CHAPTER 7
It was late afternoon and Nikki was in the basement, the baby monitor with the motion detector on one hip and the monitor screen set up where she could see it. She had no music playing as she normally would -- she wanted to hear every sound in the house. She was working on her arms, using Dominic's lightest weights. She was using a video with the sound off -- it was a self-defense, muscle building video -- and she hoped she would never need any of the tricks they were teaching. She was just at the beginning, the weight training. The video got a lot more complex as it went on, she had read on the back -- straight to how to physically defend yourself against a man that outweighed you by one hundred pounds. Sorta made her laugh though, that was her husband -- Dominic was exactly one hundred pounds heavier than she was. She weighed one hundred and twenty-five before the baby and was one hundred and twenty-five now, although the weight was distributed differently. Dom loved it and that was what mattered. Suddenly the baby monitor went off -- the motion detector and she sprinted up the stairs, her heart beating so hard she could hear it in her ears. Her little girl ..... her Daisy. She flung the door open and everything was silent ... and then she saw it ..... there was a stuffed dog just inside the room. The movement sensor was beeping -- whoever had been in here had been frightened by the sound and left. She ran to the baby's crib, terrified her daughter would be gone, but she was sleeping soundly. Nikki picked her up and put her into her car seat, driving as carefully but as fast as possible to Dom. He was at the garage and she still couldn't stop her heart from screaming in her ears. She pulled up and flung her door open. "DOMINIC!!!" Everyone came running over except her husband. "WHERE IS HE??" "Honey, what's going on?? Dom went to Harry's for parts." Vince said, trying to take her in his arms. Jesse got into the car with the now screaming baby and lifted her out of the car seat and grabbed a bottle of milk from the diaper bag. Nikki pushed away from Vince and yanked her cell phone out of her purse. She dialed his number and heard it ring in the garage. "He must have forgotten it. What's up, honey?" "I need him right now, V. Right now!" Vince didn't say another word, he jumped into his car and took off. "Oh my God, it was so ugly and with my baby and ....." "Nikki, get it together, girl!! What is going on??" Letty was almost shaking her, a look of love and concern on her face. "I was in the basement and I had the baby monitor and didn't see anything but suddenly the ......" The sound of a race car came roaring into the garage. Dom got out with a look of fear on his face and Nikki sprinted across the ground and was up and into his arms. "She was in the house again, she was in the baby's room!!" She was screaming again and Dom put her down. "Where's Daisy?" "With Jesse in the car, Dom. He's giving her a bottle. Looks like she just woke up from a nap." Letty said, her arm around Vince's waist. Nikki was shaking so hard that Dom had to restrain her with his arms. "Shhhh, shhhh, baby, she's okay, it's okay." Nikki started to cry. "Tell me what happened. Leon, will you get her something cold to drink, please?" Leon brought back a bottle of water while Dom held and rocked her in his arms as if she was a child. "Okay, it's okay." Nikki drank a lot of the water, taking breaths in between. "What happened?" "I was in the basement and had the monitor and the motion detector and I didn't see anything in the baby's room -- my back must have been turned or something. Anyway, suddenly the motion detector went off and I ran up the stairs and threw open the baby's door and ...." Nikki started to cry harder and he pulled her to him again, hugging her tight. He could actually feel her heart beating through her breasts, through their clothes, right into his chest. She was absolutely petrified. "There was this stuffed dog right in the room and the motion detector was beeping. It must have scared her off. And I ran to the baby and ... oh God, Dom, she was just sleeping as peaceful as ever. That thing was in our child's room." Nikki was breathing too hard and he lifted her and carried her into the coolness of the garage office, motioning for Jesse to bring the baby. He took Daisy, who giggled at her Daddy and kissed her all over. Leon put his arms around Nikki and encouraged her to drink some more water and try and relax. "Honey, I think this little girl wants her mommy so you need to settle down. Can you do that for her and for me?" She nodded her head slowly, trying to get her breathing under control. Nikki reached for her daughter and put her on her shoulder, rocking her much the same way Dom was rocking her just a few minutes ago. Daisy was sound asleep within minutes. "Did you touch the dog?" "No!! It's so ugly -- Dom, it isn't a toy you'd give to a child -- it is like the black rose -- it's fucking vicious looking." Suddenly a look came over Nikki's face and everyone saw it. Dom reached down and grabbed the baby and handed her to Brian, who put her right back to sleep. "Oh my god ..... oh my god, Dominic." He pulled her up and took her back outside away from the baby. "Talk to me, lover." "She was in the fucking house when I was in the baby's room. The motion detector had just gone off -- I was up those stairs within seconds. She must have ducked into our bedroom or the bathroom. She could still be in our house -- I don't even know if I shut the door." Dom stared at her and pulled her tight against his chest. She listened as he yelled, the sound vibrating from him and through her. "Jesse, Vince, Leon, Brian, come here now." They all ran out and he asked where Daisy was. Brian told him that Letty and Mia had her. "Okay, we're all going over to the house. There's a good chance that bitch might still be in the house. Jess, I want you to stay with the girls and the baby, okay? Don't let anything happen to my daughter." "You know I'd die for her, Dom, she's my Goddaughter." Dom smiled at him and pulled Nikki away from his chest. "Go in with Jesse and take care of Daisy. I'm gonna fix everything, okay?" She just nodded and went inside. The guys got into two race cars and took off for Dom's house.
