CH.12

One week passed since that afternoon and no one of Annie and Dom came back to the subject later. It was all like if it had never happened, which made Annie feeling nervous and depressed. But there wasn't a solution, except for the fact that Dom, was still with Letty and that she'd been a stupid to do what she'd done with him, thought Annie, cleaning the coffee machine that afternoon.

She'd been the pastime of a Sunday afternoon. She'd had to know that. What she'd thought? You're mad, she told to herself. And now, she felt not only depressed but also guilty for what they'd done. He was with Letty. He'd a girlfriend and.she knew that and notwithstanding she'd made love with him. Wait. Love? No, this was sex. Just sex. At least for him. Because even for what wrong it was what they'd done, in her mind, she couldn't repudiate that afternoon. It had been great, unique and special and she would have saved it in her heart for the rest of her life. But for the rest, there was only one solution: avoiding any more physical contact with Dominic Toretto. Even if she didn't like Letty, she wasn't the kind of girl to steal the boyfriends from the others. Even if only for a little moment. -Is what you already did - thought sadly Annie. You've betrayed a girl. You've betrayed your rules. You'll never forget it. She sighed. That afternoon she felt worse than usual.

When suddenly she heard the sound of cars approaching to the bar. Dom and the team stopped their cars in front of the bar and got out. They got inside the bar making a lot of noise as usual, talking loudly about cars, races, and engines. Annie couldn't restraint a quiet grin: if someone had told her, five months before that in a near future she would have been part of a street racers team, she would have laughed out loud about that and now..she shook her head and with that smile on her lips, she greeted everybody. Dom glanced at her as to understand the reason of her mysterious smile but when he met her gaze, her smile disappeared and she turned to talk with a client. He stared at her still for a moment then went to his 'office' to check the bills as usual and Annie could finally breathe normally.

She was preparing a coffee when suddenly someone came near to her. She glanced: "Bryan!" "Gotta talk to you" he told her seriously.

A stab of pain reached her stomach. Something in his eyes worried her. She served the client and reached him on one side, far from the others. She looked at him with a questioning look even if inside her she feared to know what he was going to say. "It's for tonight" he briefly told her.

She gulped: " Ok, but - how will we do with Dom? How will we do without the other will notice our absence?" asked Annie.

" Don't worry I'll call you at the right moment, just be ready." Simply said Bryan.

Annie nodded: "Ok." And both of them rejoined the group.

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"Annie? Annie!" a male voice was calling while someone was shaking her.

"Mmh . . . ?" she murmured in her sleep.

"C'mon! It's time to go!" whispered again that voice.

Anastasia opened her eyes blinking them then frowned as to understand: Bryan was standing just in front of her bed in the darkness. In a second she remembered everything. How could have been possible that she'd fallen asleep? It seemed to her that she'd just closed her eyes for a few minutes. "Give me a minute and I'll be ready" said Annie.

"Ok. I'll wait you downstairs. Be careful, the others are sleeping" he told her and she nodded. He got out of her room. She looked at her clock: 3.00am. She stood up and breathed deeply: "Ok . . .let's go".

After a while she joined Bryan downstairs. He was worried as well as her she noticed, but fortunately he knew what to do. They got out of the house very silently, paying attention of not making noise closing the door, then they walked for a long moment until they joined a black car parked on one side of the street. "Whose car is this?" asked Annie once they were inside and Bryan was driving.

"Henry gave me" replied Bryan shortly.

" It's all perfectly organized . . . " noticed Annie thoughtfully looking outside the window. "Bryan?" she asked after a while.

"Yes"

"Are we sure about this?" said Annie giving voice to her thoughts. He stopped at a red light and turned to face her. She looked visibly restless.

"It'll be fine" he said in a low tone, touching with his hand her thigh in a reassuring way : "It'll be fine" he added after a moment almost to himself watching back to the empty silent road in front of him.

