Chapter 12
Leon's POV
Holy Shit!! This is the first time that the team is going to be together since the Race Wars, when Jesse races Tran.
Only thing is, it doesn't feel anything like the old team at all.
Trish is getting ready to go to her counseling appointment. With all that has happened, we forgot all about it. It actually is going to work out for the best. Dom and I talked and we think that it will be good to talk to Vince and Letty with out Trish there, to stir it all up. Damn she is just like her brother, but if she knew I said that, I think she would kill me in my sleep. So, I ain't coping to nothing.
"Leon, lets ride." She yell, as she comes running down the stairs.
"Already?"
"Move it man, or I'll be late."
Dom is laughing from his favorite chair.
"And just what is so funny there Dommy?"
Dom give Trish the evil look, for calling him Dommy in front of anyone else, and then he tells her: " It use to be Peanut, that we had to drag your ass out of this house to get you to go to these appointments, and now here you are, dragging Leon out to get there on time."
Trish sticks her tongue out at Dom. "Leon, come on."
I laugh as I get up. "Okay, okay. Let's go."
As Trish and I are headed out the front door, Vince comes out of the kitchen and says: "And just where the fucks do you think your going Trish?"
Trish, of course, ignores him and keeps walking.
"Patricia Marie!" Vince screams. Trish stops dead in her tracks. Slowly she turns around and looks at Vince as if she is going to rip his head off and shit down his throat.
"I asked you a question." Vince tells her.
"Yeah so..."
"Answer Me. Right Now." "Fuck You!"
"God damn it Trish."
"Shut the Fuck up Vincent Giovanni. Dom is my guardian. He is the one who took me in. He is the one who loves me. He is the one who took care of me and still takes care of me. He is the one who went to court and fought to have me be here and a part of this family. The judge put me in his custody not yours Vince. Why? Because you didn't want me. Hell I am your only sibling, and you didn't even recognize me. So fuck off Vince. It's none of your business. If Dom chooses to tell you, and I'll kill him if he does, than he will tell you, but don't for one more second think that I will ever willingly tell you a fucking thing. Are we crystal clear now? Good!"
"Trish." Vince started to say.
Trish just glared at Vince, as Dom stood up from his chair.
"Shut up both of you. Leon, take Trish, or she will be late. Vince go round everyone up its meeting time. Now, go."
Dom walked over to Trish as Vince went outside to get the others, and gave her a hug.
"Today is group to. I need a ride home at 4:30."
"Leon or I will be there. I promise."
"I know, I don't worry about that anymore."
"I love you Peanut."
"I love you to Dom."
"You okay?"
"I will be. Just have the rules set and known by the time I get back okay? And know this Dominic, I will never ever listen to either of them. They have no say in my life at all, and as far as I am concerned they are dead."
"Trish, we will work this all out when you get home. Just worry about group now ok?" Dom tells her and kisses her forehead.
"Lets go babe" I told her taking her hand and walking to the car. I open up the door for her to get in, giving her a kiss as she sits down and I close it. I turn to walk around the car, when I see Letty standing on the side of the house watching us, with her jaw on the ground. I give her a look telling her not to say a word, and she obviously knew it, because she turned around and went to the backyard with out a word. Trish has her sessions in a building not far from the house, so that it was easy to take her from either the house or the shop. She was so upset, and I didn't know what to say to make it all better, and that was frustrating the shit out of me. I just wanted to make it all better. I reached out and took her hand: "I love you baby."
She smiled for me, and said: "I love you Leon, so very much."
"You okay?"
"Not really, but group will help. I will be I promise."
"I wish there was some way I could make this all better Trish. I just want to help you."
"Leon, you're the biggest help of all. You give me strength. You are so good to me. I am so blessed to have you in my life. Last night, was the greatest gift I have ever received in my life Leon. You love me, and I will find a way to be worthy of your love. I got to go babe, I will see you after group." She told me as she kissed my cheek and got out of the car.
What the fuck was that suppose to mean. Find a way to be worthy of my love. She is, and well shit, what the hell am I going to do now, besides worry about that for the next 4 hours. Shit.
Back at the house 15 minutes later.
I walked into the front door, to find everyone sitting in the front room. Damn it I am not in the mood for this.
"What the fuck you doin' kissin my sister Leon?" Vince asks before I even have the door shut.
"Start shit much Letty?" I asked.
"Fuck you Leon," she tells me.
"No thanks, you've already done Dom and Vince, so I think ill pass."
Letty gets up and comes at me and Dom stands up and gets in between us.
"Stop this shit. NOW!"
