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Out of Control, Part 9

The buzzer on Vaughn's desk went off. With his mouth full of the key lime pie Randy had made him, he hit it with the end of his fork. "Yesh?"

"There's someone who's here to see you, Mister Winner," his assistant, Jeanette replied.

He swallowed the mouthful of pie. "I'm very busy right now," he answered back as his fingers danced over the keyboard with one hand while the other one held onto the fork. He cut another piece of the pie off and stuffed it in his mouth.

"He says it's urgent, Mister Winner."

Vaughn frowned with the pie still in his mouth. He set down the fork on his plate while he swallowed again and reflexively wiped his mouth with the back of his hand. He let out a sigh. "Tell him to come in, Jeanette." He pushed the off button on the COM button. He leaned his head back. "This better be important."

"So this is what the mighty Vaughn Winner does all day."

Vaughn shot his eyes forwards at the sound of the voice. They narrowed. "What do you want, Arquette? Wasn't one pie in the face enough?"

Bobby glared at the blond on the other side of the desk for a moment. "You've humiliated me for the last time. It's time you paid up for snatching Veronica away from me."

"I didn't have to do any snatching. She dumped you on your ass of her own accord."

"Bullshit, Winner. You've panted after her since secondary school."

The amethyst eyes glittered. "What's the reason you're here? I have better things to do than trade insults with you all day."

"I want a race."

"Excuse me?"

"A race. You, me out on Bay Cliff Road."

"That road is a death trap waiting to happen."

Bobby smirked. "Scared, Winner?"

Vaughn fisted his hands on top of his desk. "No, I'm not. You want me to beat you, fine. I have no problem about that."

"You think your Beemer can take on my Porsche?"

"I know it can since I'm a hell of a lot better driver than you are."

Bobby's nostrils flared. "That's the last time you insult me. You're going down this time, Vaughn Winner. That's a promise."

"Well than, what are we waiting for? Let's get this over with," Vaughn flared as stood, bracing his hands on his desk. "I'm always ready to kick your ass any day of the week. And this time, will be the last time."

Twenty-five minutes later…

Vaughn checked everything before he climbed into his car. He could hear the distinct sound of the waves crashing against the rocks below. Bay Cliff Road winded back and forth against the sheer rock before it plunged off again to a shallow beach more than one hundred feet below. He knew how dangerous it was. He would drive on the outside since he knew himself to be the better driver and he didn't want have a death on his conscience. "Damn fool, I don't even know why I'm doing this." He revved up the engine of his BMW M10. This car was fast as anything, pushing it to the limit once on the Audubon. He shot Bobby a look through the passenger window. "Are you ready?"

Bobby smirked again as he nodded his head and revved up the engine of his bright yellow Porsche Boxster. "The finish line is the intersection at Mill Road. Get ready to have your ass kicked, Winner."

Vaughn clenched the steering wheel tight, making his knuckles turn white.

"Just wait, Winner," Bobby muttered.

Several leaves blew across the road.

Bobby shot forwards.

With Vaughn in hot pursuit. It didn't take much for him to realize that Bobby was purposely taking the sharp turns wide, making him swerve out further than he wanted to. But he was confident enough in his driving abilities to keep him safe. He gritted his teeth as the wind whipped his hair about his head.

The driver of the yellow Porsche was glaring over at the speeding Beemer, beginning to inch ahead of him. "I don't think so," Bobby muttered as he pressed the accelerator even harder.

Amethyst eyes dared to look down at the speedometer. He cringed inwardly. It was way too fast to be safe on this road. His mind had already calculated how fast he could go without going over the edge on the curves. He hadn't been second to Randy in their graduating class for nothing. Vaughn knew it was desperation on Bobby's part. He had beaten him out of quite a few things. Fencing, swimming, Randy, and now Veronica, although, he had not set out to take her away from him to begin with. He speeded up. It was imperative that he ended this race now. "Not to much further," he said as the brisk wind stung his cheeks.

