Chapter 16
Bella's POV
I want to chase after him, but I can't leave my baby alone. I run to the front window and scream for him to come back. He just gets into his car and speeds away. Sinking to the floor, I place my face into my hands. I reach for the cell phone hanging on the belt of my pants. He will not answer, but I call anyway. The beep sounds I sob uncontrollably into the phone begging for a chance to explain, "Jesse, please come home. I should have told you. Please let me explain. What I did was for us. I love you and would never do anything to hurt you." The beep sounds again and the call ends.
The sun is beginning to shine through the windows and my eyes burn from the tears that I have shed. My phone rings, "Jesse.Jesse I can explain."
"Baby girl what happened," answers the gruffy voice on the other end.
"Nothing Vince. Jess and I had a misunderstanding. Don't worry about it."
"Sorry you may be able to lie to your brother and sister, but not to me. Tell me what happened."
Chocking back the tears I try to sound normal, "Vince it's fine, really."
"Really that's why you have been crying. We'll just see. I am standing outside your door. Let me in."
I get up from the floor and walk over to the door. Sure enough Vince is standing there. "What are you doing here?"
"Wanted to give you a ride to work and have one of your famous omelets." He looks at me with pleading eyes and smiles wide. "But first I want you to tell me why you were crying." I avoid the question and head for the kitchen. He grabs me by my arm and turns me around to face him. "Don't even think about it sweetheart. Tell me now or I will get it out of you the hard way."
"Jesse left." Those are the only words I can get out. Can't find the words to explain how badly I screwed things up.
He places his hand on the side of my face and wipes away the newly forming tears. "What happened?"
"I lied to him."
"There's more to this story than you are letting on."
"Please V, I just don't want to talk about it. It doesn't matter anymore."
"You can tell me when you feel comfortable. Until then you can just get busy cooking my breakfast, woman."
I punch him in the stomach, "Watch it or I will kick your ass."
"Oooh, I am so scared." He wraps his big arms around me and picks me off the ground.
"Put me down before I really get angry." He drops me and I fall to the floor. I get up and head to the kitchen to start breakfast. I can hear Vince talking on his cell phone telling Hector that I will be late for work.
After breakfast, I head for work. When I arrive Hector has two cars waiting on me. Work is what I need to keep my mind off of Jesse.
/*Four Weeks Later*/
The past couple of weeks have flown by. Work and Aria take up so much of my time that I never get a chance and that's a good thing. Jesse has been picking her up every other weekend. We don't even say a word to each other. He just silently grabs the baby and her things and they drive away. Leon or Vince usually stays with me on those weekends not wanting me to be alone. This weekend was supposed to be my weekend with Aria, but my Aunt Maria came and asked to take her to the family reunion and Aunt Maria does not know the meaning of the word "no".
This of course leaves me with way too much time on my hands. I decide to head to the races tonight. I call Hector and let him know that I will be there and will race whoever steps up to the line, including my brother or his team. Somehow I have become tired of hiding in the shadows and racing only when it's safe. Tonight is the night for everyone to know the truth.
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Letty's POV
Mia and I come down the stairs to catcalls and whistles. It's been a while since the whole team went to the races together, so we spent a little more time to get really dressed up. Dom grabs me and places kisses on my neck. "Later baby, later."
"Don't tease. How about staying home and I'll give you a massage?"
Rolling my eyes I laugh at him, "Not this time. I want to see a race."
"You would rather see a race," Dom looks confused.
"Tonight yeah," I smirk.
We load into our cars and head for the warehouse. We pull down the alley in our V formation with Brian taking up Jesse's place. Soon as Dom gets out of his car the skanks circle him like vultures, but to my surprise he brushes them away. He heads for my car and opens the door. His hand is outstretched to me, "Care to join me?" I take his hand and we walk together over to Edwin and Hector. Leon and Vince follow us. Mia and Brian just hang back by his car. Dom shakes Hector's hand, "Long time no see man."
Hector smiles, "Too long man too long."
"Have you been taking good care of my sister?"
"The best man. I have been treating her like the princess that she is."
"Princess? I don't know about that."
Dom looks over to Edwin, "How have you been man?"
"Damn good." Edwin says nodding his head towards a couple of women sitting on his hood.
"I see. Not much has changed since I left. You racing tonight?"
"Hell yeah. 5g buy in and I am going to be taking home some cash tonight."
Hector laughs in Edwin's face, "Don't be so confident Edwin. I have a racer that I know can take you down. The driver will be meeting us at the line and let's increase the buy in to 10g."
Edwin gets a shocked look on his face, "You're not saying what I think you are saying. Tonight?" Hector nods. "Oh yeah I am in." Dom shoots a questioning look at them both. "This driver will give you a run for your money Dom."