"A diplomatic and an ex-cop, we are a good example to follow" she said ironical and Bryan grinned. The rest of the way was silent. Tension filled the air.

They arrived at the restaurant on the highway that Henry had told them they would have found the truck.

"It's there" said Annie finding it. Bryan nodded and drove the car in a dark place of the parking, stopping it.

"C'mon" said Bryan and they got off the car joining the windows of the restaurant. He glanced inside.

She breathed: "So? What do we do now?" she asked nervously turning to look at Bryan.

"We wait until the driver will come out. Once we'll see him, you'll go into action" he explained her.

"Sorry?" asked Annie bewildered.

"You'll have to take his attention, making him open the truck then . . . .I'll come and do the rest" he ended with an half smile.

"Easy, where is the problem?" Annie answered to his words in a teasing tone. It wasn't clear the -I will do the rest - but Annie didn't insist, hoping that Bryan knew well what they were going to do. They waited for half an hour, then someone came out of the restaurant and immediately Bryan held her in his arms.

"Bryan?" she asked hesitantly: "What are you doing?"

"I'm acting like if you were my girlfriend, so that no one will notice us" he explained her.

"Oh . . . " She felt a bit uneasy and uncertain: "Are you sure? Because . . . " she was saying when suddenly he stopped her words by covering her mouth with his and kissing her for a long moment. It was a strange unexpected kiss. His lips were soft and gentle. When he stopped and raised his head up, he smiled a bit embarrassed: "Someone was coming" he explained watching at her shocked reaction.

"Oh, . . . oh., ok." She said clearing her throat.

"By the way, - " Said Bryan: "You kiss pretty good" he whispered her with a malicious grin.

"Why thank you" she replied smiling ironical: " You too, you aren't so bad . . . " she was saying when suddenly someone got out from the restaurant again and Bryan kissed her again for long, with transport, indulging on her mouth. He was a very good kisser. It looked a lot like a true kiss and if it was a fake one, well, he had to be the king of that. Someone whistled at the scene.

When he left her, she slowly opened her eyes a bit lost. Something had happened. They stared at each other speechless. For a long moment They tried astonished to understand the odd. It had been crazy. Madness. He was still holding her gently in his arms. She gulped, blinking her eyes and feeling a little dizzy. He cleared his throat. They were slowly waking up, slowly coming back to reason. He suddenly left her as only the contact could send him electricity. She straightened up. "So - " he whispered not knowing what to say.

"Well - " she replied.

They looked at each other uneasy. "I didn't-" she started to say confused.

"Neither did I" added Bryan.

They breathed, controlling their emotions. Then she finally broke the silence. "I - " she cleared her throat again and he smiled at that. "I'm starting to think that you like this, more than expected" she said ironic.

He smiled amused: "Well, you know, better this, than a kick in the ass!" said Bryan with an innocent face and both laughed nervously at that. The moment was gone.

"You're someone Bryan!" she told him after a moment.

"Anyway" he started: " It would be definitely better not to tell this to Mia . . . And Dom . . . especially to him, . . . You know . . . " he told her suddenly serious feeling clearly uneasy.

"You mean about the truck" she asked him.

"And the kiss" he underlined more uneasily.

"Can't believe it: You're scared of Dom!" She teased him.

"Don't you?" Said Bryan with a grin.

She shrugged: "ok, I admit it . . . yes I am!" she smiled. But the question in her head remained; Why Dom had to be interested by that kiss?

Then suddenly Bryan said: "Here! Must be him!" and glanced to a big man who had just got out of the restaurant.

She followed Bryan's look and gulped trying to mentally prepare herself. "Take this" said Bryan, giving her a spray.

"What's that?" she asked.

"In case of emergency, use it against him - not you!" he warned her. Then watching her scared reaction he added with an half smile shrugging: "You know, - just in case, - I wasn't fast enough!" she looked at him with a worried look.

"I was kidding! I'll be fast! I'll be fast!" he added grinning. She breathed deeply, straightened up and started to walk toward the man.

