Thanks for the reviews. I got three reviews this chapter, which is more than the usual two. Not the best, but it made my day! Good to know people are still reading this, cuz believe it or not, I put a lot of thought and effort into my stories. Even if it takes forever to get them finished lol. Thanks and review!

Chapter 38

Rylan felt her claustrophobia kicking in as the limited air supply she had in the trunk began to give way. It didn't help that she only had a one-way air supply through her bloody nose. She began to feel drowsy as a wave of unconsciousness ran through her body. It didn't help that the trunk was tiny as hell, enabling her from stretching her long legs. Her body was sore and she was getting the worse charlie horse in the back of her thigh. She wanted to cry so bad, to cry for her daddy. But that just wasn't the type of girl she was. Even during her roughest moments, she depended on no one but herself to pull through. And crying wasn't going to get her out of the trunk, so there wasn't any point. She needed to stay strong and keep hope that she could somehow get away. The edge of blackness that crept to her consciousness wasn't helping though.

Just as she was blacking out, the car came to an abrupt halt. There were muffled voices as the trunk popped open, revealing her two captor's. They were no longer wearing ski-masks, but smiling down on her. Rylan easily recognized Reese, who was still sporting a broken nose and bruised face. Neiko, on the other hand, was nursing one helluva bruised ego and reputation. She wanted to smile, but the tightness of the duct tape prevented the motion.

"Let's get you outta here. Time to see Daddy," Reese smirked as he yanked Rylan out of the car. He tossed her effortlessly over his shoulder, fully expecting her to battle. Much to his surprise, she didn't move. Her body was nearly limp as he carried her through the backdoor of the strip club.

As they entered the building, Rylan made sure to look at everything. She needed to keep track of every exit possible once she got a chance to get free. Her eyes took a moment to adjust to the dark, dim lighting of the hallway, but she could make out tall posters of half-naked women covering the walls. As they continued down the hall, she noticed an opening that lead out to the main entertainment room. Even if it was a glimpse, her eyes quickly scanned the room. There was a huge stage with a large pole and two medium-sized stages with their own poles as well. There were a few tables and booths that surrounded each stage, and a long bar that lined the back wall of the room. Before she could memorize anything else, the sounds of a door opening brought her back to their journey.

"Where do you want her?" Reese's voice asked another person, one she couldn't see because she was facing Reese's back.

"Just toss her down anywhere. I doubt we'll be here long."

In an instant, Rylan's heart rate increase profusely at the sound of the familiar voice. She had heard that voice all her life, there wasn't any way to escape it. Not even thousands of miles across the country. That same voice had followed her to her new home, undoubtedly to torture her and her family.

Rylan's body was dropped quickly on the floor, Reese clearly uncaring if it hurt her or not. As instructed, he removed the duct tape from her lips, much to her happiness. It was a lot easier to breathe that way. Yet, she still couldn't stop her attitude that came equipped with verbal diarrhea.

"Gee, Reese. I'm starting to think you don't love me anymore," she said sarcastically as she tried to push her body up against a nearby wall. He sneered at her, but turned to leave the room. Neiko stood there, unsure what to do next. "Boy, you aren't nearly as bright as I thought you were." Rylan chuckled, looking away. She waited a few seconds, then flinched at Neiko, as if she was ready to lunge at him. Of course, he flinched, receiving a laugh from her and a snicker from Ryan. "Still pathetic."

Neiko cursed under his breath, lunging for her, but was stopped by Ryan's hand on his chest.

"You touch her again, I'll kill you myself. Beat it," Rylan snarled, nodding furiously to the door. Neiko gave Rylan one lasting glare before leaving the room.

Rylan was shocked that her "father" stood up for her, but she didn't let it show. There was always a method to his madness.

"Who in the hell made you peacemaker?" she mouthed, quirking a brow at the man. She looked into his icy blue eyes, realizing just how empty and evil they looked.

He didn't care about her, Letty, or her siblings. He simply wanted back the control over them like he had before. It wasn't like he didn't have the whole state eating out of his palms. No, he wanted more. To control the family that he's taken care of for years. Ryan didn't want it to all have been for nothing. He needed something, or someone, to show for all the trouble he had gone through taking care of them.