I go and sit next to Mia on the couch who is sitting with Brian. Jesse is in the recliner next to Dom in his chair, and Letty and Vince are on the love seat.
This is going to be a fucking long after noon.
Dom's POV
The first hour is spent with me doing most of the talking. Explaining how Trish came to the house, what happened, the letter, etc.
When I had gotten Vince and Letty up to speed, I laid into them.
"So, what I want to know is why the fuck you two think its okay to screen my phone calls and fuck with Trish for all of those years."
I was greeted with only silence.
"Vince, this is your one and only chance to talk to me brother. Or your gone, and I don't ever want to see you again. I have never in my life wanted to kill you, until the day that your sister was in the hospital almost dead, and you could have prevented it. NOW FUCKING TELL ME."
"Look Dom, you have no right to judge anyone here. You don't know what Vince has been through." Letty started to say.
"Its okay Let, they got to know." Vince said with his head down.
Vince's POV
I knew that I was going to one day have to tell Dom about this. I just didn't want to and had hoped that I never would.
"When Dom and I met in the 3rd grade, Trish was just a few months old. Steve wasn't even in the picture yet. Mom was working two jobs to support her and us. I was never ever close to Trish. I would do my best to not be around her and refused straight up to take care of her. I hated her. A part of me still does. You see. "
Vince takes a deep breath, and Letty gently puts her arm around his shoulder trying to give him courage and strength to finish his story.
" My mom was a cocktail waitress in a biker bar, before you guys moved here and we met. She worked late hours, but the tips were good, so she stayed there to take care of me. One night one of the bikers gave mom a ride home when her car had broken down. I was only 8 maybe 9 years old. I woke up to mom's cries. She was begging this ass hole to just hurry up and leave, and not wake me up. I went out to see who was making my mom cry, and I see this ass hole on top of my mom with his pants down to his ankles, beating the crap out of her, because she is saying no. I ran over to this ass hole and started hitting him in the back, he just threw me against the wall and I passed out when I hit my head. Woke up to mom and me being in the hospital. 9 months later, Trish was born. Mom was always honest with me, and told me it was the biker who got her pregnant when he raped her. Dude was never caught. He skipped town and we never saw him again. My mom had another mouth to feed, and had to get two jobs to make the same as she did cocktailing, because she was too scared to go back. As far as I was concerned it was all Trish's fault. There was no one else to blame. Every time I see her I see that ass hole on top of my mom that night. Right or wrong, that is how it is and how it has been. When she kept calling I thought it was to bug you Dom to make good on your promise to let her come stay here. I was finally free of that daily reminder of not being there for my mom, and I didn't want her here. So I just kept hanging up on her. Letty was home one day when it happened. I started getting drunk, and told her the whole story. She agreed to help me until I could explain it all to you. Then Trish stopped calling. I never knew what was up, I didn't know about my mom, but to be honest, I would have left her with Steve."
"The fuck you would." Leon got up and started after me.
"Stop it Leon, he doesn't know." Mia held Leon's arm.
Leon started pacing and was like a caged animal.
"I don't know what Mia."
Mia looked at Dom, and he just nodded his head.
"Vince, the night of your mom's funeral, Steve raped Trish. That is why she ran away and has been living on the streets for the past 4 years. She was calling for help that last time that she called, and you hung up on her, and when she called back Letty hung up on her."
I though I had been kicked in the gut before, but I never knew how shitty I could feel. I betrayed my mother. I . oh my god. What the hell have I done. With out looking at anyone on the team, I got up and walked out to the back yard. I went to the picnic table and sat down. Momma what have I done, was all I could think.
After a while, Dom came out and sat next to me.
"Brother, you should have told me."
"Yeah, well its way to late now."
"Vince she is your sister, and she is our family, and she is stayin. You got to learn how to deal with this."
"Yeah, but how."
"One day at a time brother. one day at a time. We are all learning how to do this, day by day. Your sister has definitely stirred things up around here. But we all love her and she is one of us. She is part of our team. Just like you, just like Letty. We are all going to have to work together to get through this."
"So you don't still want to kick my ass?"
"Oh hell yes I do. but I won't. I am trying to understand Vince. I have never been in that position. So I can't judge how you felt or why you did what you did. Trish is hurt, and she is pissed as hell. You may not want to hear this, but you two are exactly alike, and I know that is going to do nothing but start shit with you two for quite awhile. but we will work through all of this. Together as a family."
"There is more that you need to know Dom."
"What the fuck else Vince. Fuck!"
"Letty and I came home, because. well. she is still in love with you, and we broke up."
