CH.5
She was ending to clean the team's cars in the garage while Leon and Vince were fixing a car and Dom preparing his own one with a maniac attention for that night. "Ok guys, it's enough for today" said Dom coming out from under his car. Vince stood up and stretched himself.
"Anastasia?" called her Jesse.
"Yes?" she answered rising her head up.
"Come here" said Jesse. She drew herself up and dried the sweat from her forehead. She tried to tidy her plait, unsuccessfully, she'd had to be a mess in that moment, she thought. Then joined him.
"You like?" asked Jesse cleaning his hands on a cloth, gesturing with his head to her car and waiting for her reaction.
She frowned and turned to look what he meant. She widened her eyes in surprise. "But you repaired it!" realised Annie smiling" Oh Jesse! Really thank you!" said very happily Anastasia watching her car repaired. It was only the bodywork but she cared so much to her car and she was so happy to watch it repaired. She softly touched it, almost afraid to ruin it. It looked new.
"You couldn't come tonight with your car in such those conditions!" he said uneasy, blushing a little.
"Thanks! Thank you so much!" she said and hugged Jesse affectionately.
Dom turned and looked at the scene bothered. Jesse noticed it: "Ok, ok, that's all now" he said embarrassed and untied himself immediately from Annie. She giggled.
Dom grunted but said nothing and with Jesse got out of the garage.
Anastasia remained alone in the garage staring her car incredulous. Her precious car. Jesse had been really nice. All the guys were really nice. She caressed the plate, lost in her thoughts. She'd never met people like they were. She'd never met other people except for those chosen by her father, which were falsely kind, always hidden by a barrier of politeness. They instead were true. Sometimes even rough, but their feeling were true. With all their good and bad points. She admired that. She would have really wanted to be part of that team. Lost in her thoughts, she hadn't hear those steps approaching, so when a hand posed on her shoulder she started in surprise.
"Are you all right?"
"Vince!" she noticed "You scared me! I haven't heard you!" she said smiling nervous. He posed his arm on her shoulder and pulled her near to him.
"What were you doing" he said watching her car.
Annie felt uneasy like that but didn't show it. She'd had to be careful. She looked around. No one, she was alone. "I was just watching my car, Jesse has done a great job" said Annie trying to look calm.
"Yeah" said Vince sliding his arm around her waist and pulling her more against him. She tried nonchalantly to free herself from his hold but he tightened it.
"How are you?" insisted Vince. She noticed now that he smelt of beer.
"Fine" said Annie through her teeth, showing her effort to unfasten herself from him. "Vince, listen - " she tried to say.
"Don't be so precious Annie . . . " he said with an encouraging tone, holding her with both arms and pressing her against his chest. He was much stronger than she was.
She started to be worried now. "The others are waiting us" tried to say Annie as to lead him back to reason.
"Let them wait . . . " he replied not caring at all.
Damn! She would have wanted to shout, but he was holding her so tight that she could barely breath. "Vince - really - I don't think, this is a good idea . . . " said Annie with more difficulties, pushing against his chest unsuccessfully. Breathing was becoming even harder.
"I find this one a really good idea instead" he insisted, bending down, wanting to kiss her.
"Vince.Please! No!" she struggled with all the force she had but she could nothing because he kissed her however.
"Leave me!" she said when he detached from her to breath "please!" she was begging him scared.
"Vince!" a deep male voice came severe almost an order, from the back of her shoulder.
She couldn't check who it was but recognised it: Dom! Finally! "Oh, - ehm, - Dom!" said embarrassed Vince freeing Annie immediately, which was almost going to fall, but fortunately leaned against her car.
"Letty needs your help outside. Better you go. Now!" said Dom. There was no kindness in his voice, he was tough, his gaze cold as ice. Incredibly, the big Vince, looked now very submissive, almost scared by Dom's tone. He immediately obeyed, walking fast outside the garage.
Annie breathed hard, not knowing if she was more scared for what had happened or Vince reaction. Now they were alone and Dom looked at her, frowning. She immediately felt uneasy, conscious of his presence, his gaze on her. "You all right?" he asked her.
"Yes . . . I suppose" she softly said lowering her eyes down shamed.
"I, . . . I got to go now, thank you for you help" she said and tried to exit avoiding his look but he stopped her, grabbing her arm. "Then I would be very pleased, if you could avoid to seduce my mechanics" he sharply said.
She slowly turned her head watching him astonished. "What? Please?" she asked frowning spelling astonished.
"You heard me" he said flat.
"You're kidding me, right?" she said in a warning tone freeing herself and facing him toughly.
"I'm serious" he replied coldly.
"Fuck you!" she angrily replied.
He didn't look intimidated or surprised by her tone "Maybe you did it on purpose. Maybe you wanted to be seduced by Vince . . . " he calmly said following his line of reasoning.
She stared at him "But what a bastard, chauvinist male!" she angry replied in disbelief "You really think I'm using some kind of -art- to seduce your mechanics?"
He approached dangerously to her not caring at all to what she'd said "Or maybe . . . you were doing this . . . for me".
She was slowly stepping back while she felt her car against her back. She was blocked. His eyes looked at her dangerously. "So?" he insisted. His lips bent on a dangerous grin.