CHAPTER 8
Nikki was right -- she had left the front door wide open. They walked up slowly and Dom stopped them. He walked to his truck and opened it and got a gun out of the glove compartment, making sure it was loaded. Vince grabbed a shotgun from the back of his own car. "I can't fucking believe this is happening." They walked inside slowly. "If you are in my house, I suggest you come out of wherever you are right now because if I find you, I'm going to blow your brains out." Dom yelled and it was totally quiet in the house. He saw the motion detector on the floor -- it must have been flung out of Nikki's hand and picked it up. It was still beeping. "Brian and Leon, check downstairs and out back, Vince and I will go up. Bri, you packing?" They locked eyes -- Dom knew he carried a gun although he would have denied it in most every situation. Brian pulled a small gun out of a holster under his jeans. "Since this shit started, yeah. Mia's been jumpy." They walked downstairs and Vince and Dom split up and searched the first floor -- kitchen, living room, dining room, all closets. They went up the stairs slowly. Dom pointed to the guest bedroom and Vince took it while Dom went into the computer room. Both those and the bathroom were untouched. He walked into his bedroom and it looked fine, at first glance. "Shit, Dom, do you see ....." "Yeah." There was a black rose on the bed, right where he and Nikki slept. Dom felt his blood boiling inside him. "See the camera over there -- the Polaroid? Take a snap of it and put both in that drawer in the dresser." While Vince did that, Dom walked into the bathroom -- another rose in the shower. He called Vince in to take a picture of it. Now the nursery. This was going to give him a heart attack -- he was sure of it. Brian and Leon came up, telling Dom that nothing was downstairs or out of place -- just a self-defense video playing and some weights dropped -- two 4 pounders so they figured Nikki was working out. Dom let the idea of a self-defense video go through his head and stored it away for later. At the nursery door, it was still flung open. The dog was laying just inside, as Nikki had described. "That is one ugly fucking thing." Vince said and they all stared at it as if it was going to move. Dom turned off the motion detector and walked into the room. He didn't want to look in the crib but had to -- and knew what he would see before he did. "Well, that bitch came packing, too." There was another black rose along with a typed note. Dom read it without picking it up.
SHE SHOULD HAVE BEEN MINE, DOM, AND WE BOTH KNOW IT.
"I already got the camera, dude." Vince took a picture of the dog and then of what was in the crib and picked up the rose and note and put them in the dresser. The rest of the room was fine and Dom picked up the dog. "Let's take this nasty thing outside." They walked downstairs after Dom reset the motion detector and stopped to get a large kitchen knife. He sliced the ugly dog open, not even knowing what he might find and when there was nothing, he just started slashing it, cutting himself, until Brian and Vince restrained him. "Hurting yourself isn't going to help Nikki calm down." Leon came out with a garbage bag and put the dog into it. "Dom, give me your keys to the garage." Dom tossed them to him and Leon put the bag in where the charger used to be. He shut the door and relocked it. Brian brought four Corona's and the first aid kit out of the kitchen and they sat around the table. "Did Jesse find Lizbeth?" "Not yet, but he will -- I swear, that boy can find anyone and anything." Dom said, cleaning up his arm and finger. "Three times -- I was with her three times and not again. I told her it was over, I was kind to her -- I didn't treat her like trash. I fucking even told her at the beginning before we did anything I wasn't looking for a full-time thing or a girlfriend." "You already had one." Vince said, but he had a smile on his face. "Yeah, Letty girl -- she's a good girl, Vince. You treat her only about one thousand times better than I did." Suddenly Dom's cell phone rang. It was Nikki and he told her that everything was okay and he'd be back at the garage in a few minutes. "Let's get the hell out of here. Lock her up tight, guys." They left, cars roaring down the street, Dom's mind working hard. How was he going to protect his wife and baby from a woman he couldn't find? A woman who had the balls to be in his house when they were both home, when his wife was home?
CHAPTER 9
That night Nikki and Dom cuddled in bed, both wide awake. He didn't tell her about the roses, just about the dog. He also didn't mention the guns. "I saw that you were using a self-defense tape." "Yeah." "Nik -- this bitch is not physically going to go after either one of us, I truly believe that, or after Daisy. She's had opportunity, but didn't take it." "How did she get in this time? We have all new locks and the team are taking care of their keys?" Dom was quiet, he just didn't have an answer for this. He knew he had checked all of the doors and windows and nothing was capable of being opened easily. "I don't know, baby. All I can figure is that we somehow left a door or window unlocked or she has the ability to jimmy a window." Dom nuzzled his face into her hair and she kissed his shoulder, running her fingers up the back of his neck. He moaned and looked up at her. "I was thinking something. Why don't we go on vacation -- just the three of us? We'll pack up and go to Mexico or fly out east -- just go." "No way." Dom was shocked at her answer, he thought she'd jump on it. "I am not, absolutely not letting some little slut scare me out of my own house. She can scare me but not make me run -- it's gonna take more than this." Dom smiled at her -- she could be so frightened and yet so territorial and so tough. He admired that so much in her. "Nik, there is a race tomorrow night and I'm going to go." "Are you racing?" Nikki felt her blood run cold -- she would never tell him not to do it, but it made her think of how his father had died. "Hell no -- with you and Daisy to take care of, with boys to beat up in the future, with a wife to fuck every night?" They both laughed. "I want to look for Lizbeth -- Jesse is having trouble finding her." "I'll go with you -- we'll leave the baby with Mia." "No, I think I should ...." "Yeah, go alone and no, you aren't and don't even try and give me a shit load of reasons because I'm coming with you or I'll drive myself over there." "You don't even know where the race is." He was laughing -- she was so damn tough with him, she handled him so well and he loved her for it. "Like I couldn't charm it out of Jesse or Vince or Leon or Brian. Please, don't even play that." Dom started to slowly untie the lace that held her nightgown together. "You are one charming little spoiled woman. That's the problem, you know -- you need a good spanking." She laughed and pushed him away. "You spank me, you aren't gonna be using that thing you admire so much for a long, long time." He laughed and edged his way back to the lace tie, pulling more of it apart. "Nikki, Nikki, Nikki -- we both know you are spoiled. I can't say no to you -- what man could?? Damn, woman, look at this fine body!!" He had the tie opened now, revealing her breasts and stomach down to her waist. He pushed it open further and kissed her stomach. "I still can't believe that incredible person we created together grew here. I'm amazed by you, Nikki -- everything about you amazes me still." She caressed his head and then the phone rang. "Damnit." He reached around her and picked it up -- no one was on the line. Dom hung up and did a *69 and it said the call was untraceable. "Don't even start this shit." "No one there, huh?" Nikki sat up in bed, pulling the sheet up around her. "I'm going to check on the baby." "Turn off the motion detector, babe." The phone rang again and then again. He was yelling into it that she needed to stop this shit and get a life. He finally took the phone off the hook after the 10th ring and put his head in his hands, sitting up in bed. Why did things have to be so screwy? Lizbeth was nothing to him, she never had been and now she was playing with them. He was so infuriated and ..... Dom's thoughts were suddenly halted when he felt his wife's tongue slowly moving up the back of his neck and to his scalp. She licked him slowly and he moaned, reaching back for her. "God, Nikki, I fucking love when you do that. C'mere." He pulled her on top of him and kissed her long and hard. "I love you, I love you." "Oh, Dom ... don't stop, don't stop loving me, don't stop touching me, don't stop any of this -- not ever."