"You think they can beat me," he places his hand on his chest. "Do you hear this people? Hector has a driver that can beat me." The crowd roars. "Here's my money. I can't wait to see your driver Hector. Who's the fourth?" Edwin points to a white guy hanging out next to a Civic. He looks like a newbie not much competition.
Enough of the talking already I am ready to go, "Boys you can chat later. Let's see some action." With that everyone heads back to their cars and pulls out.
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Dom's POV
We gather at the start line. Reaching under the passenger seat, I turn the nitrous tanks on. The music is blaring from every car. I call over the radio to Hector, "Where's your driver?"
"Pulling to the line." Just then a blue and green Evolution pulls to the line. The windows are so dark that you can't see the driver. This guy better be good. Leon comes across the radio giving the all clear and Hector moves into position to start the race. The windows lower in the Evo and I can't believe my eyes. Bella is behind the wheel. I go to get out of my car when she shakes her head "no". I have a bad feeling about this, but there is no time to stop her. Hector drops his hands and we're off. Bella and I are even and I can't seem to shake her. The finish line is getting closer. We're dead even and then something happens to her car. It slings sideways and begins to roll over and over until it comes to rest on its side against a pole. "Bella. God not her."
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Bella's POV
Dom and I are neck and neck. This is great. Suddenly I hear a bang and the car becomes hard to steer. I have lost a tire and the car turns sideways. It's flipping. Oh shit, I am going to die. Glass is flying everywhere and my body is being slammed around. Then it all goes dark.
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Dom's POV
The car is in pieces. Bella's limp body is still strapped into her seat. I pull her out and cradle her in my arms. Blood is flowing from a cut on her head. I don't know what to do. "God, please not this way. Don't take her from me. Bella open your eyes, say something to me." I am stroking her head not getting any response.
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Mia's POV
I see the car tumble and pray that she is ok. Brian and I jump into his car and head for Bella's car. Dom already has her out of the car and is holding her. She's not moving. I grab the phone and call for an ambulance. Brian calls across the radio for all of the racers to get out of the area. They take off like bats out of hell. Vince, Letty and Leon pull up behind us. We run towards Dom and Bella. He utters words that send shock waves through me, "She's not breathing."
Bella's POV
I want to chase after him, but I can't leave my baby alone. I run to the front window and scream for him to come back. He just gets into his car and speeds away. Sinking to the floor, I place my face into my hands. I reach for the cell phone hanging on the belt of my pants. He will not answer, but I call anyway. The beep sounds I sob uncontrollably into the phone begging for a chance to explain, "Jesse, please come home. I should have told you. Please let me explain. What I did was for us. I love you and would never do anything to hurt you." The beep sounds again and the call ends.
The sun is beginning to shine through the windows and my eyes burn from the tears that I have shed. My phone rings, "Jesse.Jesse I can explain."
"Baby girl what happened," answers the gruffy voice on the other end.
"Nothing Vince. Jess and I had a misunderstanding. Don't worry about it."
"Sorry you may be able to lie to your brother and sister, but not to me. Tell me what happened."
Chocking back the tears I try to sound normal, "Vince it's fine, really."
"Really that's why you have been crying. We'll just see. I am standing outside your door. Let me in."
I get up from the floor and walk over to the door. Sure enough Vince is standing there. "What are you doing here?"
"Wanted to give you a ride to work and have one of your famous omelets." He looks at me with pleading eyes and smiles wide. "But first I want you to tell me why you were crying." I avoid the question and head for the kitchen. He grabs me by my arm and turns me around to face him. "Don't even think about it sweetheart. Tell me now or I will get it out of you the hard way."
"Jesse left." Those are the only words I can get out. Can't find the words to explain how badly I screwed things up.
He places his hand on the side of my face and wipes away the newly forming tears. "What happened?"
"I lied to him."
"There's more to this story than you are letting on."
"Please V, I just don't want to talk about it. It doesn't matter anymore."
"You can tell me when you feel comfortable. Until then you can just get busy cooking my breakfast, woman."
I punch him in the stomach, "Watch it or I will kick your ass."
"Oooh, I am so scared." He wraps his big arms around me and picks me off the ground.
"Put me down before I really get angry." He drops me and I fall to the floor. I get up and head to the kitchen to start breakfast. I can hear Vince talking on his cell phone telling Hector that I will be late for work.
After breakfast, I head for work. When I arrive Hector has two cars waiting on me. Work is what I need to keep my mind off of Jesse.