She didn't answer, not looked at him but just tried to maintain her coldness and determined tried to pass him, but he blocked her and grasping her arm pushed her against the car holding her arms. She lifted her eyes and looked worried at him. He didn't care of that, his eyes were so dark and intense. "Your way to move, to talk, to dress,..so sensual.so provoking." he whispered and slowly he leaned his head down and kissed her. At first it was a soft kiss, like he was testing her reaction, then he became more demanding, and his hand went on her chin and softly pull it down to make her lips part and slide his tongue inside exploring her, forcing her to answer to his growing passion. She didn't want to do it, she would have liked to resist, but slowly her forces, her determination was abandoning her, her mind didn't want to collaborate and she opened her mouth and answered first shyly then with more transport to his kiss.
His cell phone started to ring, but they didn't stop, it was like if they were in a trance, until that persistent sound became unbearable. He detached from her abruptly still holding her arms and stared at her panting hard, he'd lost his control as well as her. He frowned irritated to his reaction, than left her, took the phone and answered with a quiet tone, like if nothing had happened and walked out, living her alone and confused in the garage.
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That Night.
Six cars ran out in the dark night. They joined a deserted street in a loney industrial wasteland on the outskirts of Los Angeles. The air was filled with the sound of turbo-charged horsepower, coming from under the hoods of dozens of colourful Japanese and German subcompacts and sports cars which were into a small street and music and a colourful crowd reunited there. Kind of a big street party.
The cars turned into that street . The first to arrive was Dom. Then all the others. The crowd opened at the roaring of his red Mazda. Anastasia was the last one. Her car was the most simple one compared to the others but she didn't care of that, too thrilled of being there. She wasn't going to race, even if she would have liked, she realised, surprised with herself.
She looked around once more. It was the second time that she went on a meeting of street racers but, she was still astonished : all that cars were beautiful. She scanned the crowd and found Dom surrounded by lot of guys. He was discussing with them. They looked at him admired and very respectful. He seemed to be very famous there.
Since he couldn't see her, she leaned against her car arm crossed on her chest and took her time to observe him truly, maybe for her first time: tall, muscled, he got something like a magnetic aura and everybody, for a reason or another felt attracted by him. Like gravity. Even herself, she felt attracted by him. His way to walk, to look, to talk, his voice. He was sexy, she realised admiring him and smiled to herself. When suddenly, like he'd felt something, he turned his head and looked toward her meeting her eyes fixing him. As he knew already what she was thinking he stared at her and grinned in an arrogant, conspiratorial way back at her. She blushed of shame because she'd been discovered and immediately looked away. Damn! Sure he'd understood what I was thinking. I'd been stared at him like a stupid teenager in love for the first time, for her hero! You stupid Anastasia! She thought.
"Annie? Why you stay here alone? Come!" said Vince and without waiting her answer, pushed her toward Dom's group. Perfect! How embarrassing ! She was going to play the fool, she thought.
"Hey Vince!" said a man when they joined them.
"Yo Hector!" replied Vince.
"Who's she? Your chick?" asked Hector smiling charming to Annie. She felt the eyes of all those men on her and blushed a little.
Dom looked at her serious as he was checking for her reaction.
"No, no! Even if I'd like!" said Vince a little embarrassed. Anastasia looked at Vince incredulous and definitely blushed violently. She'd had to be red as a tomato!
"So? Who's she?" insisted Hector.
"-She- is Anastasia. My name is Anastasia!" said irritated Annie shacking Hector' s hand.
"It's your new purchase, Dom?" asked Hector.
"Yeah" he answered thoughtfully: "she works for me" he said . Was there a second meaning to those words, or it was just her that had noticed that? He made his gaze running all over her body: her tight fitting low raiders jeans her small white top covered by a fine net of the same colour. His gaze ran deliberately slowly and insolent on her bare skin, then on her breast up to her neck, then to her lips, until it joined her eyes giving her an intimate deep look. She unconsciously passed her tongue slowly on her lower lip and he followed her movement.
"So you don't mind if I try with her" said Hector looking maliciously at her.
"She is in -my- team" repeated Dom never leaving his gaze from her. There was a kind of indirect message in his words. Hector seemed to understand that, because he didn't insist. Annie was astonished. They were talking about her like if she wasn't there, . . . . like a piece of meat! She shook her head in disbelief.
"So? What do we do tonight?" asked one of the guy breaking that moment of silence.
"Race!" said Hector.
"How much?" asked another black guy to Dom.
"2 G's buy in. Winner takes all" answered Dom.
"Ok" all the guys agreed and took their money.
Annie watched at the scene silently. She smiled ironically: with all that money, she could have paid all her debt to Dom. She shook her head: what are you thinking? She asked mentally to herself.
"Hector you take the money" said Dom.
"Why Hector?" one of the guy asked. "Because he's too slow to make it away with the money!" said another one and Hector gave him an annoyed look, and all laughed to that.
"Ok. Let's go. Good luck everybody" said Dom accentuating his words with the gesture of his arm. In a while all the people were on their car, starting to move. Annie looked around a little bit lost.
Mia saw her "Annie!"
"Where do they go?" asked Annie louder because of the increasing noise of all those engines starting.