CHAPTER 10
Dominic and Nikki dropped Daisy off at Brian and Mia's without telling them where they were going. They both had their cell phones and privately, Dom made sure Brian had his weapon and that it was loaded. They had borrowed Leon's race car because he wasn't going to go tonight and wanted to fit in as much as possible. "Describe her to me." "Fuck. Um, she had long blonde hair and big tits, " "Naturally." "No, honey, not nature, silicone." They both laughed. "She was about five foot four and around one hundred pounds -- I suppose that's why she needed the silicone -- too skinny. I have no idea what color her eyes were." "Was she a natural blonde?" "NIK!" He hated this conversation -- they never discussed past lovers, they kept all that in the past. "No, why?" "Because she might be a brunette now. Would you recognize her if she was?" He realized that Nikki was more than serious about this -- she was determined to find this woman. "I think so -- she made herself known at the races so if she is back, and I'm sure she is, she's probably the same way. Tight clothes, mini skirts, high heels -- basic skank as Letty called her more than once to her face." Dom wished he hadn't hurt Letty as much as he had -- he did love her but never felt passion for her. The sex was good but she never touched his soul. With Nikki, even if the sex had to stop for some reason, his soul would still crave her. Dom pulled the car between the large buildings and Nikki was amazed at what she was seeing. The amount of cars and people -- at least 50 cars and 100 people or more. She couldn't believe it. She had never been to a race like this in her life and was stunned. And to think that Dom had been the king of these streets before he gave it up. He was smiling and she stared at him. "Do you miss it -- the racing? The glory?" He thought it over for a minute. "Sometimes. It was a big adrenaline rush, you know? And no one could beat me and that was pretty cool. But if I weigh the consequences, no, I don't. I love what I have right now. Did I ever tell you why I raced?" He glanced at her as they drove slowly through the crowd, people tried to see in the windows and figured it was Leon. "I remember Brian saying something about you feeling free -- the only time you felt free." "Yeah, but it isn't like that anymore. The day we met at that casino I felt totally free for the first time, totally alive and this .... this adrenaline and glory didn't compare with what I was looking at." She leaned over and kissed his cheek, whispering her love for him. "Dom, don't ever hold back for me -- not ever. Promise you won't. If you want to race again, don't ..." "Nik, I watched him burn to death. Daisy will never go through that and neither will you. End of the story, okay?" They got out of the car and Dom was immediately surrounded and lost in the crowd. People were practically cheering his name. My god, he was the king of the streets, she thought to herself. Nikki felt herself being pushed and moved so people could get to him. She heard Dom's throaty laughter and smiled as she leaned against the car, looking for Lizbeth. "Hi, aren't you Nikki?" A man came over and she smiled at him. "I'm Hector -- remember, we met once at Harry's -- you were pregnant -- really pregnant in fact!" They both laughed. "I remember. How are you, Hector? It's good to see you again." "I'm great, but how are you? Was it a boy or a girl?" Nikki felt her back go up -- she didn't want to discuss her baby here. She was suddenly frightened and wanted Dom. "I'm good -- Hector, can you help me get through this crowd to Dom?" He smiled and grabbed her hand, leading her way. "Mrs. Toretto coming through -- step aside -- the queen of the street's king!" Nikki laughed and was pleased to be put right in front of her husband. Dominic lifted her right into the air. "See what you get when you stop racing?" Everyone yelled and cheered and she kissed him. "Now you know and you can stop asking -- we're just here to enjoy the sights." The crowd started to disburse as people started making their bets. Nikki was amazed at the incredible cars, the different people, the huge amounts of money being bet. "What is the most you ever won in a race?" "In one race?" She nodded, leaning her back against his chest. "Each one of us bet ten large -- there were four cars." "Holy shit!" She laughed. "Dominic, is she here?" "I haven't seen her yet or asked. I didn't want to scare her off if she is around, and I'll bet you she is." His arms were still wrapped tight around her, hung low on her waist. "Hector asked about the baby -- I didn't want to tell him. I hate feeling like this -- scared, protective, pissed off -- all at the same time." "Babe, do you still have that butterfly knife? I know you said you'd throw it away after that shit with Johnny Tran, but do you?" She nodded. "It's in my back pocket." Dominic reached around and felt the knife and then her ass. She giggled and turned to him and he lifted her again and kissed her, passionately. "What was that for?" "A little show in case we're being watched by our visitor." They kissed again and Dom put her down gently. "And, cuz I wanted to -- you got a problem with that, Mrs. T?" "Absolutely not." She leaned against him again and the race was decided. "Are we going?" "Do you want ...." Suddenly his cell phone rang. He ducked toward the back of the car to hear. Nikki stood watching the crowd and as everyone started to get into cars to go and race. It was amazing and she now totally understood how much he must have loved it. She turned and Dom was gone. She was absolutely still and totally paralyzed with fear when she suddenly saw him in the car. She remembered he was having trouble with his phone battery and plugged it into the lighter. She walked over to her side and stopped. Spray painted in hot pink on her side of Leon's car was the word BITCH in huge letters. She knocked on the window and Dom held his hand up. Nikki knocked again and this time he got out. "That was Jesse and he .... what's wrong?" "She was