CH.3

She arrived at the Toretto's home Friday morning with all her affairs. Mia opened her the door. "Hy Anastasia! Please come in! We are preparing for a grill outside" she said smiling friendly.

Annie looked at her shyly: "Listen, I think this is not the right moment, if you want, I come later".

"C'mon! Dom said you'll come live with us, so? Better know each other as soon as possible, isn't it?

Annie sighed: "You sure?"

"Yeah! Come on! It'll be fun!" said Mia to encourage Annie and getting her come in. "Leave your stuff right there. We'll think 'bout 'em later. Let's go outside now".

Mia opened a door and walked to the garden. Annie felt terribly uneasy and out of place. "Dom! Look who joined us!" said friendly Mia indicating Anastasia which was waiting still on the door of the garden uncertain on what to do.

"Good morning" said Dom louder and slowly as to give more importance on his words. Everybody turned to look at her. He was quietly observing her with a smile. It was a very fascinating smile. He made his gaze ran all over her body lazily: on her low raiders jeans, her free abds, her sleeveless white top and her face. She had no make up and she'd tied up her hair. His stare came to her eyes: " And welcome in my humble home." He paused. " It doesn't fall the door if you come here. It's tough enough." he teased her ironically accentuating his grin.

Anastasia snorted: "Told Mia, that it wasn't right for me to be here now. Better come later" she tried to say justifying herself.

"Why? You're part of the team now. C'mon" said Dom encouraging her in a more friendly tone "Anastasia, meet my team: Vince, Jesse, Leon, Letty, Bryan and my sister Mia. Guys say hello to Anastasia!" he said. "Hy" they answered all together. Anastasia smiled at them, from where she was.

"You gonna stay there for long time?" Dom told her: "C'mon take a dish and sit down with us!" he encouraged and showed her the place to seat

She nodded and took it. She seated where Dom had showed her which she discovered it was between him and Vince. Letty looked irritated but said nothing. Annie felt a bit intimidated by the two imposing guys near by her, she looked so little but the problem was Dom. Why she always felt so nervous when he was there? She paid attention of not showing it. After saying grace they started to eat.

"So where are you from?" asked Vince to her giving her what had to be a charming look.

"Italy" she simply said, not wanting to speak about herself.

"It's far" he added hopefully wanting to talk. Dom couldn't restrain a smile, he knew his friend.

"Yep" simply said Annie.

"You have a boyfriend in Italy?" asked more interested Vince. Dom stopped to eat to glance at her.

"No" said Annie after a pause, becoming sullen. She had to say something: "You got beautiful car. You prepared it by yourself?" she asked trying to drop subject.

"Yeah . . . " answered Vince and started to talk about his car, interrupted several times by the others. Fortunately the conversation had become more relaxed and she wasn't no more the centre of their interest. Dom stared at her still for a few seconds, half closing his eyes then seemed to relax listening to Vince and the others talking.

She took advantage of this to study him a little. He got charisma and the others seemed to adore him. Vince was his best friend but Bryan looked to be the one more able to stand up to him. She looked at the team fascinated and a little bit sad. She felt out of place. They were a group, a team, kind of a crazy family and she'd nothing to share with them. She came from another world, where all this wasn't allowed to her.

She was so lost in her thoughts that she hadn't even noticed Bryan talking to her. "Annie are you listening?" he repeated amused.

"Uh? Oh? I'm sorry. I think I was inattentive" replied Annie blushing. She felt the suspicious look of Dom on her." You were saying?" she asked.

" I said that also your car need to be repaired. I could do it for you, if you want" Bryan gently offered.

"Well, thank you. You're very kind, but I think I couldn't afford such a cost now. I couldn't pay you" simply said Annie shrugging.

"Your car could race for me" suddenly said Dom thinking at loud voice "It's a very good car.fully original".

"I don't know how to race" she said shaking her head apologetic.

"You maybe not, but someone else yes" he replied.

"I don't let other people drive my car" said Annie promptly. He stared at her for a few seconds then grinned, it was the same for him.

"It could be a way to pay your debt, and your car would be repaired" he however insisted. "Obviously it has to be prepared" he added after a while.

"I think in this way, I'd never end to pay my debt with you" she said grinning ironically.

"Think about it. It's a generous offer" he said ignoring her tone.

"The answer is: No, thank you." she said gently but firm.

"Think about it" he insisted more determined grinning sure about himself. Mia smiled: the clash had started. Annie stared at him for a while as to decide then nodded, it didn't cost a lot.

Two hours later, they were all in the drawing room watching the TV. "Want some pop corn" said Letty embraced to Dom "You go Anastasia?" she continued. Dom furrowed his eyebrow. Anastasia nodded and was going to stand up.

"Don't move" said Dom irritated stopping her. Annie looked at him not understanding.

He turned to Letty: " First, you ask her saying please. Then she's not your waiter. If you want some pop corn, you stand up and do it by yourself" said toughly Dom. Letty snorted and looked hostile to Anastasia.

"C'mon! I'll do it!" said Vince to lighten the atmosphere "You want too Anastasia?" he asked her gently. She nodded . So he stood up and went to the kitchen .

Anastasia looked at the scene speechless. Letty had come back watching the TV angry. She glanced then at Dom, he was staring her serious and indecipherable for a while, like he was thinking to something than he came back watching the TV too.



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