Bobby looked across at Vaughn's car. It was surely passing him now. It was happening again. He was losing. "No!" He shifted gears, turning it up a notch.

Faster and faster the two cars went along the precariously perched roadway. It wasn't traveled often, making it ideal for this purpose.

Vaughn could see the sign for Mill Road up ahead. He cast a quick glance in the Porsche's direction. He was still ahead by the front fender. "Come on," he whispered as he shifted gears. The Beemer shot forward from the increase in power, breaking through the intersection. He yanked up the parking break as he skidded onto the gravel shoulder. He rested his head on the steering wheel. He could feel sweat tricking down his back.

Bobby cursed as Vaughn shot forwards, hitting the intersection before him. He skidded in the gravel as well before coming to a halt. He was breathing hard as he got out, throwing the door open. He approached the Beemer in front of him, fuming. "GET OUT OF THE CAR, WINNER!"

Vaughn stayed where he was. The anger pouring off of Bobby was strong enough to make him wince since he was feeling it so strongly, it made his brain throb slightly and his own heart to clench painfully in his chest. That was the only drawback of being an empath. The stronger the emotion was, the more he felt it internally, and if it were negative, the more it would hurt. He sucked in a breath and climbed out to face him. "Calm down, Bobby. I won, you lost," he ordered as his heart pounded against his ribs.

"You son of a bitch! You beat me again! I should have won! What makes you so fucking special?" Bobby screamed. "What makes her want you over me?"

"I've never used her," Vaughn replied coldly. "And I know her a lot better then you ever will."

Bobby saw red and threw a punch at him.

Expecting it, Vaughn moved his head out of the way. He returned it, connecting with Bobby's cheek. "This is over. I don't want to have any more to do with you. I don't know why the hell you persist, but it has to stop."

The taller, more muscular young man glared back as he rubbed his cheek. "I don't have to do a damn thing! This is going to be the last time you get the best of me and I meant it!"

"You know, he is right."

Vaughn whirled around to see Leif Rennalsson, Wythe von Stron, and Carter Randolph. They were all friends of Bobby's, who happened to dislike him as much as Bobby did. And he despised the three of them in return. "And what do I owe your presence to?"

Leif cracked his knuckles. "You see, Bobby promised us a shot at you, if you won or lost. And seeing how you won, it makes is so much better."

"And why's that?" Vaughn asked, not liking his odds against four men that were a bit bigger than him.

"You took Veronica away," Carter replied, frowning.

Vaughn's eyes narrowed, knowing that she had slept with the three of them in front of him. "I didn't do anything. She isn't some plaything for the four of you."

"So, you saw fit to take her away?" Wythe asked, his dark brows arching.

"I didn't have to do anything. She knew the three of you were jackasses to begin with," Vaughn replied sharply.

"You got a lot of nerve, Winner," Bobby growled, "When there's four of us and only one of you."

"Arquette, you couldn't kick my ass when we were kids and you couldn't kick it now, even with their help," Vaughn shot back. "You didn't deserve Veronica, none of you did. And if she didn't get rid of you, herself, Bobby, I would've done it for her. With or without her approval."

Fury flashed in Bobby's indigo eyes as he tackled him.

Carter, Wythe, and Leif shrugged their shoulders and watched.

Vaughn fought back with all of his strength. He knew Bobby outweighed him by twenty pounds and topped him by two inches. He managed to connect his fist with Bobby's nose, making it bleed. He pushed the bigger boy off of him.

"Guess, it's my turn," said Wythe as he stepped forwards. He didn't have much of a chance with a better in shape Vaughn Winner do to college living. He was hit in the mouth with one of the blonde's fists. He staggered back once and was then was out cold as another fist hit him in the cheek.

Vaughn glared down at Wythe, lying in the gravel. He turned his eyes towards Leif and Carter. "You want a piece of me?"