The owner of the truck was a very big bulky man who looked almost twice than Vince. Annie walked fast to reach him, then when she was near enough: " Hey sweetie? Is it the way to go with a girl? I've been looking for you all the evening and you even didn't notice me!" she loudly said. The man turned and saw her. He looked doubtful at her and Annie gave him a provoking smile starting to wiggle sexily toward him.

"I didn't see you inside" said the man suspiciously.

"Sweetie, you offend me! Is it possible that you haven't noticed me before?" she insisted winking at him. She reached him: he was enormous and she had to roll her head back a little to look at his eyes. He strongly smelled of beer. He stared at her thoughtfully for a long moment and Annie was becoming more and more worried that he couldn't trust her. When she was very near to say something more, he finally gave her what it had to be a seducing smile: " Yeah, now I remember you blondie" he replied. She breathed, a sigh of relief and smiled: he was drunk.

"So what are we waiting for?" she dared to say: "why don't you show me your big truck" she ended her words with a seducing allusive smile.

He looked hesitantly, then agreed: "Ok, I'll show you my reign". He opened the door of the truck and helped her jumping inside the cockpit touching for this, her bottom. Annie started a little but then realized: the plan was working.

Once inside, he showed her the truck, explaining everything and meanwhile he approached more and more to her. Annie was becoming very nervous. She tried to make him talk but he didn't seem to follow her no more and tried only to touch her. "C'mon blondie! You look to be very hot!" said the man grabbing her hair and pushing her against him trying to kiss her. Annie tried first to free herself very politely then with more strength but nothing, he was bigger and stronger than her and he kissed her. She fought trying to free herself until desperate she bit his lip so strongly that he suddenly left her imprecating while the blood came out from his lip. She was scared now, very scared! Her mind went fast thinking at something to do when someone suddenly touched the man's shoulder and when he turned to see who it was, the man received a punch in his face. Bryan! It was Bryan! Finally! The man didn't seem to be shaken, but this gave her the time to free herself from the man's hold and got off the engine not before taking the keys of it.

The man reacted immediately like a fury, taking Bryan and throwing him out of the truck. In a second, the bulky man was again on Bryan punching him with a strength that Annie thought impossible for a man. Bryan tried to react but the man was enormous and stronger than him and soon he ended to be overwhelmed by his hits. Annie looked at the scene shocked not knowing exactly what to do: "Ooh!!! What shall I do??" was saying Annie to herself worried. Think, think fast! Suddenly she got the idea: The spray! The problem was that the man was taller than Bryan, how could she reach his face? He'd had to bend down. He was hitting badly Bryan who looked fainted; she'd had to be fast. She didn't think too much and hit with all her strength at the bending of the knee of the man.

It was all so unexpected and decisive that the man fell on the floor on his knees. She took the spray Bryan had given her before and sprayed the liquid on the man's face. "Bitch!" the man shouted and was going to hit her, but in a moment he fell asleep on the floor.

"Bryan!" she shouted and came to his friend which was leaned on the floor consciousness. "Oh, My god he's dead!" said Annie watching shocked at his face covered by the blood: "Bryan!!! Please!!! Are you all right?" she stirred him: "Bryan?? Bryan!!!" she looked around no one has seen them, but now? "Oh, shit! And now? How can I do it?" "Bryan?!" she called again her friend shacking him a little.

"Annie." said in a whisper Bryan his eyes closed, making a big effort to talk: " Annie..take the keys, .gotta go. take the.. map.in the car." was all he said before fainting again.

"Bryan!!!" Annie called him again but nothing. She raised her head up: "The car.Which car? Ah, yes! Ok, ok..I can do it! Calm down Annie! Calm down!" she ran to the car and took the map than went back to Bryan. "Oh, Bryan! You have to help me! I'll never be able to carry you until the truck! C'mon! BRYAN!" she shouted.