here." "Who -- no honey, she wasn't. Jesse found out that Lizbeth died three months ago from some sort of cancer." "Dom -- come over here." Dom walked around the car and stopped. He reached into Nikki's back pocket and pulled out her cell. He dialed Mia's house. "Brian take the baby and Mia and drive to the garage. Use your key, go in and lock up and don't turn any lights on. No, I'll explain when I get there. Call everyone else and tell them to meet us there. What? Oh, I didn't know that -- how long has she been gone? When is she coming back? Good, tell her to be there." He hung up. "Nikki, Nikki?" She was staring at the car in shock. "NIK!" "What? We need to get home to the baby and ..." "Get in the car now." He opened the door and a dozen of the black roses fell out. He didn't even see them because they were between the door and the passenger seat. She backed up so fast she almost fell and he caught her with one arm. He made sure all the roses were out, physically put her in the car and picked them up gently. He put them in the back and took off for the garage. She wasn't saying a word. "We're going to the garage -- Brian is there with the baby and everyone." "Did I hear you say that Lizbeth is dead?" She was totally lost in thought and completely terrified. There was no way he was taking her back to the house tonight. "Yeah, cancer three months gone. Nikki, are you okay?" "NO, I'm not fucking okay!! There is a psycho who is playing mind games with us and you and I are just bait and god knows what our baby is to her or him. Fuck. This person was at the race, was right next to the car we were leaning on and managed to do this shit. This isn't some sort of crime of passion or jealousy or revenge -- this is sick." He put his hand on her leg and she was tempted, just for a moment to push it off. She was so angry and then burst into tears. He pulled the car over and pulled her into his arms. She cried and hugged him and soon flipped the button on the seat to make it slide back, she straddled him, and it was hot and wild, both of them covered in sweat -- it was almost violent. "Wow -- that was ..." "Yeah, it was." He just looked at her, still on top of him. Her skirt was pushed up, her blouse was actually torn open and he had scratches that would take a week to heal, but this was nothing like the night they got pregnant with Daisy -- this was a release of fear and terror and energy they couldn't use the way they needed to. "I love you, baby." When she just stared at him and didn't say anything back, it triggered something in his head, something way in the back of his mind. This was like a puzzle coming together so slowly it was driving him crazy. "Nikki, I said ..." "I love you, Dom, I love you so much. You and Daisy are my entire life. I am wiped out from that -- you are, without a doubt, the greatest lover -- even when it isn't exactly .... well, I don't know what exactly that was but it was damn incredible." He laughed into her ear. "I wanted to go directly to the garage but I think we're gonna have to get you changed. Sorry I ripped that right off you." "You are not." He smiled at her with that smile she absolutely could not resist. "No, I'm not -- you got great tits, kiddo." She slid off him and he drove them to the house. She ran up the front steps, trying to hold her blouse together and having little luck. "Been ravaged by an animal, Mrs. Toretto?" He asked and she pushed him and he pulled her to him and kissed her with the same passion, but with all the sweetness they left out before. "Oh, that's a common occurrence around here, Mr. Toretto." Dominic opened the door and stopped and Nikki walked right into his back. Their entire living room was covered in the same pink spray paint. "What?" She walked around him and he tried to stop her, even lifting her and taking her outside. "Nothing -- let's just go and I'll give you a tee-shirt at the garage. I want to see the baby." "You can never lie to me, not even about something small and you know that. You certainly can't lie to me about something big." She rushed past him and stopped in the middle of the living room. "Oh my god." The words on their walls were of pure hatred, calling both Nikki and Dom horrible names, threats and up the stairs on the wall it said "DAISY, DAISY, DAISY". Nikki started to scream and Dom called Brian immediately. "Are you with everyone? Stay there. No, she'll be okay -- I'll explain when we get there." Dom grabbed Nikki and shook her and she stopped screaming. "The baby is fine. Let's get changed and go. Upstairs Nikki ran to the nursery -- it was destroyed -- the crib was upside down, the wallpaper pulled off the walls, the rocker slashed to pieces, all the toys and stuffed animals were destroyed. Dom lifted his wife and took her into their bedroom but stopped. He pushed her against the wall and held her tightly there. "What is it?" The flash of anger in his eyes was so vicious that she stayed still. "Come with me." He took her into the guest room and sat her on the bed. "Don't move Nik, I mean it." He came back with one of his tee-shirts and a pair of her shorts. "Get dressed and I'll be right back. Do not come into that room." He left her and Nikki got dressed slowly, wondering what had frightened and infuriated him so greatly. Dom walked back into their bedroom. He read the message three times. Why had she done this? It was so obvious now -- the notes, the flowers, the dog. It all made sense -- why the hell hadn't he put it all together sooner?? What had happened to her to make her snap like this? Dom grabbed the cell phone again and called Brian. "Brian, I want you to do exactly what I'm telling you and don't ask any questions. I need you, brother. Take the baby, put her in your car and leave Mia and everyone at the garage. Drive to the store and Nik and I will meet you there. No, don't bring Mia -- don't even talk to them -- just tell them you need formula or diapers or some shit. Now, Brian. Right now." Dom hung up and walked back to his wife. "Let's go get our daughter."
