Chapter 16
Vince woke up to find Mia glaring at him. He closed his eyes, hoping she would just go away. No suck luck.
"She's gone. What the hell did you do this time? Haven't you done enough?" She shouted at him.
Vince groaned at the newly forming headache. What the hell is she talking? Who's gone? He thought.
"Did you hear what I said? Claire is gone, Vince." Mia repeated.
Vince's body stiffened the moment he heard her name. It all came crashing back to him. What he said to her; the way he acted last night; the look on her face. Oh fuck! I need to find her. I have to tell her. Vince opened his eyes. He sat up then immediately regretted it. He groaned in protest at the pounding in his head. His body ached all over.
"That's what you get for drinking all night! You're such an asshole Vince. Why can't you just get over whatever is bothering you and quit being such a dick to Claire? She's never done anything to you except treat you like a friend."
Vince closed his eyes again. As much as he loved Mia he really didn't want to listen to her nag anymore. "Mia, shut up. I can't do anything with you standing here and bitchin at me. I'll make it up to her all right. Just go away cuz you're really starting to piss me off." He snapped.
Mia opened her mouth angrily, but then shut it. She turned and left the room.
Vince scowled. Just fucking great! Let's see who else I can make mad at me. He thought. Even Letty was mad at him. Mia had poisoned her against him, too.
Vince ran his hand thru his hair. "Fuck," he muttered.
All he kept seeing in his mind was the scared look on Claire's face and how she looked at him with pain filled eyes when he told her she was nothing compared to Mia. He growled in frustration. He knew he was pushing his limits. He was getting in a lot deeper than he ever wanted too. Especially with Her. He couldn't admit that where Claire was concerned he didn't know what he was doing. He pushes her away because that's what he's always done.
Vince shook his head. He rolled out of bed.her bed. He glanced at it briefly, wondering why a woman who was only 5'1 in height needed a king sized bed. I know what I wanna do in this bed.Damn it! I really need to talk to her. He thought, stopping his thoughts from straying to far. Vince headed for the shower.
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
Vince walked into the kitchen and headed over to the fridge to find something to eat. He was starving. He saw Brian watch him out the corner of his eye. He knew Brian wanted to tell him something, but didn't know what to say first to get the ball rolling. "What the fuck do you want O'Conner?" He said his last name with a sneer. Rubbing in the fact Brian had lied to them about his name.
Brian glared, but didn't rise to the bait. "The police want to talk to you and Claire about what happened with Sam. They're going to have a hearing and need you and Claire to speak. It's just a formality. They need you to say under oath that it was Sam's car you saw speeding away and how you found her." Brian explained.
Vince's breath caught when he remembered that day. He never wanted to kill someone so much in his life. Vince could honestly say he hated someone more than Brian. Vince almost smiled at that thought.almost.
"When?'
"As soon as possible. Today if you guys can make it down there." Brian said.
All Vince did was nod. He continued to look for something in the fridge.
Brian stood in the kitchen silently.
Vince was starting to get irritated.
"Look, I never got a chance to say this earlier, but I want to say this now. I know you hate me. It's okay. If things were reversed I'd hate me too. But I want to thank you for helping my sister out that day. Thanks for not ditching her just because she's related to me." Brian said. And then left the kitchen.
Vince stared at the door. Fuck this is all wrong. O'Conner sayin thank you? He thought, and then shrugged. He went back to making something to eat.
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
It wasn't until later that night that Claire finally came home. Carlos drove her home. She didn't see Vince sitting on the front porch swing because the house lights were off. "Thanks 'Los. I appreciate it," she said as she gave him a hug.
Carlos smiled at her. "Hey no problem. You're like a sister to me, you know this 'C. if you need anything you call, okay." he told her firmly.
Claire smiled at him and kissed his cheek. "I love you too "Los. Bye." She said, and then climbed out of the car.
~ ~ ~ ~ ~
Vince watched some strange car pull up in front of the house. His eyes widened when he saw it was Her. His eyes darkened when he saw her hug and kiss the guy in the car with her. Who the fuck is that? What makes him think he can just touch her like that? I'll kill him! He started to get up, but then Claire got out of the car. He sat back down and watched her walk towards him.
"Who's that? Booty call?"