"Stop. I'm going to be the one doing the talking," he smirked, pulling up a nearby wooden chair. He sat it directly in front of her and took a seat. He stared down at her. She stared right back. She had never been afraid of the man who called himself her father. She wouldn't start now. "You know Rylan? You are something else. Always have been. Ever since you were a tot, you've had nothing but attitude and resentment towards me. I've given you everything you've ever wanted. Money, toys, jewelry, clothes, the works. I've taken care of you all your life. But instead of returning the love, you take my family away from me. You are my daughter Rylan, and despite our differences, I love you. I thought we were friends at one point. But then it all changed. I just wish you would've made a smarter choice."

Rylan guffawed, unable to believe his ignorance. "You are unbelievable. First off, we have never been friends. We were nothing remotely close to friends," as she spoke, his smile began to disappear. "I've hated you long enough to know how to hate someone. Since the first time you called Mom a whore … since the first time you put your hands on her, you've been the enemy. Since you pushed me down those steps, I've been plotting on a way to put you six feet under."

Ryan ran a frustrated hand down his face. "You are one ungrateful little bitch, you know that? I've always told my father that I would take care of my children and never abandon them, but I'm starting to think I should make an exception for you."

"Well there's one thing fucked up with your statement," her face held the proudest smile, "I'm not your fucking child."

Ryan looked at her closely, as if he were trying to dissect her words. "What's that supposed to mean?"

Rylan smirked, knowing she was getting into his head. She wasn't sure if her mother wanted to tell him, but she couldn't take it back now. "Exactly what I said. I'm not your kid. Not that you cared, but my mother did have a life before you. She was pregnant when she met you. God are you fucking stupid? We look nothing alike."

Ryan felt his heart crack at the words. He never questioned Letty about her past, simply because he didn't care. What she did before she met him wasn't any of his concern. It was only about the moment, not the past. Ryan was never the type of person to dwell on anything too long and his wife's past was included. But now, maybe, he made a mistake. Maybe he should've looked into her life more. Why she was running away from L.A. Why she wouldn't tell him why she'd never get rid of her prized Nissan. Why she was so wry of giving him a chance.

He looked at Rylan and realized, she was right. They did look nothing alike. She had dark brown eyes, he had bright blue. She had long, brunette hair, he had light brown. It was clear in her features that she was Puerto Rican and Dominican, like her mother. But assessing her looks now, he could see that there was something else.

Ryan jumped out of his seat angrily, knocking it across the room. Rylan smiled, happy that she was in his head.

"That's not true. I'm your father. Letty never said anything about another man. I'm the reason you are here," his voice was muffled behind the hand covering his mouth. He was still in disbelief.

"Quando mio padre ti trova, sta per strangolare voi con le mani nude," she spoke in rapid Italian, thankful that Toby talked her into learning minor Italian.

Beyond peeved, Ryan ran his hands through his short hair, causing it to stick up in different directions.

"What did you just say?" he asked, his face flushed with anger. He had no idea she knew any language other than English.

Rylan smirked, "That when my dad finds you, he's going to strangle you with his bare hands."

Without warning, Ryan took a step and backhanded Rylan hand across the cheek. He smiled, happy that he finally let out some stress. Rylan bit her tongue to avoid crying out. She ran her tongue along the inside of the cheek that had just been struck. It wasn't the first time she was hit that night, but it was definitely the one that hurt the most. Not physically, but mentally. Though verbally and mentally abusive to her, and aside from pushing her down the stairs, he had not put his hands on her once.

"Keep it up, asshole. You're just digging yourself a deeper grave," Rylan couldn't stop the words from spilling from her mouths. And as she expected, Ryan rewarded her with another backhand, yet to her other cheek.

Grinning, Rylan flipped her grungy hair out of her face and sat back against the wall. "You hit like a bitch. I'm surprised Mom put up with that for so long. If you're gonna hit me, stop hitting like a girl. I'm getting bored with this."

Ryan, beyond furious with the mouthy teenager, drew back and landed a hard fist on the side of Rylan's face. The blow nearly crushed her orbital bone, and it was certainly the one that shut her up.