"Follow me" replied Mia.
Mia drove her to the arrival point. "We won't see the race like this" said Annie.
"It's pointless" said Letty who had joined them. Annie didn't understand , but remained silent.
The race was fast and Dom blew everyone away crossing the line first. After a long while the others arrived. When he got out of the car an happily crowd surrounded him giving tribute for his performance. Now she understood why all respected him so much. He was very good. Annie looked at him admired. He'd gained her respect. On the street he was someone. All the guys paid Dom which gave the money to Mia and they were still talking happily about the race when someone started to shout "Cops, cops, cops!"
In a while all the people were in their cars driving fast away, each one in a different direction. Annie was lost. She'd never done that before and didn't know LA at all. She fast jumped on her car and started to move. She recognised Dom's car moving and decided to follow. It wasn't easy to stay back to him, because he was very fast and drove very sure of himself through the street of LA not caring at all about the traffic, for a moment she even thought she'd lost him, but then he turned, found a garage and entered it. She followed him and when she turned, he was no more there. She slowed down and looked around. It was not possible. She'd stayed behind him until that moment, and now? Where was he?
She turned around the block, hearing the police sirens approaching. She had to find him immediately before it was too late. Suddenly she saw him walking on the road. She drove her car nearby him. He glanced at her worried, then recognised the car astonished. "Get in! Cops are coming!" she shouted him.
Sirens were very near now. He didn't wait and jumped in the car.
"Go, go, go!" he cried worried.
"No! Too late!" she said hearing the cops car too near. "Stay down!" she ordered and pushed him on her lap.
The police car turned the corner, slowed down to check who was at the drive, but she was going very slowly and careful and looked the more quiet and indifferent she could, so they decided to not take care of her and continued their run.
After they turned she said "You can raise up". He regained his position and looked around. He looked at her for a while, frowning, then back to the street.
"Thanks" he whispered through his teeth. She couldn't believe to her ears.
"I would have been lost without you" she found herself reply. In all senses she thought. He glanced at her for a while then, back to the street again.
"Maybe we should teach you two, three things about cars and driving fast. You never know" said Dom most to himself as he was thinking at loud voice.
"Maybe . . . " she repeated never taking her eyes off the street. She drove very calmly. She stopped her car at the traffic light.
"Shit!" she looked on the rear view mirror.
"What?" asked Dom frowning and trying to turn.
"No! Don't do it! Stay down! Cops!" she told him worried.
A police car was approaching near to her car at the traffic light. Dom laid down on her lap. Even if she was worried she couldn't restrain a smile: the scene was comical.
She tried to look very calm. " 'evening" said the young policeman to Annie . She nodded in reply and smiled.
"Nice car" insisted the man with a smile.
"Thank you" she replied gently to the man with a smile.
"Do not flirtate even now with him. Greet him and stop!" whispered Dom from his position.
She gave him with nonchalance a gentle slap on his head "Shut up!" she muttered through her teeth continuing to smile to the policeman.
"You should fasten your seat belt!" the guy told her.
"Oh, yes! I'm sorry. I forgot it!" she apologized and immediately fastened her seat belt. Dom helped her.
He smiled. It was funny, but he liked being there, like this: watching her abds, her breast going up and down. Nice panorama he thought.
"Have a nice evening and drive safe!" greeted her the policeman once the traffic light turned green.
"Thank you!" said Annie and greeted him back with a smile.
"They are gone?" asked Dom.
"They are toward me, if you raise up, they'll see you" she warned him, continuing to drive very calmly.
"You smell good" he said after a while.
"I think you like more than expected to be like this" she said ironically.
"Nice panorama" he replied grinning.
"Enjoy it all now, until you can. You won't see it again!" she teased him ironic.
He grinned and moved one finger following the line of her abds. She shivered, his touch was so sexy and delicate. She held her breath and contracted her muscles. He smiled: she reacted immediately under his touch .
"Why girls should put a brilliant on their navel?" asked Dom touching the precious stone.
"To please men?" she replied with a bit of irony. Dom smiled and caressed her abds.
She turned on a new street. She didn't know where she was going, just following the traffic trying to concentrate on what she was doing but it was hard under Dom's attentions.
"You can raise up now" she told him.
"Don't know if I want" said Dom in a mischievous tone. She glanced at him with a warning look, but then she couldn't restrain a grin.
He sit down again. "Let's go home" he finally said and told her where to go.
They joined his house and walked in. Inside, all they were doing different things. Dom looked angry at that. The atmosphere of before was forgotten. Annie decided to remain in a corner. The first to join Dom was Bryan: he knew him too well.
"Sorry Dom. Me and Mia have been stopped by the cops and they controlled us and our documents and all- Otherwise, you know . . . " he was really sad about that.
Dom nodded "you and Mia, ok?" asked Dom.
"Yeah. They found nothing on us" ended Bryan.
But Dom was still angry with the rest of his team. "And you guys?" yelled Dom not caring to hide his anger. They looked at him silent. They knew their mistake.
"C'mon Dom, you know, there were cops all around us!" started to say Vince.
"You shut up!" he yelled against him.