Bobby plowed into Vaughn from the back. "You won't beat me this time." He stood up and looked at Leif and Carter. "Stand him up."

The other two pulled Vaughn upright. Neither of them was willing to challenge him themselves. They already knew that he could beat them easily even though he was smaller than them. They had seen him practicing with Chang Jet, who was proficient in the martial arts. If he could stand up to that and walk away, they knew there was no way they could.

"Could you keep this short, Bobby?" Cater asked, "I don't want to be caught beating up on him. It doesn't look good."

Bobby turned a glare at his friend. "Don't you have a bone to pick with him too?"

"I know he'll beat me, that's why I'm not. I prefer to fight my battles in private," Carter replied shortly.

Vaughn felt dizzy, but he turned glacial eyes towards Bobby. "You would have help since you couldn't beat me on you own."

"Shut up!" Bobby yelled as he hit him once in the stomach.

The force of the punch made his breathing hitch. Pain radiated from the spot, but he willed it away. Bobby was losing control. He felt it, but he couldn't help but taunt him. "You could never stand the competition, could you? You could never compete with me and you knew it. You tried to get Randy, but her father scared you shitless. So, you went to Veronica. She used you, you know. She's true to her name. She's manipulative and cunning and she used it on you. You were just the next sucker to fall into her trap. She could've had any guy she wanted and she made a poor choice in you."

Bobby's face flooded with hot color as he punched Vaughn in the jaw, making his head snap back. "You've always wanted what I had!"

"I never wanted anything you had. I still don't." Vaughn blocked out the pain from that blow as well. He could taste the blood from his lip and the inside of his cheek. He was satisfied with the way that the blood was still trickling from Bobby's nose. "I hope you like that broken nose."

"Fuck you, Winner." A punch was shot to the mocking eyes in front of him.

Vaughn managed to avoid its contact. It collided with his cheekbone instead. Some dizziness assailed him.  "Is that the best you can do?" he asked contemptuously.

A vein in Bobby's temple was ticking with the infusion of anger and jealousy. "Will you shut up!" he screamed as his hands went to curve around Vaughn's throat.

With a sudden jerk, Vaughn pulled himself free from Leif and Carter's grip. He elbowed Carter hard in the chest and with a well-placed punch, put Leif on the ground, dazed. He moved swiftly to avoid Bobby's hands. "You should learn how to control that temper of yours," he needled even more.

Outraged by the blonde's insults, Bobby attacked again. His technique became sloppy.

Vaughn hit him hard with a left hook to the face, making it snap sideways. Blood was seeping through his split lip.

"What the hell is going on here?"

Vaughn froze, as did Bobby.

Chris Maxwell crossed his arms over his chest. His brows were arched in question. "I'll repeat, what the hell is going on here?"

"Nothing," Bobby lied.

"Nothing, huh?" Chris questioned as he sent looks towards Leif, Carter, and Wythe. "The thee of you, get moving. Now," he ordered.

The three young men didn't balk as they stumbled back towards their car, hidden in the roadside brush. They weren't about to dispute his order. He wasn't the local law enforcement, but the Preventers leather jacket was enough incentive to get lost.

Bobby glared at the older man. "This isn't any of your business. It's between Winner and myself."

Chris turned a frost filled look towards Bobby. "And you were having a four on one. That's grounds for assault if I ever heard one. I know Winner can take care of himself, but this has to stop. Now. Get yourself out of here and taken care of and if I find you or hear about you looking for a fight with Vaughn, I will haul your ass into the police. And don't think I won't do it because I will."

Bobby sent a malicious look in Vaughn's direction before turning away and walking towards his own car. It sprayed up gravel as he sped away, still steeped in a fury.

Vaughn looked over at Chris. "When did you get here?" he asked as he wiped the blood from his lip with the back of his hand.

"I saw your car as I was coming off of Mill Lane. I decided to investigate. Your taunting wasn't wise."