"Is that why you guys ran here? To be with this fucking punk?" Ryan screamed in her face, finally having enough of her back-talk. Rylan chewed on the inside of her mouth, trying to level her anger. She didn't like him talking about Dom, but she didn't want to say the wrong thing to get him killed either. When Rylan didn't speak, Ryan stood up straight, proudly straightening his suit. "Much better. You talk way too much. See ya in a bit," he said smugly as he stormed out of the empty room.

When she was confident he was gone, she let out a small shrill, the pain of all of her bruises and cuts finally catching up to her. She needed to get out soon.

Before she wouldn't feel anything anymore.

(Letty)

The bicep that Ryan was currently squeezing to death flexed as he tightened his grip, nearly dragging me through a dark hall. I knew from experience that fighting against didn't end well for me, so I kept my cool and followed him. Not to mention the pistol that was tucked tightly in his waistband. We stopped in front of a door, where a four-pin number key was required to open. I hoped that he was stupid enough to enter it while I stood there so I could memorize it, but I wasn't that lucky.

"Be a good little wife, and turn around," as he put emphasis on the word wife, I nearly puked in my mouth. I rolled my eyes and turned around. I felt a tug on a ponytail, where I presumed Ryan was keeping quite the hold on me. There were a few beeping sounds and the sound of a lock snapping back. Ryan grabbed my arm again and pushed me forward, shoving me into the room.

"Mom!" I heard Rylan's voice before I saw her. My heart rate immediately sped up as I looked to a far corner of the room where she sat, bound and beaten. My blood boiled nearly to the point where I wanted to say fuck that gun and beat Ryan to a bloody pulp. Her face was bruised badly and her bottom lip was split and swollen, dried up blood covering her chin. The moist look on the front of her black tank top showed that she was bleeding profusely. Her previously white cast covering her forearm was now pink.

I vowed Ryan would never put his hands on my children and get away with it.

I didn't break my promises.

"You okay baby?" I asked with a shaky voice. I was beyond angry, waiting for the perfect moment for him to slip so I could pounce. You could almost see the lump in her throat as she swallowed, nodding slowly to me. Physically, she might have fight okay. Sore, sure. But emotionally? It was clear she was drained and no matter the outcome of this, she would be dealing with it for a while. "I'm gonna get you outta here Ry. I promise baby."

"All right, enough. Listen, where are my other two?" Ryan asked, his voice annoyed. I walked over to Rylan, holding her close to me. I quickly untied her hands and legs, noticing how raw the flesh on her left wrist looked. The cast on her right arm looked as if the plaster was beginning to scrape away. She had obviously tried to get herself untied, not realizing how much damage she was doing to herself. When I didn't reply, he spoke again. "Robbie and Stace. Where are they? I wanna get a plane out of here tonight. L.A always did disgust me."

My jaw clenched at his words. Sure, Los Angeles didn't have the lowest crime rate or the most fabulous mansions and pretty streets as Manhattan, but it was home. I grew up here and couldn't love any place more than Southern L.A. It was charming.

"I'm sorry to say we won't be joining you," I responded, feigning regret.

He chuckled out loud, like he knew something I didn't. Before he could speak, there was a loud knock on the door.

"Boss, we got a huge problem!" someone yelled on the other side.

Before Ryan could reply, gunfire began blazing throughout the club. Ryan jumped into action, yanking his gun out his pants and running out the door. I had the instinct to run for the door, but the loud noise it made afterward said that it locked automatically once closed.

Fuck. We were stuck.

I looked over at the girl still clutching to my arm, her body shaking nervously. I ran my hands over her hair, trying to soothe her fear. I hadn't seen her inhibitions so low before. Rylan was tough, always in control of every situation. To see her so out of her element and afraid made her look like a small child who was afraid of the dark. Her bottom lip quivered but she didn't cry. No matter the situation, one thing was for sure: Rylan Parker did not cry. If she did, the matter had to be pretty fucking serious to her.

"It's okay, sweetheart. We're gonna get out of this hell."

(No POV)

Jesse's Jetta pulled up to Little Saigon, which made Jesse's skin crawl. This wasn't his turf. This was forbidden territory. None of the Toretto clan were ever supposed to even think about driving near this part of town. Jesse himself knew from experience just what happened if you defied the Trans. Even with Johnny dead and Lance murdered in prison years ago, it was still a touchy subject.