It was late afternoon and Nikki was in the basement, the baby monitor with the motion detector on one hip and the monitor screen set up where she could see it. She had no music playing as she normally would -- she wanted to hear every sound in the house. She was working on her arms, using Dominic's lightest weights. She was using a video with the sound off -- it was a self-defense, muscle building video -- and she hoped she would never need any of the tricks they were teaching. She was just at the beginning, the weight training. The video got a lot more complex as it went on, she had read on the back -- straight to how to physically defend yourself against a man that outweighed you by one hundred pounds. Sorta made her laugh though, that was her husband -- Dominic was exactly one hundred pounds heavier than she was. She weighed one hundred and twenty-five before the baby and was one hundred and twenty-five now, although the weight was distributed differently. Dom loved it and that was what mattered. Suddenly the baby monitor went off -- the motion detector and she sprinted up the stairs, her heart beating so hard she could hear it in her ears. Her little girl ..... her Daisy. She flung the door open and everything was silent ... and then she saw it ..... there was a stuffed dog just inside the room. The movement sensor was beeping -- whoever had been in here had been frightened by the sound and left. She ran to the baby's crib, terrified her daughter would be gone, but she was sleeping soundly. Nikki picked her up and put her into her car seat, driving as carefully but as fast as possible to Dom. He was at the garage and she still couldn't stop her heart from screaming in her ears. She pulled up and flung her door open. "DOMINIC!!!" Everyone came running over except her husband. "WHERE IS HE??" "Honey, what's going on?? Dom went to Harry's for parts." Vince said, trying to take her in his arms. Jesse got into the car with the now screaming baby and lifted her out of the car seat and grabbed a bottle of milk from the diaper bag. Nikki pushed away from Vince and yanked her cell phone out of her purse. She dialed his number and heard it ring in the garage. "He must have forgotten it. What's up, honey?" "I need him right now, V. Right now!" Vince didn't say another word, he jumped into his car and took off. "Oh my God, it was so ugly and with my baby and ....." "Nikki, get it together, girl!! What is going on??" Letty was almost shaking her, a look of love and concern on her face. "I was in the basement and I had the baby monitor and didn't see anything but suddenly the ......" The sound of a race car came roaring into the garage. Dom got out with a look of fear on his face and Nikki sprinted across the ground and was up and into his arms. "She was in the house again, she was in the baby's room!!" She was screaming again and Dom put her down. "Where's Daisy?" "With Jesse in the car, Dom. He's giving her a bottle. Looks like she just woke up from a nap." Letty said, her arm around Vince's waist. Nikki was shaking so hard that Dom had to restrain her with his arms. "Shhhh, shhhh, baby, she's okay, it's okay." Nikki started to cry. "Tell me what happened. Leon, will you get her something cold to drink, please?" Leon brought back a bottle of water while Dom held and rocked her in his arms as if she was a child. "Okay, it's okay." Nikki drank a lot of the water, taking breaths in between. "What happened?" "I was in the basement and had the monitor and the motion detector and I didn't see anything in the baby's room -- my back must have been turned or something. Anyway, suddenly the motion detector went off and I ran up the stairs and threw open the baby's door and ...." Nikki started to cry harder and he pulled her to him again, hugging her tight. He could actually feel her heart beating through her breasts, through their clothes, right into his chest. She was absolutely petrified. "There was this stuffed dog right in the room and the motion detector was beeping. It must have scared her off. And I ran to the baby and ... oh God, Dom, she was just sleeping as peaceful as ever. That thing was in our child's room." Nikki was breathing too hard and he lifted her and carried her into the coolness of the garage office, motioning for Jesse to bring the baby. He took Daisy, who giggled at her Daddy and kissed her all over. Leon put his arms around Nikki and encouraged her to drink some more water and try and relax. "Honey, I think this little girl wants her mommy so you need to settle down. Can you do that for her and for me?" She nodded her head slowly, trying to get her breathing under control. Nikki reached for her daughter and put her on her shoulder, rocking her much the same way Dom was rocking her just a few minutes ago. Daisy was sound asleep within minutes. "Did you touch the dog?" "No!! It's so ugly -- Dom, it isn't a toy you'd give to a child -- it is like the black rose -- it's fucking vicious looking." Suddenly a look came over Nikki's face and everyone saw it. Dom reached down and grabbed the baby and handed her to Brian, who put her right back to sleep. "Oh my god ..... oh my god, Dominic." He pulled her up and took her back outside away from the baby. "Talk to me, lover." "She was in the fucking house when I was in the baby's room. The motion detector had just gone off -- I was up those stairs within seconds. She must have ducked into our bedroom or the bathroom. She could still be in our house -- I don't even know if I shut the door." Dom stared at her and pulled her tight against his chest. She listened as he yelled, the sound vibrating from him and through her. "Jesse, Vince, Leon, Brian, come here now." They all ran out and he asked where Daisy was. Brian told him that Letty and Mia had her. "Okay, we're all going over to the house. There's a good chance that bitch might still be in the house. Jess, I want you to stay with the girls and the baby, okay? Don't let anything happen to my daughter." "You know I'd die for her, Dom, she's my Goddaughter." Dom smiled at him and pulled Nikki away from his chest. "Go in with Jesse and take care of Daisy. I'm gonna fix everything, okay?" She just nodded and went inside. The guys got into two race cars and took off for Dom's house.