"And you snowman? How did you run away?" Letty asked angry and sarcastic to Annie. She was going to reply when- "-The snowman-, came to help me! She brought me to the base, she's been the lonely from what I see!" Dom answered toughly to Letty.
"This buster helped you? And for what?" asked sarcastic Letty "C'mon! She even doesn't know how to drive!" said sarcastic Letty.
"-Unlike you-, she used her brain! And took me here" yelled Dom. He was very angry.
"You helped him? Strangely, everybody ran away and you were there . . . " insisted Letty with an accusing tone to Annie.
"Listen, I don't know why you have it in for me, but I think you crossed the line. Are you accusing me about what? Don't discharge your feelings of guilt on me!" said Annie reacting to Letty' s provocations. "Mmh, -the innocent- is a chatterbox . . . shut up and go cooking for something!" Letty said waving annoyed her hands and turning to look at Dom.
"Uh!uh!" the guys replied.
"I'm sorry. You haven't said -please-" Annie replied fed up of Letty' s way to be. Letty with a swift move turned and punched her in the face. She staggered and fell to the floor heavily. "That's your place!" was Letty' s reply.
Annie lost her control, and suddenly she stood up and jumped against Letty. They started to fight shouting and scratching. Annie sure took more than what she was able to give, but she didn't give up.
Dom looked at the scene frowning. "Hey Dom, I've never had two girls fighting like that for me!" said Vince laughing and drinking his beer. The rest of the guys were shouting, cheering Annie and Letty.
"Dom, would you like to do something?" said angry Mia, gesturing with her head at the scene it was happening under her eyes.
"Bryan!" Dom called quiet his friend and both intervened to separate the girls.
Dom took Letty which was still trying to kick Annie. "Oh? Oh! You Stop!!" cried Dom. Bryan took Annie which was tired and in very bad conditions. She looked surly to Letty. She too had made her some -damages-. Letty was bleeding from her mouth and scratched on her face as well as on her arms. Both panted hard.
"This is the first and last time I tell you: I don't want to see this again, is that clear?" Dom angry yelled them. Annie and Letty looked at each other still defiantly and angry. "Clear?" repeated Dom again with a warning, intimidating look to both of them.
Both the girls finally nodded. "C'mon, let's put some ice on your eye" said gently Bryan driving Annie to the kitchen.
"Uh!" she started, when he put the ice on her eye.
Bryan smiled: "You're brave. You know she's a very good fighter".
"I don't know, why I did it. I'm a stupid, I usually don't do that." She said shacking her head.
"Don't blame yourself too much, it's not all your fault. She started." replied Bryan.
"Truly, I'm a peaceful. I've been taught to solve everything with words and never with hands; but there's something in her, that makes me lose my control" said Annie trying to explain her reaction.
"Letty might be very unbearable" said Mia coming into the kitchen in that moment. Then she looked at Annie: "Damn, Annie! She gave you a good thrashing!" she observed her better: "It hurts?" she asked worried, sitting near her.
"Yeah" Annie admitted in a whisper. She was astonished of herself. She'd never done this before. Was she the same girl that came from a catholic female school? She smiled at that thought. "I think I'll go to bed" said Annie.
"Sure, you fine?" asked Mia still worried.
"Yeah! Ohi!" she mourned feeling all her body in pain.
"Are you ok?" insisted Bryan. "Yes, I'll survive" she smiled at him.
In the living room meanwhile Vince came to Dom: "I'm sorry Dom, it won't happen no more. I promise you" and also the rest of the team agreed.
"Want a massage?" Letty told him as nothing had happened before. He looked at her coldly but didn't answer. She sit on his lap and caressed him. In someway she was trying to excuse herself.
Annie walked out of the kitchen to go upstairs and saw the scene. She couldn't move just watched, unable to do anything. Letty saw her and accentuated her caress, becoming more sexy and kissed Dom passionately. She knew how to seduce a man, and Dom wasn't immune to her charm. Dom lifted his eyes and met those of Annie, while Letty was practically purring on his lap. His eyes became dark, he seemed worried of her conditions. But Annie was too tired of everything. She stared at him still for a while, than shook her head saying to herself that she was a stupid, because after all, Letty was Dom's girlfriend and she had all the rights to be there with him, and she didn't have to be jealous of his attention for her.
The team had started again to talk, listen music and play videogames. "You drink something Annie?" asked Jesse.
"No, thank you. Think I'll go upstairs" replied Annie. She felt defeated. Letty smiled satisfied, she knew, she'd won. Dom stared at her thoughtfully while she was going upstairs.
Annie was awoken by some noises. She opened her eyes and looked outside: it was still dark. She frowned and glanced at her clock: 3.00 am. Again those noises. She waited, trying to understand what it was. Again. It seemed .yeah, someone was shouting, no better, yelling. Again and louder than before. It came,. from the room next to her. Dom's one to be exact. He was quarrelling with a girl.Letty? Yes, it was her. Annie looked at the ceiling. She couldn't hear the exact words but it was very animated. Dom yelled at Letty several times, she replied furiously and it ended by the sound of slamming doors. Then, silence. She breathed deeply thinking at them. Strange love, so fought. If I ever fall in love, I'll never want to fight like that, she thought. Not knowing that destiny for her, would have had different plans.