"Hey, why don't we try somewhere else? I don't feel comfortable being here," Jesse mumbled from the passenger seat, looking at the large statues that passed.

"How come? Jess we gotta. Toby said they'd be here," Cece replied, quickly jerking the Jetta to the left, drifting the tail-end up a ramp. It was dark out, but the garage bay doors were still open, a few cars parked inside. The occupants stepped out in front of Jesse's car, one armed with a bat.

"What do you want, punk?" the young kid asked, obviously knowing the bad blood between Jesse and his family.

"Is Neiko here? It's important," Turbo asked, stepping out of the Jetta.

They looked at him reluctantly, unsure of what to say. Finally, the only Tran in the group spoke up. "Nah man, we haven't seen him all day. He's been rollin' with that fool from your crew. Ever since that bitch pissed him off, he's been hanging with that guy. Shit's not lookin' good, brother," he spoke, worry evident in his voice. He knew just how pissed off Neiko was about what Rylan did to him, and he knew how Neiko got when someone embarrassed him. He was unstable, and everyone in his crew knew it.

"All right man, thanks," Turbo said, sliding back in the car. Cece hesitated for a moment, then opened her door, standing between the door and the car.

"Which one of you is Jack?" she asked the crew of young men. A shorter Asian stepped up, his dark eyes staring at her like she was a scrumptious fruit.

"What's up Sweet Thang?" he asked, giving her a toothy grin. She smiled sweetly, fingering him over to her. He swaggered over, hoping to get some play. He hadn't seen a girl that good looking in a while.

"What do you drive?" she asked seductively, knowing she was playing his game.

"Only the best Honda CR-X SI. Wanna take a ride?" Once he stood between her and the car door, she reached over and smacked the piss out of him. The whole gang of boys gasped, certainly taken aback by her violence. "The fuck was that for?"

"You trying to get your boy to play my best friend for a piece of shit Honda. She's better than that. If you wanna keep your legs to drive such a shitty car, you better show a little respect. Or I'll break them and beat you with 'em. Got that, Sweet Thang?" she smiled sweetly, cocking her head to the side. He rubbed his sore face, nodding painfully to her. "Good. Thanks boys."

And with that, they were quickly reversing out of the driveway, speeding down the street. Jesse looked at her like she was insane. He couldn't believe that she put that boy in his place. She caught him staring out the corner of her eye and smiled.

"Problem?" she asked.

"What the hell was that?" he said incredulously.

"Asshole tried to mess with my girl," she shrugged, shifting gears quickly.

They drove absently, trying to figure of different places Neiko could be. Just when we they were about to give up and call Dominic, Jesse's cell began to ring. The other two listened to his half of the conversation, unable to figure who it was or what it was about.

"That was Stacy. She just got off the phone with Leon and he said they were at a strip club called Parker's Palace. I know where it is, just follow my directions. Bust a U-turn," he ordered.

Twenty minutes and two head-on collision-misses later, they were pulling up in front of the club. Jesse noticed the Charger, Skyline, and the Firebird already parked on the curb. Jesse reached into a special compartment underneath the backseats and pulled out his gun. Dom required them to all keep a weapon in their car in case they were carjacked. He cocked back the hammer to make sure it was ready and looked over to Cece.

"I got a feeling if I tell you to stay here, you're gonna tell me to shove it."

Cece smiled proudly, "You know me so well Jess."

He rolled his eyes and the three exited the car, all creeping up to the dilapidated building. The building was completely silent. Jesse took a deep breath, pulling open the front doors. He figured whoever was here didn't think anyone would show up to an abandoned building, so they didn't bother with locking the doors. They stood at the entrance, noticing how dark it had been. They slowly walked into the place, making sure to keep low and out of sight. Jesse felt his heart nearly pounding out of his chest. He hated situations like this.

It was then that Jesse noticed how quiet it was. Almost too quiet.

"What the hell is going on?" he whispered as they continued down the hall. Just then, gunfire began to ring out, startling all them. "Get down!" he yelled as they dropped to the floor. He looked around, making sure the other two were okay. When his eyes landed on Cece, his heart stopped.

There she lay on her back, blood pouring out a hole in the center of her chest.