Claire jumped startled. She hadn't known he was there. "Jesus Christ Vince! You scared the crap out of me!" She stated rather loudly.
"You didn't answer my question." He said, deadly calm.
Claire glared at him. "It's none of your business who he is! You don't own me Vince. I don't have to answer to anyone, least of all you." She snapped at him, and then started to head inside.
Vince sighed audibly. "Wait. Don't go in. I want to talk to you. I didn't mean that," he told her gently, trying to get her to stay and talk to him.
Claire frowned at his soft-spoken voice. "Seems to me you say a lot of things you don't mean. Maybe you should think about what you say before you say it." She retorted.
Vince growled in frustration. "Just wait and listen to me."
"Please," he added hoping that would get her to stay.
It worked, Claire complied with his request. She stood facing him waiting for him to speak.
"I didn't mean to make you scared last night. I want you to know I wouldn't have force myself on you. No matter how drunk I was."
Claire stared at him unblinkingly.
"I didn't mean to make you cry before either. I don't know how to deal with this. I don't want to deal with this.not yet. I'm sorry I said all those things before. I didn't mean them. I was just trying to make you mad so you'd leave me alone." He told her, unable to look at her. When she didn't say anything, he turned and looked at her hesitantly. "Aren't you going to say anything?"
"Why should I? Since I don't compare to Mia, nothing I say is really important to you anyway." She told him sarcastically, and then went into the house.
Vince didn't stop her. How could he? He really couldn't blame her for being mad at him. He wanted to keep her away. So why is it now that she's at a distance he wanted her closer?
He watched her disappear and for the first time in his life Vince didn't know what he was feeling.
He knew deep down he wasn't in love with Mia. He never really was. She was just the only decent girl he knew that wasn't taken. Letty and Dom have been together forever, besides he never thought of Letty in that way. They didn't really know any other girls. Except for the racer chicks that came to the parties. They were no good either. They just latched on to whoever won. Since it was always Dominic who won, they settled for Dom's closest friends. Vince hated that. He hated being settled upon. He didn't want no girl who would rather have Dom. Sure they had their uses, but even that gets old after a while.
Vince growled in frustration once more. He really didn't know what he was doing with Claire. He knew he didn't want her mad at him, but he didn't want her to get too close either. Fuck! What the hell am I gonna do with her?
Vince looked at the door, and then headed inside with a determined look. He looked around the living room and only saw the team. He scowled and then went into the kitchen. His scowl disappeared when he saw her.
"Claire would you just wait and listen to me." He shouted louder than he intended too.
Claire looked at him disbelieving, then her expression changed.
Vince's heart dropped when he saw the look in her eyes. She wasn't scared, just defeated. Almost as if she knew Vince was never going to let her in.
"It doesn't matter anymore, Vince." She said softly. "I can't change who I am anymore than you can. I understand now how things have to be. I've accepted it now." she said then turned away, facing the fridge.
Vince's jaw dropped. "No, wait you don't understand." He said still slightly shouting, not realizing he could be heard in the living room because the others had turned the volume down on the TV.
"I understand more than you think. Just leave it. This is what you wanted anyway. You didn't want to be friends, fine. We won't be friends. I can handle that. Just accept it," she told him. Claire left the kitchen and went up to her room.
Vince stared at the stairs. I don't want this. I didn't fucking want any of it. Don't tell me what to do. Don't tell me what I want. You don't know what I want. Vince scowled at the stairs, slowly walking back towards the living room. He wanted to punch someone. Fuck! Why does she have to be so fucking stubborn? All I want is to say sorry damn it! I want.Fuck! I want her! No fucking way she wants me now. The only thing he thought Claire would want would be for him to leave. For the first time since he's been there Vince wished he had his car.
"Yo Vince?" Dom shouted breaking Vince out of his thoughts.
"What?" Vince snapped, looking at him angrily.
Dominic just smiled. "Go make her listen, bro. She still thinks you hate her."
"I don't hate her." Vince protested.
Dom held up two hands, "tell her bro. Not me."
Vince still looked hesitant.
Brian rolled his eyes. "Go talk to my sister." He stated firmly.
Vince looked at Mia, who smiled then nodded for him to go.
Vince turned and ran up the stairs.