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She was ending to clean the team's cars in the garage while Leon and Vince were fixing a car and Dom preparing his own one with a maniac attention for that night. "Ok guys, it's enough for today" said Dom coming out from under his car. Vince stood up and stretched himself.
"Anastasia?" called her Jesse.
"Yes?" she answered rising her head up.
"Come here" said Jesse. She drew herself up and dried the sweat from her forehead. She tried to tidy her plait, unsuccessfully, she'd had to be a mess in that moment, she thought. Then joined him.
"You like?" asked Jesse cleaning his hands on a cloth, gesturing with his head to her car and waiting for her reaction.
She frowned and turned to look what he meant. She widened her eyes in surprise. "But you repaired it!" realised Annie smiling" Oh Jesse! Really thank you!" said very happily Anastasia watching her car repaired. It was only the bodywork but she cared so much to her car and she was so happy to watch it repaired. She softly touched it, almost afraid to ruin it. It looked new.
"You couldn't come tonight with your car in such those conditions!" he said uneasy, blushing a little.
"Thanks! Thank you so much!" she said and hugged Jesse affectionately.
Dom turned and looked at the scene bothered. Jesse noticed it: "Ok, ok, that's all now" he said embarrassed and untied himself immediately from Annie. She giggled.
Dom grunted but said nothing and with Jesse got out of the garage.
Anastasia remained alone in the garage staring her car incredulous. Her precious car. Jesse had been really nice. All the guys were really nice. She caressed the plate, lost in her thoughts. She'd never met people like they were. She'd never met other people except for those chosen by her father, which were falsely kind, always hidden by a barrier of politeness. They instead were true. Sometimes even rough, but their feeling were true. With all their good and bad points. She admired that. She would have really wanted to be part of that team. Lost in her thoughts, she hadn't hear those steps approaching, so when a hand posed on her shoulder she started in surprise.
"Are you all right?"
"Vince!" she noticed "You scared me! I haven't heard you!" she said smiling nervous. He posed his arm on her shoulder and pulled her near to him.
"What were you doing" he said watching her car.
Annie felt uneasy like that but didn't show it. She'd had to be careful. She looked around. No one, she was alone. "I was just watching my car, Jesse has done a great job" said Annie trying to look calm.
"Yeah" said Vince sliding his arm around her waist and pulling her more against him. She tried nonchalantly to free herself from his hold but he tightened it.
"How are you?" insisted Vince. She noticed now that he smelt of beer.
"Fine" said Annie through her teeth, showing her effort to unfasten herself from him. "Vince, listen - " she tried to say.
"Don't be so precious Annie . . . " he said with an encouraging tone, holding her with both arms and pressing her against his chest. He was much stronger than she was.
She started to be worried now. "The others are waiting us" tried to say Annie as to lead him back to reason.
"Let them wait . . . " he replied not caring at all.
Damn! She would have wanted to shout, but he was holding her so tight that she could barely breath. "Vince - really - I don't think, this is a good idea . . . " said Annie with more difficulties, pushing against his chest unsuccessfully. Breathing was becoming even harder.
"I find this one a really good idea instead" he insisted, bending down, wanting to kiss her.
"Vince.Please! No!" she struggled with all the force she had but she could nothing because he kissed her however.
"Leave me!" she said when he detached from her to breath "please!" she was begging him scared.
"Vince!" a deep male voice came severe almost an order, from the back of her shoulder.
She couldn't check who it was but recognised it: Dom! Finally! "Oh, - ehm, - Dom!" said embarrassed Vince freeing Annie immediately, which was almost going to fall, but fortunately leaned against her car.
"Letty needs your help outside. Better you go. Now!" said Dom. There was no kindness in his voice, he was tough, his gaze cold as ice. Incredibly, the big Vince, looked now very submissive, almost scared by Dom's tone. He immediately obeyed, walking fast outside the garage.
Annie breathed hard, not knowing if she was more scared for what had happened or Vince reaction. Now they were alone and Dom looked at her, frowning. She immediately felt uneasy, conscious of his presence, his gaze on her. "You all right?" he asked her.
"Yes . . . I suppose" she softly said lowering her eyes down shamed.
"I, . . . I got to go now, thank you for you help" she said and tried to exit avoiding his look but he stopped her, grabbing her arm. "Then I would be very pleased, if you could avoid to seduce my mechanics" he sharply said.
She slowly turned her head watching him astonished. "What? Please?" she asked frowning spelling astonished.
"You heard me" he said flat.
"You're kidding me, right?" she said in a warning tone freeing herself and facing him toughly.
"I'm serious" he replied coldly.
"Fuck you!" she angrily replied.
He didn't look intimidated or surprised by her tone "Maybe you did it on purpose. Maybe you wanted to be seduced by Vince . . . " he calmly said following his line of reasoning.
She stared at him "But what a bastard, chauvinist male!" she angry replied in disbelief "You really think I'm using some kind of -art- to seduce your mechanics?"
He approached dangerously to her not caring at all to what she'd said "Or maybe . . . you were doing this . . . for me".
She was slowly stepping back while she felt her car against her back. She was blocked. His eyes looked at her dangerously. "So?" he insisted. His lips bent on a dangerous grin.