CHAPTER 8
Nikki was right -- she had left the front door wide open. They walked up slowly and Dom stopped them. He walked to his truck and opened it and got a gun out of the glove compartment, making sure it was loaded. Vince grabbed a shotgun from the back of his own car. "I can't fucking believe this is happening." They walked inside slowly. "If you are in my house, I suggest you come out of wherever you are right now because if I find you, I'm going to blow your brains out." Dom yelled and it was totally quiet in the house. He saw the motion detector on the floor -- it must have been flung out of Nikki's hand and picked it up. It was still beeping. "Brian and Leon, check downstairs and out back, Vince and I will go up. Bri, you packing?" They locked eyes -- Dom knew he carried a gun although he would have denied it in most every situation. Brian pulled a small gun out of a holster under his jeans. "Since this shit started, yeah. Mia's been jumpy." They walked downstairs and Vince and Dom split up and searched the first floor -- kitchen, living room, dining room, all closets. They went up the stairs slowly. Dom pointed to the guest bedroom and Vince took it while Dom went into the computer room. Both those and the bathroom were untouched. He walked into his bedroom and it looked fine, at first glance. "Shit, Dom, do you see ....." "Yeah." There was a black rose on the bed, right where he and Nikki slept. Dom felt his blood boiling inside him. "See the camera over there -- the Polaroid? Take a snap of it and put both in that drawer in the dresser." While Vince did that, Dom walked into the bathroom -- another rose in the shower. He called Vince in to take a picture of it. Now the nursery. This was going to give him a heart attack -- he was sure of it. Brian and Leon came up, telling Dom that nothing was downstairs or out of place -- just a self-defense video playing and some weights dropped -- two 4 pounders so they figured Nikki was working out. Dom let the idea of a self-defense video go through his head and stored it away for later. At the nursery door, it was still flung open. The dog was laying just inside, as Nikki had described. "That is one ugly fucking thing." Vince said and they all stared at it as if it was going to move. Dom turned off the motion detector and walked into the room. He didn't want to look in the crib but had to -- and knew what he would see before he did. "Well, that bitch came packing, too." There was another black rose along with a typed note. Dom read it without picking it up.
SHE SHOULD HAVE BEEN MINE, DOM, AND WE BOTH KNOW IT.
"I already got the camera, dude." Vince took a picture of the dog and then of what was in the crib and picked up the rose and note and put them in the dresser. The rest of the room was fine and Dom picked up the dog. "Let's take this nasty thing outside." They walked downstairs after Dom reset the motion detector and stopped to get a large kitchen knife. He sliced the ugly dog open, not even knowing what he might find and when there was nothing, he just started slashing it, cutting himself, until Brian and Vince restrained him. "Hurting yourself isn't going to help Nikki calm down." Leon came out with a garbage bag and put the dog into it. "Dom, give me your keys to the garage." Dom tossed them to him and Leon put the bag in where the charger used to be. He shut the door and relocked it. Brian brought four Corona's and the first aid kit out of the kitchen and they sat around the table. "Did Jesse find Lizbeth?" "Not yet, but he will -- I swear, that boy can find anyone and anything." Dom said, cleaning up his arm and finger. "Three times -- I was with her three times and not again. I told her it was over, I was kind to her -- I didn't treat her like trash. I fucking even told her at the beginning before we did anything I wasn't looking for a full-time thing or a girlfriend." "You already had one." Vince said, but he had a smile on his face. "Yeah, Letty girl -- she's a good girl, Vince. You treat her only about one thousand times better than I did." Suddenly Dom's cell phone rang. It was Nikki and he told her that everything was okay and he'd be back at the garage in a few minutes. "Let's get the hell out of here. Lock her up tight, guys." They left, cars roaring down the street, Dom's mind working hard. How was he going to protect his wife and baby from a woman he couldn't find? A woman who had the balls to be in his house when they were both home, when his wife was home?
CHAPTER 9
That night Nikki and Dom cuddled in bed, both wide awake. He didn't tell her about the roses, just about the dog. He also didn't mention the guns. "I saw that you were using a self-defense tape." "Yeah." "Nik -- this bitch is not physically going to go after either one of us, I truly believe that, or after Daisy. She's had opportunity, but didn't take it." "How did she get in this time? We have all new locks and the team are taking care of their keys?" Dom was quiet, he just didn't have an answer for this. He knew he had checked all of the doors and windows and nothing was capable of being opened easily. "I don't know, baby. All I can figure is that we somehow left a door or window unlocked or she has the ability to jimmy a window." Dom nuzzled his face into her hair and she kissed his shoulder, running her fingers up the back of his neck. He moaned and looked up at her. "I was thinking something. Why don't we go on vacation -- just the three of us? We'll pack up and go to Mexico or fly out east -- just go." "No way." Dom was shocked at her answer, he thought she'd jump on it. "I am not, absolutely not letting some little slut scare me out of my own house. She can scare me but not make me run -- it's gonna take more than this." Dom smiled at her -- she could be so frightened and yet so territorial and so tough. He admired that so much in her. "Nik, there is a race tomorrow night and I'm going to go." "Are you racing?" Nikki felt her blood run cold -- she would never tell him not to do it, but it made her think of how his father had died. "Hell no -- with you and Daisy to take care of, with boys to beat up in the future, with a wife to fuck every night?" They both laughed. "I want to look for Lizbeth -- Jesse is having trouble finding her." "I'll go with you -- we'll leave the baby with Mia." "No, I think I should ...." "Yeah, go alone and no, you aren't and don't even try and give me a shit load of reasons because I'm coming with you or I'll drive myself over there." "You don't even know where the race is." He was laughing -- she was so damn tough with him, she handled him so well and he loved her for it. "Like I couldn't charm it out of Jesse or Vince or Leon or Brian. Please, don't even play that." Dom started to slowly untie the lace that held her nightgown together. "You are one charming little spoiled woman. That's the problem, you know -- you need a good spanking." She laughed and pushed him away. "You spank me, you aren't gonna be using that thing you admire so much for a long, long time." He laughed and edged his way back to the lace tie, pulling more of it apart. "Nikki, Nikki, Nikki -- we both know you are spoiled. I can't say no to you -- what man could?? Damn, woman, look at this fine body!!" He had the tie opened now, revealing her breasts and stomach down to her waist. He pushed it open further and kissed her stomach. "I still can't believe that incredible person we created together grew here. I'm amazed by you, Nikki -- everything about you amazes me still." She caressed his head and then the phone rang. "Damnit." He reached around her and picked it up -- no one was on the line. Dom hung up and did a *69 and it said the call was untraceable. "Don't even start this shit." "No one there, huh?" Nikki sat up in bed, pulling the sheet up around her. "I'm going to check on the baby." "Turn off the motion detector, babe." The phone rang again and then again. He was yelling into it that she needed to stop this shit and get a life. He finally took the phone off the hook after the 10th ring and put his head in his hands, sitting up in bed. Why did things have to be so screwy? Lizbeth was nothing to him, she never had been and now she was playing with them. He was so infuriated and ..... Dom's thoughts were suddenly halted when he felt his wife's tongue slowly moving up the back of his neck and to his scalp. She licked him slowly and he moaned, reaching back for her. "God, Nikki, I fucking love when you do that. C'mere." He pulled her on top of him and kissed her long and hard. "I love you, I love you." "Oh, Dom ... don't stop, don't stop loving me, don't stop touching me, don't stop any of this -- not ever."
