Dom's personal space and close enough that no one out of the team's vicinity hears. Leon has abandoned the scanners as he steps close shooting Jesse a confused look. When Mary glances over to him Vince is taking an aggressive step towards Tran, who takes a step back as he smirks triumphantly at Vince. "Why don't you stop by the restaurant if you're interested?" Not giving Dom a chance to respond Tran and his friend back up before turning and getting lost in the crowd.

"What the fuck was that about? What business could he possibly want with us?" Vince asks.

"Dunno," Dom says as stares after Tran in contemplation.