She didn't answer, not looked at him but just tried to maintain her coldness and determined tried to pass him, but he blocked her and grasping her arm pushed her against the car holding her arms. She lifted her eyes and looked worried at him. He didn't care of that, his eyes were so dark and intense. "Your way to move, to talk, to dress,..so sensual.so provoking." he whispered and slowly he leaned his head down and kissed her. At first it was a soft kiss, like he was testing her reaction, then he became more demanding, and his hand went on her chin and softly pull it down to make her lips part and slide his tongue inside exploring her, forcing her to answer to his growing passion. She didn't want to do it, she would have liked to resist, but slowly her forces, her determination was abandoning her, her mind didn't want to collaborate and she opened her mouth and answered first shyly then with more transport to his kiss.
His cell phone started to ring, but they didn't stop, it was like if they were in a trance, until that persistent sound became unbearable. He detached from her abruptly still holding her arms and stared at her panting hard, he'd lost his control as well as her. He frowned irritated to his reaction, than left her, took the phone and answered with a quiet tone, like if nothing had happened and walked out, living her alone and confused in the garage.
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That Night.
Six cars ran out in the dark night. They joined a deserted street in a loney industrial wasteland on the outskirts of Los Angeles. The air was filled with the sound of turbo-charged horsepower, coming from under the hoods of dozens of colourful Japanese and German subcompacts and sports cars which were into a small street and music and a colourful crowd reunited there. Kind of a big street party.
The cars turned into that street . The first to arrive was Dom. Then all the others. The crowd opened at the roaring of his red Mazda. Anastasia was the last one. Her car was the most simple one compared to the others but she didn't care of that, too thrilled of being there. She wasn't going to race, even if she would have liked, she realised, surprised with herself.
She looked around once more. It was the second time that she went on a meeting of street racers but, she was still astonished : all that cars were beautiful. She scanned the crowd and found Dom surrounded by lot of guys. He was discussing with them. They looked at him admired and very respectful. He seemed to be very famous there.
Since he couldn't see her, she leaned against her car arm crossed on her chest and took her time to observe him truly, maybe for her first time: tall, muscled, he got something like a magnetic aura and everybody, for a reason or another felt attracted by him. Like gravity. Even herself, she felt attracted by him. His way to walk, to look, to talk, his voice. He was sexy, she realised admiring him and smiled to herself. When suddenly, like he'd felt something, he turned his head and looked toward her meeting her eyes fixing him. As he knew already what she was thinking he stared at her and grinned in an arrogant, conspiratorial way back at her. She blushed of shame because she'd been discovered and immediately looked away. Damn! Sure he'd understood what I was thinking. I'd been stared at him like a stupid teenager in love for the first time, for her hero! You stupid Anastasia! She thought.
"Annie? Why you stay here alone? Come!" said Vince and without waiting her answer, pushed her toward Dom's group. Perfect! How embarrassing ! She was going to play the fool, she thought.
"Hey Vince!" said a man when they joined them.
"Yo Hector!" replied Vince.
"Who's she? Your chick?" asked Hector smiling charming to Annie. She felt the eyes of all those men on her and blushed a little.
Dom looked at her serious as he was checking for her reaction.
"No, no! Even if I'd like!" said Vince a little embarrassed. Anastasia looked at Vince incredulous and definitely blushed violently. She'd had to be red as a tomato!
"So? Who's she?" insisted Hector.
"-She- is Anastasia. My name is Anastasia!" said irritated Annie shacking Hector' s hand.
"It's your new purchase, Dom?" asked Hector.
"Yeah" he answered thoughtfully: "she works for me" he said . Was there a second meaning to those words, or it was just her that had noticed that? He made his gaze running all over her body: her tight fitting low raiders jeans her small white top covered by a fine net of the same colour. His gaze ran deliberately slowly and insolent on her bare skin, then on her breast up to her neck, then to her lips, until it joined her eyes giving her an intimate deep look. She unconsciously passed her tongue slowly on her lower lip and he followed her movement.
"So you don't mind if I try with her" said Hector looking maliciously at her.
"She is in -my- team" repeated Dom never leaving his gaze from her. There was a kind of indirect message in his words. Hector seemed to understand that, because he didn't insist. Annie was astonished. They were talking about her like if she wasn't there, . . . . like a piece of meat! She shook her head in disbelief.
"So? What do we do tonight?" asked one of the guy breaking that moment of silence.
"Race!" said Hector.
"How much?" asked another black guy to Dom.
"2 G's buy in. Winner takes all" answered Dom.
"Ok" all the guys agreed and took their money.
Annie watched at the scene silently. She smiled ironically: with all that money, she could have paid all her debt to Dom. She shook her head: what are you thinking? She asked mentally to herself.
"Hector you take the money" said Dom.
"Why Hector?" one of the guy asked. "Because he's too slow to make it away with the money!" said another one and Hector gave him an annoyed look, and all laughed to that.
"Ok. Let's go. Good luck everybody" said Dom accentuating his words with the gesture of his arm. In a while all the people were on their car, starting to move. Annie looked around a little bit lost.
Mia saw her "Annie!"
"Where do they go?" asked Annie louder because of the increasing noise of all those engines starting.