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
Vince woke up to find Mia glaring at him. He closed his eyes, hoping she would just go away. No suck luck.
"She's gone. What the hell did you do this time? Haven't you done enough?" She shouted at him.
Vince groaned at the newly forming headache. What the hell is she talking? Who's gone? He thought.
"Did you hear what I said? Claire is gone, Vince." Mia repeated.
Vince's body stiffened the moment he heard her name. It all came crashing back to him. What he said to her; the way he acted last night; the look on her face. Oh fuck! I need to find her. I have to tell her. Vince opened his eyes. He sat up then immediately regretted it. He groaned in protest at the pounding in his head. His body ached all over.
"That's what you get for drinking all night! You're such an asshole Vince. Why can't you just get over whatever is bothering you and quit being such a dick to Claire? She's never done anything to you except treat you like a friend."
Vince closed his eyes again. As much as he loved Mia he really didn't want to listen to her nag anymore. "Mia, shut up. I can't do anything with you standing here and bitchin at me. I'll make it up to her all right. Just go away cuz you're really starting to piss me off." He snapped.
Mia opened her mouth angrily, but then shut it. She turned and left the room.
Vince scowled. Just fucking great! Let's see who else I can make mad at me. He thought. Even Letty was mad at him. Mia had poisoned her against him, too.
Vince ran his hand thru his hair. "Fuck," he muttered.
All he kept seeing in his mind was the scared look on Claire's face and how she looked at him with pain filled eyes when he told her she was nothing compared to Mia. He growled in frustration. He knew he was pushing his limits. He was getting in a lot deeper than he ever wanted too. Especially with Her. He couldn't admit that where Claire was concerned he didn't know what he was doing. He pushes her away because that's what he's always done.
Vince shook his head. He rolled out of bed.her bed. He glanced at it briefly, wondering why a woman who was only 5'1 in height needed a king sized bed. I know what I wanna do in this bed.Damn it! I really need to talk to her. He thought, stopping his thoughts from straying to far. Vince headed for the shower.
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
Vince walked into the kitchen and headed over to the fridge to find something to eat. He was starving. He saw Brian watch him out the corner of his eye. He knew Brian wanted to tell him something, but didn't know what to say first to get the ball rolling. "What the fuck do you want O'Conner?" He said his last name with a sneer. Rubbing in the fact Brian had lied to them about his name.
Brian glared, but didn't rise to the bait. "The police want to talk to you and Claire about what happened with Sam. They're going to have a hearing and need you and Claire to speak. It's just a formality. They need you to say under oath that it was Sam's car you saw speeding away and how you found her." Brian explained.
Vince's breath caught when he remembered that day. He never wanted to kill someone so much in his life. Vince could honestly say he hated someone more than Brian. Vince almost smiled at that thought.almost.
"When?'
"As soon as possible. Today if you guys can make it down there." Brian said.
All Vince did was nod. He continued to look for something in the fridge.
Brian stood in the kitchen silently.
Vince was starting to get irritated.
"Look, I never got a chance to say this earlier, but I want to say this now. I know you hate me. It's okay. If things were reversed I'd hate me too. But I want to thank you for helping my sister out that day. Thanks for not ditching her just because she's related to me." Brian said. And then left the kitchen.
Vince stared at the door. Fuck this is all wrong. O'Conner sayin thank you? He thought, and then shrugged. He went back to making something to eat.
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
It wasn't until later that night that Claire finally came home. Carlos drove her home. She didn't see Vince sitting on the front porch swing because the house lights were off. "Thanks 'Los. I appreciate it," she said as she gave him a hug.
Carlos smiled at her. "Hey no problem. You're like a sister to me, you know this 'C. if you need anything you call, okay." he told her firmly.
Claire smiled at him and kissed his cheek. "I love you too "Los. Bye." She said, and then climbed out of the car.
~ ~ ~ ~ ~
Vince watched some strange car pull up in front of the house. His eyes widened when he saw it was Her. His eyes darkened when he saw her hug and kiss the guy in the car with her. Who the fuck is that? What makes him think he can just touch her like that? I'll kill him! He started to get up, but then Claire got out of the car. He sat back down and watched her walk towards him.
"Who's that? Booty call?"