CHAPTER 10
Dominic and Nikki dropped Daisy off at Brian and Mia's without telling them where they were going. They both had their cell phones and privately, Dom made sure Brian had his weapon and that it was loaded. They had borrowed Leon's race car because he wasn't going to go tonight and wanted to fit in as much as possible. "Describe her to me." "Fuck. Um, she had long blonde hair and big tits, " "Naturally." "No, honey, not nature, silicone." They both laughed. "She was about five foot four and around one hundred pounds -- I suppose that's why she needed the silicone -- too skinny. I have no idea what color her eyes were." "Was she a natural blonde?" "NIK!" He hated this conversation -- they never discussed past lovers, they kept all that in the past. "No, why?" "Because she might be a brunette now. Would you recognize her if she was?" He realized that Nikki was more than serious about this -- she was determined to find this woman. "I think so -- she made herself known at the races so if she is back, and I'm sure she is, she's probably the same way. Tight clothes, mini skirts, high heels -- basic skank as Letty called her more than once to her face." Dom wished he hadn't hurt Letty as much as he had -- he did love her but never felt passion for her. The sex was good but she never touched his soul. With Nikki, even if the sex had to stop for some reason, his soul would still crave her. Dom pulled the car between the large buildings and Nikki was amazed at what she was seeing. The amount of cars and people -- at least 50 cars and 100 people or more. She couldn't believe it. She had never been to a race like this in her life and was stunned. And to think that Dom had been the king of these streets before he gave it up. He was smiling and she stared at him. "Do you miss it -- the racing? The glory?" He thought it over for a minute. "Sometimes. It was a big adrenaline rush, you know? And no one could beat me and that was pretty cool. But if I weigh the consequences, no, I don't. I love what I have right now. Did I ever tell you why I raced?" He glanced at her as they drove slowly through the crowd, people tried to see in the windows and figured it was Leon. "I remember Brian saying something about you feeling free -- the only time you felt free." "Yeah, but it isn't like that anymore. The day we met at that casino I felt totally free for the first time, totally alive and this .... this adrenaline and glory didn't compare with what I was looking at." She leaned over and kissed his cheek, whispering her love for him. "Dom, don't ever hold back for me -- not ever. Promise you won't. If you want to race again, don't ..." "Nik, I watched him burn to death. Daisy will never go through that and neither will you. End of the story, okay?" They got out of the car and Dom was immediately surrounded and lost in the crowd. People were practically cheering his name. My god, he was the king of the streets, she thought to herself. Nikki felt herself being pushed and moved so people could get to him. She heard Dom's throaty laughter and smiled as she leaned against the car, looking for Lizbeth. "Hi, aren't you Nikki?" A man came over and she smiled at him. "I'm Hector -- remember, we met once at Harry's -- you were pregnant -- really pregnant in fact!" They both laughed. "I remember. How are you, Hector? It's good to see you again." "I'm great, but how are you? Was it a boy or a girl?" Nikki felt her back go up -- she didn't want to discuss her baby here. She was suddenly frightened and wanted Dom. "I'm good -- Hector, can you help me get through this crowd to Dom?" He smiled and grabbed her hand, leading her way. "Mrs. Toretto coming through -- step aside -- the queen of the street's king!" Nikki laughed and was pleased to be put right in front of her husband. Dominic lifted her right into the air. "See what you get when you stop racing?" Everyone yelled and cheered and she kissed him. "Now you know and you can stop asking -- we're just here to enjoy the sights." The crowd started to disburse as people started making their bets. Nikki was amazed at the incredible cars, the different people, the huge amounts of money being bet. "What is the most you ever won in a race?" "In one race?" She nodded, leaning her back against his chest. "Each one of us bet ten large -- there were four cars." "Holy shit!" She laughed. "Dominic, is she here?" "I haven't seen her yet or asked. I didn't want to scare her off if she is around, and I'll bet you she is." His arms were still wrapped tight around her, hung low on her waist. "Hector asked about the baby -- I didn't want to tell him. I hate feeling like this -- scared, protective, pissed off -- all at the same time." "Babe, do you still have that butterfly knife? I know you said you'd throw it away after that shit with Johnny Tran, but do you?" She nodded. "It's in my back pocket." Dominic reached around and felt the knife and then her ass. She giggled and turned to him and he lifted her again and kissed her, passionately. "What was that for?" "A little show in case we're being watched by our visitor." They kissed again and Dom put her down gently. "And, cuz I wanted to -- you got a problem with that, Mrs. T?" "Absolutely not." She leaned against him again and the race was decided. "Are we going?" "Do you want ...." Suddenly his cell phone rang. He ducked toward the back of the car to hear. Nikki stood watching the crowd and as everyone started to get into cars to go and race. It was amazing and she now totally understood how much he must have loved it. She turned and Dom was gone. She was absolutely still and totally paralyzed with fear when she suddenly saw him in the car. She remembered he was having trouble with his phone battery and plugged it into the lighter. She walked over to her side and stopped. Spray painted in hot pink on her side of Leon's car was the word BITCH in huge letters. She knocked on the window and Dom held his hand up. Nikki knocked again and this time he got out. "That was Jesse and he .... what's wrong?" "She was