"Follow me" replied Mia.
Mia drove her to the arrival point. "We won't see the race like this" said Annie.
"It's pointless" said Letty who had joined them. Annie didn't understand , but remained silent.
The race was fast and Dom blew everyone away crossing the line first. After a long while the others arrived. When he got out of the car an happily crowd surrounded him giving tribute for his performance. Now she understood why all respected him so much. He was very good. Annie looked at him admired. He'd gained her respect. On the street he was someone. All the guys paid Dom which gave the money to Mia and they were still talking happily about the race when someone started to shout "Cops, cops, cops!"
In a while all the people were in their cars driving fast away, each one in a different direction. Annie was lost. She'd never done that before and didn't know LA at all. She fast jumped on her car and started to move. She recognised Dom's car moving and decided to follow. It wasn't easy to stay back to him, because he was very fast and drove very sure of himself through the street of LA not caring at all about the traffic, for a moment she even thought she'd lost him, but then he turned, found a garage and entered it. She followed him and when she turned, he was no more there. She slowed down and looked around. It was not possible. She'd stayed behind him until that moment, and now? Where was he?
She turned around the block, hearing the police sirens approaching. She had to find him immediately before it was too late. Suddenly she saw him walking on the road. She drove her car nearby him. He glanced at her worried, then recognised the car astonished. "Get in! Cops are coming!" she shouted him.
Sirens were very near now. He didn't wait and jumped in the car.
"Go, go, go!" he cried worried.
"No! Too late!" she said hearing the cops car too near. "Stay down!" she ordered and pushed him on her lap.
The police car turned the corner, slowed down to check who was at the drive, but she was going very slowly and careful and looked the more quiet and indifferent she could, so they decided to not take care of her and continued their run.
After they turned she said "You can raise up". He regained his position and looked around. He looked at her for a while, frowning, then back to the street.
"Thanks" he whispered through his teeth. She couldn't believe to her ears.
"I would have been lost without you" she found herself reply. In all senses she thought. He glanced at her for a while then, back to the street again.
"Maybe we should teach you two, three things about cars and driving fast. You never know" said Dom most to himself as he was thinking at loud voice.
"Maybe . . . " she repeated never taking her eyes off the street. She drove very calmly. She stopped her car at the traffic light.
"Shit!" she looked on the rear view mirror.
"What?" asked Dom frowning and trying to turn.
"No! Don't do it! Stay down! Cops!" she told him worried.
A police car was approaching near to her car at the traffic light. Dom laid down on her lap. Even if she was worried she couldn't restrain a smile: the scene was comical.
She tried to look very calm. " 'evening" said the young policeman to Annie . She nodded in reply and smiled.
"Nice car" insisted the man with a smile.
"Thank you" she replied gently to the man with a smile.
"Do not flirtate even now with him. Greet him and stop!" whispered Dom from his position.
She gave him with nonchalance a gentle slap on his head "Shut up!" she muttered through her teeth continuing to smile to the policeman.
"You should fasten your seat belt!" the guy told her.
"Oh, yes! I'm sorry. I forgot it!" she apologized and immediately fastened her seat belt. Dom helped her.
He smiled. It was funny, but he liked being there, like this: watching her abds, her breast going up and down. Nice panorama he thought.
"Have a nice evening and drive safe!" greeted her the policeman once the traffic light turned green.
"Thank you!" said Annie and greeted him back with a smile.
"They are gone?" asked Dom.
"They are toward me, if you raise up, they'll see you" she warned him, continuing to drive very calmly.
"You smell good" he said after a while.
"I think you like more than expected to be like this" she said ironically.
"Nice panorama" he replied grinning.
"Enjoy it all now, until you can. You won't see it again!" she teased him ironic.
He grinned and moved one finger following the line of her abds. She shivered, his touch was so sexy and delicate. She held her breath and contracted her muscles. He smiled: she reacted immediately under his touch .
"Why girls should put a brilliant on their navel?" asked Dom touching the precious stone.
"To please men?" she replied with a bit of irony. Dom smiled and caressed her abds.
She turned on a new street. She didn't know where she was going, just following the traffic trying to concentrate on what she was doing but it was hard under Dom's attentions.
"You can raise up now" she told him.
"Don't know if I want" said Dom in a mischievous tone. She glanced at him with a warning look, but then she couldn't restrain a grin.
He sit down again. "Let's go home" he finally said and told her where to go.
They joined his house and walked in. Inside, all they were doing different things. Dom looked angry at that. The atmosphere of before was forgotten. Annie decided to remain in a corner. The first to join Dom was Bryan: he knew him too well.
"Sorry Dom. Me and Mia have been stopped by the cops and they controlled us and our documents and all- Otherwise, you know . . . " he was really sad about that.
Dom nodded "you and Mia, ok?" asked Dom.
"Yeah. They found nothing on us" ended Bryan.
But Dom was still angry with the rest of his team. "And you guys?" yelled Dom not caring to hide his anger. They looked at him silent. They knew their mistake.
"C'mon Dom, you know, there were cops all around us!" started to say Vince.
"You shut up!" he yelled against him.