He seemed to hear her pray and opened his eyes moaning: "Ok, Ok. Now we have to reach the truck, at three we stand up and we walk , ok??? One..two..THREE!" and with an enormous effort from both of them , Bryan stood up but leaned completely on Annie's shoulder that dangerously waved under all his weight, trying with all herself to support him. They reached the truck and got inside.

"Annie.you.you have to drive!" said Bryan in a barely audible voice.

"What? I can't!! I don't know.I.."

"Annie!" he interrupted her taking all his strengths to talk: "You can do it, baby! I'll help you! C'mon! Gotta go immediately!!" he told her, his voice a whisper. Incredible but under Bryan's instructions she started to move the big truck and drove it on the highway. "You're great Annie! Just continue like this, you're doing right!" said Bryan who looked to make it hard to be awaken. Annie wasn't too sure at the drive, so she went calmly taking her time. "Hon, just remember in case I faint take the highway 69 and it's the first parking area" told her Bryan.

"No, Bryan don't leave me alone!" said worried Annie: "Don't do this to me!" But when she turned, Bryan was already fainted.

"Shit!" cried Annie. Ok. She had to be cool and go on like this. It would have been easy. Easy. She drove carefully all along the way Bryan had told her. Once there she slowly stopped the truck. She breathed deeply: she'd arrived. She looked up and saw two cars making sign with their light, must have been Henry and his gang. Bryan awoke just in time and Annie helped him to get out of the truck. He was barely able to stand up so he leaned against her.

"Miss Walker!" said a male voice reaching them: "I'm surprised!" said the man coming to light. It was Henry: "You did it!" he said loudly.

"Like if we had choices!" grumbled in a low voice Annie.

Henry gave her an evil satisfied smile: "Yeah, you're right!" he said.

"So? Shall we be square?" she dared to ask him.

"Yes.I'm satisfied. You respected the deal" Henry said. A man ran to the truck and immediately drove it away.

"It's been a pleasure to make business with you" said Henry reaching his car.

"Wait!!! How will we go back?" said Annie worried.

"Goodbye Miss Walker!" and with an evil laugh he jumped in his car and they all drove away leaving them alone in the darkness.

"Bastard!" she shouted to the cars.

Bryan fainted again and Annie was forced to lean him to the floor. She felt desperation mixed up with all the tension of that night coming out. She caressed Bryan's face dirty of dry blood. Tears came down from her eyes: What can I do now? What?? She felt so lost. Suddenly she saw in Bryan's pants a shape she new well: his cell phone! But who she could call? At this time of the night? Who?... Mia! She only hoped that Bryan got the number registered in it! She found it and called her. Mia answered after some rings with a sleepy voice and it needed a while before she could understand what Annie was saying but immediately she realised. "Where are you Annie?" asked Mia.

"I'm.I'm." she looked around lost. "Where am I? Shit!" She was so confused: "Wait!" Annie explained Mia all the way to that parking area she'd done.

"Fine! I'll be there in a while!" said Mia and she hanged up.

One hour later a car light enlightened Annie, sit on the floor with Bryan's head in her lap.

"Bryan!" shouted Mia worried getting out of the car and running to them.

"He's fine now!" said Annie still scared.

"I'm fine Mia. I'm fine!" said Bryan slowly in a low voice.

"C'mon, let's go! And you'll explain me all, during our way back home" said Mia helping Annie to bring Bryan to the car.

Annie told Mia all the story and asked her to promise of not say a word to Dom about that. They arrived at home it was the first light of the morning. All were still sleeping. "Be silent" said Mia, helping Bryan to go upstairs.

They were going to enter all in their own rooms when Letty appeared from the dark. She didn't know all, but she saw Bryan and his conditions and immediately guessed something. Mia looked at her with a begging look.

"Please,..don't say a word" whispered Mia: "Letty..Please!" Letty waited as to think, gazing first Annie, then Bryan and Mia and finally nodded.

"Thank you!" said Mia really thankful with a sincere and relieved smile. And all came finally to sleep.

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