Leon's POV
Holy Shit!! This is the first time that the team is going to be together since the Race Wars, when Jesse races Tran.
Only thing is, it doesn't feel anything like the old team at all.
Trish is getting ready to go to her counseling appointment. With all that has happened, we forgot all about it. It actually is going to work out for the best. Dom and I talked and we think that it will be good to talk to Vince and Letty with out Trish there, to stir it all up. Damn she is just like her brother, but if she knew I said that, I think she would kill me in my sleep. So, I ain't coping to nothing.
"Leon, lets ride." She yell, as she comes running down the stairs.
"Already?"
"Move it man, or I'll be late."
Dom is laughing from his favorite chair.
"And just what is so funny there Dommy?"
Dom give Trish the evil look, for calling him Dommy in front of anyone else, and then he tells her: " It use to be Peanut, that we had to drag your ass out of this house to get you to go to these appointments, and now here you are, dragging Leon out to get there on time."
Trish sticks her tongue out at Dom. "Leon, come on."
I laugh as I get up. "Okay, okay. Let's go."
As Trish and I are headed out the front door, Vince comes out of the kitchen and says: "And just where the fucks do you think your going Trish?"
Trish, of course, ignores him and keeps walking.
"Patricia Marie!" Vince screams. Trish stops dead in her tracks. Slowly she turns around and looks at Vince as if she is going to rip his head off and shit down his throat.
"I asked you a question." Vince tells her.
"Yeah so..."
"Answer Me. Right Now." "Fuck You!"
"God damn it Trish."
"Shut the Fuck up Vincent Giovanni. Dom is my guardian. He is the one who took me in. He is the one who loves me. He is the one who took care of me and still takes care of me. He is the one who went to court and fought to have me be here and a part of this family. The judge put me in his custody not yours Vince. Why? Because you didn't want me. Hell I am your only sibling, and you didn't even recognize me. So fuck off Vince. It's none of your business. If Dom chooses to tell you, and I'll kill him if he does, than he will tell you, but don't for one more second think that I will ever willingly tell you a fucking thing. Are we crystal clear now? Good!"
"Trish." Vince started to say.
Trish just glared at Vince, as Dom stood up from his chair.
"Shut up both of you. Leon, take Trish, or she will be late. Vince go round everyone up its meeting time. Now, go."
Dom walked over to Trish as Vince went outside to get the others, and gave her a hug.
"Today is group to. I need a ride home at 4:30."
"Leon or I will be there. I promise."
"I know, I don't worry about that anymore."
"I love you Peanut."
"I love you to Dom."
"You okay?"
"I will be. Just have the rules set and known by the time I get back okay? And know this Dominic, I will never ever listen to either of them. They have no say in my life at all, and as far as I am concerned they are dead."
"Trish, we will work this all out when you get home. Just worry about group now ok?" Dom tells her and kisses her forehead.
"Lets go babe" I told her taking her hand and walking to the car. I open up the door for her to get in, giving her a kiss as she sits down and I close it. I turn to walk around the car, when I see Letty standing on the side of the house watching us, with her jaw on the ground. I give her a look telling her not to say a word, and she obviously knew it, because she turned around and went to the backyard with out a word. Trish has her sessions in a building not far from the house, so that it was easy to take her from either the house or the shop. She was so upset, and I didn't know what to say to make it all better, and that was frustrating the shit out of me. I just wanted to make it all better. I reached out and took her hand: "I love you baby."
She smiled for me, and said: "I love you Leon, so very much."
"You okay?"
"Not really, but group will help. I will be I promise."
"I wish there was some way I could make this all better Trish. I just want to help you."
"Leon, you're the biggest help of all. You give me strength. You are so good to me. I am so blessed to have you in my life. Last night, was the greatest gift I have ever received in my life Leon. You love me, and I will find a way to be worthy of your love. I got to go babe, I will see you after group." She told me as she kissed my cheek and got out of the car.
What the fuck was that suppose to mean. Find a way to be worthy of my love. She is, and well shit, what the hell am I going to do now, besides worry about that for the next 4 hours. Shit.
Back at the house 15 minutes later.
I walked into the front door, to find everyone sitting in the front room. Damn it I am not in the mood for this.
"What the fuck you doin' kissin my sister Leon?" Vince asks before I even have the door shut.
"Start shit much Letty?" I asked.
"Fuck you Leon," she tells me.
"No thanks, you've already done Dom and Vince, so I think ill pass."
Letty gets up and comes at me and Dom stands up and gets in between us.
"Stop this shit. NOW!"