/*Four Weeks Later*/
The past couple of weeks have flown by. Work and Aria take up so much of my time that I never get a chance and that's a good thing. Jesse has been picking her up every other weekend. We don't even say a word to each other. He just silently grabs the baby and her things and they drive away. Leon or Vince usually stays with me on those weekends not wanting me to be alone. This weekend was supposed to be my weekend with Aria, but my Aunt Maria came and asked to take her to the family reunion and Aunt Maria does not know the meaning of the word "no".
This of course leaves me with way too much time on my hands. I decide to head to the races tonight. I call Hector and let him know that I will be there and will race whoever steps up to the line, including my brother or his team. Somehow I have become tired of hiding in the shadows and racing only when it's safe. Tonight is the night for everyone to know the truth.
************************************************************************
Letty's POV
Mia and I come down the stairs to catcalls and whistles. It's been a while since the whole team went to the races together, so we spent a little more time to get really dressed up. Dom grabs me and places kisses on my neck. "Later baby, later."
"Don't tease. How about staying home and I'll give you a massage?"
Rolling my eyes I laugh at him, "Not this time. I want to see a race."
"You would rather see a race," Dom looks confused.
"Tonight yeah," I smirk.
We load into our cars and head for the warehouse. We pull down the alley in our V formation with Brian taking up Jesse's place. Soon as Dom gets out of his car the skanks circle him like vultures, but to my surprise he brushes them away. He heads for my car and opens the door. His hand is outstretched to me, "Care to join me?" I take his hand and we walk together over to Edwin and Hector. Leon and Vince follow us. Mia and Brian just hang back by his car. Dom shakes Hector's hand, "Long time no see man."
Hector smiles, "Too long man too long."
"Have you been taking good care of my sister?"
"The best man. I have been treating her like the princess that she is."
"Princess? I don't know about that."
Dom looks over to Edwin, "How have you been man?"
"Damn good." Edwin says nodding his head towards a couple of women sitting on his hood.
"I see. Not much has changed since I left. You racing tonight?"
"Hell yeah. 5g buy in and I am going to be taking home some cash tonight."
Hector laughs in Edwin's face, "Don't be so confident Edwin. I have a racer that I know can take you down. The driver will be meeting us at the line and let's increase the buy in to 10g."
Edwin gets a shocked look on his face, "You're not saying what I think you are saying. Tonight?" Hector nods. "Oh yeah I am in." Dom shoots a questioning look at them both. "This driver will give you a run for your money Dom."
"You think they can beat me," he places his hand on his chest. "Do you hear this people? Hector has a driver that can beat me." The crowd roars. "Here's my money. I can't wait to see your driver Hector. Who's the fourth?" Edwin points to a white guy hanging out next to a Civic. He looks like a newbie not much competition.
Enough of the talking already I am ready to go, "Boys you can chat later. Let's see some action." With that everyone heads back to their cars and pulls out.
************************************************************************
Dom's POV
We gather at the start line. Reaching under the passenger seat, I turn the nitrous tanks on. The music is blaring from every car. I call over the radio to Hector, "Where's your driver?"
"Pulling to the line." Just then a blue and green Evolution pulls to the line. The windows are so dark that you can't see the driver. This guy better be good. Leon comes across the radio giving the all clear and Hector moves into position to start the race. The windows lower in the Evo and I can't believe my eyes. Bella is behind the wheel. I go to get out of my car when she shakes her head "no". I have a bad feeling about this, but there is no time to stop her. Hector drops his hands and we're off. Bella and I are even and I can't seem to shake her. The finish line is getting closer. We're dead even and then something happens to her car. It slings sideways and begins to roll over and over until it comes to rest on its side against a pole. "Bella. God not her."
************************************************************************
Bella's POV
Dom and I are neck and neck. This is great. Suddenly I hear a bang and the car becomes hard to steer. I have lost a tire and the car turns sideways. It's flipping. Oh shit, I am going to die. Glass is flying everywhere and my body is being slammed around. Then it all goes dark.
************************************************************************
Dom's POV
The car is in pieces. Bella's limp body is still strapped into her seat. I pull her out and cradle her in my arms. Blood is flowing from a cut on her head. I don't know what to do. "God, please not this way. Don't take her from me. Bella open your eyes, say something to me." I am stroking her head not getting any response.
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Mia's POV
I see the car tumble and pray that she is ok. Brian and I jump into his car and head for Bella's car. Dom already has her out of the car and is holding her. She's not moving. I grab the phone and call for an ambulance. Brian calls across the radio for all of the racers to get out of the area. They take off like bats out of hell. Vince, Letty and Leon pull up behind us. We run towards Dom and Bella. He utters words that send shock waves through me, "She's not breathing."