"I know that. I could feel his anger rising dramatically, but I couldn't help myself."

"Hey, no need to defend your reason. I've gotten into plenty of fights I shouldn't have," Chris said shrugging his shoulders. "Now, let's get you cleaned up. Follow me over to my parents' house so Randy can take a look at you."

Vaughn made a face. "Your sister is in no way gentle."

"I know, but she'll take care of you and you like being pampered by her."

A slight smile quirked one corner of Vaughn's mouth. "I suppose I do."

"Come on, let's get moving," Chris said as he walked back towards his silver colored Suburban. He paused for a moment and looked over his shoulder at the younger man. "Good job in kicking his ass on the road and in that fight."

"Thanks," Vaughn replied as he climbed into his car and followed the oldest Maxwell home.

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Once at the Maxwell house, Vaughn sat on the couch in the family room. "Leave it alone, Randy."

Randy propped her hands on her cutoff clad hips. "Don't be such a baby, Winner," she scoffed as she doused a cotton ball with rubbing alcohol.

"You're not gentle."

"I'm plenty gentle."

Chris snorted softly in the kitchen.

"I heard that!" she yelled at her brother.

Vaughn held an ice pack on the spot Bobby had made on his ribs. A bruise was could be seen under his tanned skin. "He's right you know."

"Shut up, Vaughn or I'll really give you something to be in pain about," Randy snapped as she glared at him.

Vaughn stuck his tongue out at her as he moved out of her grasp. "Brat."

"Vaughn!" Randy growled as she tried to dab his lip.

"Can't make me."

"Is that a challenge?"

"Take it as you like it."

"Don't make me hold you down."

"You couldn't, sweetheart."

Annoyance made Randy's lips twitch. "Try me."

Vaughn sat up from his reclining position on the couch and looked into her eyes. "I dare you."

Randy's eyes narrowed as she shoved him back down on the couch. She sat on his chest so he would have no way of moving. "You were saying?" she smirked as she looked down at him.

He gave her a mutinous look. "Bitch."

"But you love me."

Vaughn grumbled under his breath.

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The doorbell rang.

Chris stood up and went to see whom it was. When he reached the front hall his mother was already opening the door. It was Veronica and Victoria. "Vaughn's in the other room."

"Is he ok?" Veronica asked, worriedly. When Victoria had called her and said that Vaughn had gotten into a bad fight with Bobby, it made her insides clench and fear the worst.

"He's all right. Although if he keeps pissing off Randy, his injuries might just get worse, he's proving himself to be a bad patient," Chris replied to his sister in law.

"You are too," Victoria replied, giving her husband a look.

"Only when it's Randy. She doesn't give tender loving care. She bullies instead," Chris answered, his nose turning up.

"You were always the worst patient, Chris," Hilde said as she gave her oldest a level look. "Besides your father."

Back in the family room…

Vaughn and Randy hadn't heard the door since they had started shouting at each other.

"Hold still!"

"It's going to hurt!"

"You're such a baby!"

"It'll sting."

"No wonder women are the ones who give birth, you're the perfect example why men couldn't take the pain!"

Vaughn shot her a dirty look. "You just like to inflict it."

"I'm not cruel," Randy sniffed as she crossed her arms over her bare midriff. Her black tank top showing off her light colored skin.

"Are too."

"Am not!"

"Wanna bet?"

Randy let out a shriek of frustration. She leaned forwards and pinned his wrists above his head with one hand. "Now hold still, it won't hurt for that long!"

Vaughn squirmed. He would freely admit that he didn't like pain too much, especially if rubbing alcohol enhanced it. "No."

"VAUGHN, I'M GOING TO KILL YOU IN A MINUTE!"

Their yelling brought everyone from the foyer towards the family room. Veronica reached there first. Her mouth falling open and her eyes widening with shocked surprise. Anger soon replaced it as she beheld what was in front of her.

A/N: Don't you just love me? Stay tuned for more! XOXO!!