"And you snowman? How did you run away?" Letty asked angry and sarcastic to Annie. She was going to reply when- "-The snowman-, came to help me! She brought me to the base, she's been the lonely from what I see!" Dom answered toughly to Letty.
"This buster helped you? And for what?" asked sarcastic Letty "C'mon! She even doesn't know how to drive!" said sarcastic Letty.
"-Unlike you-, she used her brain! And took me here" yelled Dom. He was very angry.
"You helped him? Strangely, everybody ran away and you were there . . . " insisted Letty with an accusing tone to Annie.
"Listen, I don't know why you have it in for me, but I think you crossed the line. Are you accusing me about what? Don't discharge your feelings of guilt on me!" said Annie reacting to Letty' s provocations. "Mmh, -the innocent- is a chatterbox . . . shut up and go cooking for something!" Letty said waving annoyed her hands and turning to look at Dom.
"Uh!uh!" the guys replied.
"I'm sorry. You haven't said -please-" Annie replied fed up of Letty' s way to be. Letty with a swift move turned and punched her in the face. She staggered and fell to the floor heavily. "That's your place!" was Letty' s reply.
Annie lost her control, and suddenly she stood up and jumped against Letty. They started to fight shouting and scratching. Annie sure took more than what she was able to give, but she didn't give up.
Dom looked at the scene frowning. "Hey Dom, I've never had two girls fighting like that for me!" said Vince laughing and drinking his beer. The rest of the guys were shouting, cheering Annie and Letty.
"Dom, would you like to do something?" said angry Mia, gesturing with her head at the scene it was happening under her eyes.
"Bryan!" Dom called quiet his friend and both intervened to separate the girls.
Dom took Letty which was still trying to kick Annie. "Oh? Oh! You Stop!!" cried Dom. Bryan took Annie which was tired and in very bad conditions. She looked surly to Letty. She too had made her some -damages-. Letty was bleeding from her mouth and scratched on her face as well as on her arms. Both panted hard.
"This is the first and last time I tell you: I don't want to see this again, is that clear?" Dom angry yelled them. Annie and Letty looked at each other still defiantly and angry. "Clear?" repeated Dom again with a warning, intimidating look to both of them.
Both the girls finally nodded. "C'mon, let's put some ice on your eye" said gently Bryan driving Annie to the kitchen.
"Uh!" she started, when he put the ice on her eye.
Bryan smiled: "You're brave. You know she's a very good fighter".
"I don't know, why I did it. I'm a stupid, I usually don't do that." She said shacking her head.
"Don't blame yourself too much, it's not all your fault. She started." replied Bryan.
"Truly, I'm a peaceful. I've been taught to solve everything with words and never with hands; but there's something in her, that makes me lose my control" said Annie trying to explain her reaction.
"Letty might be very unbearable" said Mia coming into the kitchen in that moment. Then she looked at Annie: "Damn, Annie! She gave you a good thrashing!" she observed her better: "It hurts?" she asked worried, sitting near her.
"Yeah" Annie admitted in a whisper. She was astonished of herself. She'd never done this before. Was she the same girl that came from a catholic female school? She smiled at that thought. "I think I'll go to bed" said Annie.
"Sure, you fine?" asked Mia still worried.
"Yeah! Ohi!" she mourned feeling all her body in pain.
"Are you ok?" insisted Bryan. "Yes, I'll survive" she smiled at him.
In the living room meanwhile Vince came to Dom: "I'm sorry Dom, it won't happen no more. I promise you" and also the rest of the team agreed.
"Want a massage?" Letty told him as nothing had happened before. He looked at her coldly but didn't answer. She sit on his lap and caressed him. In someway she was trying to excuse herself.
Annie walked out of the kitchen to go upstairs and saw the scene. She couldn't move just watched, unable to do anything. Letty saw her and accentuated her caress, becoming more sexy and kissed Dom passionately. She knew how to seduce a man, and Dom wasn't immune to her charm. Dom lifted his eyes and met those of Annie, while Letty was practically purring on his lap. His eyes became dark, he seemed worried of her conditions. But Annie was too tired of everything. She stared at him still for a while, than shook her head saying to herself that she was a stupid, because after all, Letty was Dom's girlfriend and she had all the rights to be there with him, and she didn't have to be jealous of his attention for her.
The team had started again to talk, listen music and play videogames. "You drink something Annie?" asked Jesse.
"No, thank you. Think I'll go upstairs" replied Annie. She felt defeated. Letty smiled satisfied, she knew, she'd won. Dom stared at her thoughtfully while she was going upstairs.
Annie was awoken by some noises. She opened her eyes and looked outside: it was still dark. She frowned and glanced at her clock: 3.00 am. Again those noises. She waited, trying to understand what it was. Again. It seemed .yeah, someone was shouting, no better, yelling. Again and louder than before. It came,. from the room next to her. Dom's one to be exact. He was quarrelling with a girl.Letty? Yes, it was her. Annie looked at the ceiling. She couldn't hear the exact words but it was very animated. Dom yelled at Letty several times, she replied furiously and it ended by the sound of slamming doors. Then, silence. She breathed deeply thinking at them. Strange love, so fought. If I ever fall in love, I'll never want to fight like that, she thought. Not knowing that destiny for her, would have had different plans.
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