I go and sit next to Mia on the couch who is sitting with Brian. Jesse is in the recliner next to Dom in his chair, and Letty and Vince are on the love seat.
This is going to be a fucking long after noon.
Dom's POV
The first hour is spent with me doing most of the talking. Explaining how Trish came to the house, what happened, the letter, etc.
When I had gotten Vince and Letty up to speed, I laid into them.
"So, what I want to know is why the fuck you two think its okay to screen my phone calls and fuck with Trish for all of those years."
I was greeted with only silence.
"Vince, this is your one and only chance to talk to me brother. Or your gone, and I don't ever want to see you again. I have never in my life wanted to kill you, until the day that your sister was in the hospital almost dead, and you could have prevented it. NOW FUCKING TELL ME."
"Look Dom, you have no right to judge anyone here. You don't know what Vince has been through." Letty started to say.
"Its okay Let, they got to know." Vince said with his head down.
Vince's POV
I knew that I was going to one day have to tell Dom about this. I just didn't want to and had hoped that I never would.
"When Dom and I met in the 3rd grade, Trish was just a few months old. Steve wasn't even in the picture yet. Mom was working two jobs to support her and us. I was never ever close to Trish. I would do my best to not be around her and refused straight up to take care of her. I hated her. A part of me still does. You see. "
Vince takes a deep breath, and Letty gently puts her arm around his shoulder trying to give him courage and strength to finish his story.
" My mom was a cocktail waitress in a biker bar, before you guys moved here and we met. She worked late hours, but the tips were good, so she stayed there to take care of me. One night one of the bikers gave mom a ride home when her car had broken down. I was only 8 maybe 9 years old. I woke up to mom's cries. She was begging this ass hole to just hurry up and leave, and not wake me up. I went out to see who was making my mom cry, and I see this ass hole on top of my mom with his pants down to his ankles, beating the crap out of her, because she is saying no. I ran over to this ass hole and started hitting him in the back, he just threw me against the wall and I passed out when I hit my head. Woke up to mom and me being in the hospital. 9 months later, Trish was born. Mom was always honest with me, and told me it was the biker who got her pregnant when he raped her. Dude was never caught. He skipped town and we never saw him again. My mom had another mouth to feed, and had to get two jobs to make the same as she did cocktailing, because she was too scared to go back. As far as I was concerned it was all Trish's fault. There was no one else to blame. Every time I see her I see that ass hole on top of my mom that night. Right or wrong, that is how it is and how it has been. When she kept calling I thought it was to bug you Dom to make good on your promise to let her come stay here. I was finally free of that daily reminder of not being there for my mom, and I didn't want her here. So I just kept hanging up on her. Letty was home one day when it happened. I started getting drunk, and told her the whole story. She agreed to help me until I could explain it all to you. Then Trish stopped calling. I never knew what was up, I didn't know about my mom, but to be honest, I would have left her with Steve."
"The fuck you would." Leon got up and started after me.
"Stop it Leon, he doesn't know." Mia held Leon's arm.
Leon started pacing and was like a caged animal.
"I don't know what Mia."
Mia looked at Dom, and he just nodded his head.
"Vince, the night of your mom's funeral, Steve raped Trish. That is why she ran away and has been living on the streets for the past 4 years. She was calling for help that last time that she called, and you hung up on her, and when she called back Letty hung up on her."
I though I had been kicked in the gut before, but I never knew how shitty I could feel. I betrayed my mother. I . oh my god. What the hell have I done. With out looking at anyone on the team, I got up and walked out to the back yard. I went to the picnic table and sat down. Momma what have I done, was all I could think.
After a while, Dom came out and sat next to me.
"Brother, you should have told me."
"Yeah, well its way to late now."
"Vince she is your sister, and she is our family, and she is stayin. You got to learn how to deal with this."
"Yeah, but how."
"One day at a time brother. one day at a time. We are all learning how to do this, day by day. Your sister has definitely stirred things up around here. But we all love her and she is one of us. She is part of our team. Just like you, just like Letty. We are all going to have to work together to get through this."
"So you don't still want to kick my ass?"
"Oh hell yes I do. but I won't. I am trying to understand Vince. I have never been in that position. So I can't judge how you felt or why you did what you did. Trish is hurt, and she is pissed as hell. You may not want to hear this, but you two are exactly alike, and I know that is going to do nothing but start shit with you two for quite awhile. but we will work through all of this. Together as a family."
"There is more that you need to know Dom."
"What the fuck else Vince. Fuck!"
"Letty and I came home, because. well. she is still in love with you, and we broke up."