Claire jumped startled. She hadn't known he was there. "Jesus Christ Vince! You scared the crap out of me!" She stated rather loudly.
"You didn't answer my question." He said, deadly calm.
Claire glared at him. "It's none of your business who he is! You don't own me Vince. I don't have to answer to anyone, least of all you." She snapped at him, and then started to head inside.
Vince sighed audibly. "Wait. Don't go in. I want to talk to you. I didn't mean that," he told her gently, trying to get her to stay and talk to him.
Claire frowned at his soft-spoken voice. "Seems to me you say a lot of things you don't mean. Maybe you should think about what you say before you say it." She retorted.
Vince growled in frustration. "Just wait and listen to me."
"Please," he added hoping that would get her to stay.
It worked, Claire complied with his request. She stood facing him waiting for him to speak.
"I didn't mean to make you scared last night. I want you to know I wouldn't have force myself on you. No matter how drunk I was."
Claire stared at him unblinkingly.
"I didn't mean to make you cry before either. I don't know how to deal with this. I don't want to deal with this.not yet. I'm sorry I said all those things before. I didn't mean them. I was just trying to make you mad so you'd leave me alone." He told her, unable to look at her. When she didn't say anything, he turned and looked at her hesitantly. "Aren't you going to say anything?"
"Why should I? Since I don't compare to Mia, nothing I say is really important to you anyway." She told him sarcastically, and then went into the house.
Vince didn't stop her. How could he? He really couldn't blame her for being mad at him. He wanted to keep her away. So why is it now that she's at a distance he wanted her closer?
He watched her disappear and for the first time in his life Vince didn't know what he was feeling.
He knew deep down he wasn't in love with Mia. He never really was. She was just the only decent girl he knew that wasn't taken. Letty and Dom have been together forever, besides he never thought of Letty in that way. They didn't really know any other girls. Except for the racer chicks that came to the parties. They were no good either. They just latched on to whoever won. Since it was always Dominic who won, they settled for Dom's closest friends. Vince hated that. He hated being settled upon. He didn't want no girl who would rather have Dom. Sure they had their uses, but even that gets old after a while.
Vince growled in frustration once more. He really didn't know what he was doing with Claire. He knew he didn't want her mad at him, but he didn't want her to get too close either. Fuck! What the hell am I gonna do with her?
Vince looked at the door, and then headed inside with a determined look. He looked around the living room and only saw the team. He scowled and then went into the kitchen. His scowl disappeared when he saw her.
"Claire would you just wait and listen to me." He shouted louder than he intended too.
Claire looked at him disbelieving, then her expression changed.
Vince's heart dropped when he saw the look in her eyes. She wasn't scared, just defeated. Almost as if she knew Vince was never going to let her in.
"It doesn't matter anymore, Vince." She said softly. "I can't change who I am anymore than you can. I understand now how things have to be. I've accepted it now." she said then turned away, facing the fridge.
Vince's jaw dropped. "No, wait you don't understand." He said still slightly shouting, not realizing he could be heard in the living room because the others had turned the volume down on the TV.
"I understand more than you think. Just leave it. This is what you wanted anyway. You didn't want to be friends, fine. We won't be friends. I can handle that. Just accept it," she told him. Claire left the kitchen and went up to her room.
Vince stared at the stairs. I don't want this. I didn't fucking want any of it. Don't tell me what to do. Don't tell me what I want. You don't know what I want. Vince scowled at the stairs, slowly walking back towards the living room. He wanted to punch someone. Fuck! Why does she have to be so fucking stubborn? All I want is to say sorry damn it! I want.Fuck! I want her! No fucking way she wants me now. The only thing he thought Claire would want would be for him to leave. For the first time since he's been there Vince wished he had his car.
"Yo Vince?" Dom shouted breaking Vince out of his thoughts.
"What?" Vince snapped, looking at him angrily.
Dominic just smiled. "Go make her listen, bro. She still thinks you hate her."
"I don't hate her." Vince protested.
Dom held up two hands, "tell her bro. Not me."
Vince still looked hesitant.
Brian rolled his eyes. "Go talk to my sister." He stated firmly.
Vince looked at Mia, who smiled then nodded for him to go.
Vince turned and ran up the stairs.
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~