here." "Who -- no honey, she wasn't. Jesse found out that Lizbeth died three months ago from some sort of cancer." "Dom -- come over here." Dom walked around the car and stopped. He reached into Nikki's back pocket and pulled out her cell. He dialed Mia's house. "Brian take the baby and Mia and drive to the garage. Use your key, go in and lock up and don't turn any lights on. No, I'll explain when I get there. Call everyone else and tell them to meet us there. What? Oh, I didn't know that -- how long has she been gone? When is she coming back? Good, tell her to be there." He hung up. "Nikki, Nikki?" She was staring at the car in shock. "NIK!" "What? We need to get home to the baby and ..." "Get in the car now." He opened the door and a dozen of the black roses fell out. He didn't even see them because they were between the door and the passenger seat. She backed up so fast she almost fell and he caught her with one arm. He made sure all the roses were out, physically put her in the car and picked them up gently. He put them in the back and took off for the garage. She wasn't saying a word. "We're going to the garage -- Brian is there with the baby and everyone." "Did I hear you say that Lizbeth is dead?" She was totally lost in thought and completely terrified. There was no way he was taking her back to the house tonight. "Yeah, cancer three months gone. Nikki, are you okay?" "NO, I'm not fucking okay!! There is a psycho who is playing mind games with us and you and I are just bait and god knows what our baby is to her or him. Fuck. This person was at the race, was right next to the car we were leaning on and managed to do this shit. This isn't some sort of crime of passion or jealousy or revenge -- this is sick." He put his hand on her leg and she was tempted, just for a moment to push it off. She was so angry and then burst into tears. He pulled the car over and pulled her into his arms. She cried and hugged him and soon flipped the button on the seat to make it slide back, she straddled him, and it was hot and wild, both of them covered in sweat -- it was almost violent. "Wow -- that was ..." "Yeah, it was." He just looked at her, still on top of him. Her skirt was pushed up, her blouse was actually torn open and he had scratches that would take a week to heal, but this was nothing like the night they got pregnant with Daisy -- this was a release of fear and terror and energy they couldn't use the way they needed to. "I love you, baby." When she just stared at him and didn't say anything back, it triggered something in his head, something way in the back of his mind. This was like a puzzle coming together so slowly it was driving him crazy. "Nikki, I said ..." "I love you, Dom, I love you so much. You and Daisy are my entire life. I am wiped out from that -- you are, without a doubt, the greatest lover -- even when it isn't exactly .... well, I don't know what exactly that was but it was damn incredible." He laughed into her ear. "I wanted to go directly to the garage but I think we're gonna have to get you changed. Sorry I ripped that right off you." "You are not." He smiled at her with that smile she absolutely could not resist. "No, I'm not -- you got great tits, kiddo." She slid off him and he drove them to the house. She ran up the front steps, trying to hold her blouse together and having little luck. "Been ravaged by an animal, Mrs. Toretto?" He asked and she pushed him and he pulled her to him and kissed her with the same passion, but with all the sweetness they left out before. "Oh, that's a common occurrence around here, Mr. Toretto." Dominic opened the door and stopped and Nikki walked right into his back. Their entire living room was covered in the same pink spray paint. "What?" She walked around him and he tried to stop her, even lifting her and taking her outside. "Nothing -- let's just go and I'll give you a tee-shirt at the garage. I want to see the baby." "You can never lie to me, not even about something small and you know that. You certainly can't lie to me about something big." She rushed past him and stopped in the middle of the living room. "Oh my god." The words on their walls were of pure hatred, calling both Nikki and Dom horrible names, threats and up the stairs on the wall it said "DAISY, DAISY, DAISY". Nikki started to scream and Dom called Brian immediately. "Are you with everyone? Stay there. No, she'll be okay -- I'll explain when we get there." Dom grabbed Nikki and shook her and she stopped screaming. "The baby is fine. Let's get changed and go. Upstairs Nikki ran to the nursery -- it was destroyed -- the crib was upside down, the wallpaper pulled off the walls, the rocker slashed to pieces, all the toys and stuffed animals were destroyed. Dom lifted his wife and took her into their bedroom but stopped. He pushed her against the wall and held her tightly there. "What is it?" The flash of anger in his eyes was so vicious that she stayed still. "Come with me." He took her into the guest room and sat her on the bed. "Don't move Nik, I mean it." He came back with one of his tee-shirts and a pair of her shorts. "Get dressed and I'll be right back. Do not come into that room." He left her and Nikki got dressed slowly, wondering what had frightened and infuriated him so greatly. Dom walked back into their bedroom. He read the message three times. Why had she done this? It was so obvious now -- the notes, the flowers, the dog. It all made sense -- why the hell hadn't he put it all together sooner?? What had happened to her to make her snap like this? Dom grabbed the cell phone again and called Brian. "Brian, I want you to do exactly what I'm telling you and don't ask any questions. I need you, brother. Take the baby, put her in your car and leave Mia and everyone at the garage. Drive to the store and Nik and I will meet you there. No, don't bring Mia -- don't even talk to them -- just tell them you need formula or diapers or some shit. Now, Brian. Right now." Dom hung up and walked back to his wife. "Let's go get our daughter."