Chapter 29 - Drive like a sane person this once?
They got in the car and she told him how to get there. Dom was surprised to see they did not live in the same affluent neighbourhood Torrie was from. Her aunt and cousin living in a nice but working class neighbourhood.
"My aunt's a nurse and my uncle's a teacher." She told him. "They are just nice working class people. Not at all like my dad. My dad was the only playboy in the family. He tried to give them money for a better house but they never took it."
"They have a nice house so I can see why." They had pulled up and Dom stopped the car and went around and helped her out of the car. They walked up to the house and Torrie knocked then let herself in.
"Aunt Jean, Uncle Dave, Brad. We're here." Her family came out of the back room to greet them. Her aunt, uncle, and cousin hugged her. "Aunt Jean, Uncle Dave this is Dominic Torreto, my employer, mentor, and boyfriend." She laughed at the look on Dom's face when she said that.
"We've heard nothing but good things about you Dominic," Dave said, "We can't thank you enough for taking care of Torrie. She is so independent and we understand you took her in and gave her a job. We were worried till Brad told us she was safe and happy. We can't say we're pleased she is racing cars illegally but that is hardly your fault." Dave laughed and winked at Torrie.
Dom was impressed. Her aunt and uncle took him at face value and were not stuck up or mean to him at all. They were happy Torrie was happy and safe. They had a great time and Torrie's aunt was a great cook. It was nice to have a meal Mia did not cook for a change. Torrie left him and her uncle and cousin to talk cars while she went to help her aunt clean up, much to her chagrin.
"Well he sure is a hansom young man Torrie. How old is he?" Her aunt was not being nosey, she just wanted to know more about the man who was obviously very important to her niece.
"He turned 25 yesterday. We had a big party last night."
"And he owns his garage and a corner store already. He must be a very determined young man as well."
"Well his dad was killed in a car wreck at the track. Some other driver put him into the wall at a very high speed and he was killed. His mom left him the store but he opened DT on his own ambition."
"Oh I remember that accident. What a terrible tragedy it was."
"Yes and his mom died not long after. And Dominic ran into the man that, well, killed his dad in a way and he, well, he beat him up pretty bad. They sent him to prison for it." Torrie looked at her aunt out of the corner of her eye to see if she was going to be appalled over Dom's criminal record.
"They sent him to prison for that. The poor boy. You would not think he would go to prison after all he had already been through. You would think he could have pleaded temporary insanity."
"Well, he did and I think he should have gotten off easier too. The DA wanted to charge him with attempted murder but his lawyer got it down to assault. Well I don't want you to let on to Dom I told you because it is not really my place to be telling anyone but I did not want you to find out some other way and think I either hid if from you guys or didn't know myself. And don't tell Brad or everyone will know."
"It makes no difference to me as long as he is good to you and you're happy with him."
"Oh I couldn't be happier that's for sure. I love him so much."
"I know your father would not be pleased but I think your Dominic has grown up a lot since he hung around the store in his teens."
"I think your right and no guy would have been good enough for me in dad's eyes."
"Your right of course. But you're his only child and a daughter at that. You've been through more in 22 years then most people go through in a lifetime and I'm glad you're happy. You deserve it." They hugged. Dom came into the kitchen.
"Torrie we have to go if we are going to make it home in time for our other plans." Dom did not want to say racing in front of her relatives just in case.
"We have races tonight and we have to get ready and meet the team at home so we can head down." Torrie informed them with no qualms.
"Of course, go, go. It's been so nice to meet you Dominic. You and Torrie will have to come back soon." Jean was sincere.
"You can call me Dom, everyone does, and thank you. We'll have to clean up the guys and have you all over some time soon as well. It's been nice meeting you."
"You too and we look forward to meeting the rest of your family."
Dom and Torrie got in the car and headed for home. "So what did you think Dom? Did they give you a hard time while I was in the kitchen?"
"Not at all. They were super nice. You take after them I guess."
"Aw you're so sweet."
"No you are, that was the whole point."
"Oh stop. But Jean and Dad really are nothing a like. It is hard to think they are related. Or were I guess."
"You never told me how your dad died." Of course Dom knew through Brian but he wondered if she would tell him now, after all they had been through.
"No, I never did. He, well, he drove his car off the road over a cliff and the car burned up so bad they could not even confirm he was in it. But since he was gone and we never heard from him again we assumed he burned up in the wreck."
"Oh Torrie, I'm sorry. I assumed he took a heart attack or something. They know for a fact he drove over. He wasn't run off the road or fell asleep or something?"
"No, the cops said that the way the car went over and the marks on the road were consistent with the fact he drove over."
They stopped at a light and he leaned over and hugged her. "Sorry to bring it up, I don't want to be a downer."
"It's ok. I'm much more at peace with it all since I found you all, my new family."
"I'm glad you're happy with us. I know the guys and Mia love you like family and I can't imagine what I would do without you."
"I can't think about life without you either Dom."
They arrived home to a house full of people watching TV. No one was ready yet even though it was 8:30. Dom looked around at his team lazing in the living room.
"What are you guys doing? We leave in an hour for races and none of you are even dressed for it yet? You know there are races tonight right?"
Leon answered. "Yo Dom we knew we just lost track a'the time. This is a good movie Dawg."
"Oh ya, what movie?" Dom wanted to know what movie was better then actual racing and it was a commercial right now.
"Gone in 60 seconds." Letty answered.
"A movie about boosting cars is better then going racing?"
"Of course not Dom but it's over in 30 minutes anyway."
"Well I am going to get ready Dom, I don't like that movie much anyways." Torrie said and headed upstairs. That movie made her remember her youthful mistake. Boosting cars had been stupid.
She felt the pressure to dress in the height of fashion since Letty's arrival. She did not want the other girl to look better then her. She was jealous of Letty's curvy, fit figure and pretty dark skin. She was so pretty. She went into her room and started fishing for clothes. While she was doing that she wondered if Dom was ever going to ask her to move her stuff into his room. She thought it was kind of silly to have her own room and never sleep there. She could put her dresser in his room and he hardly used his closet anyways. She would have lots of room to move there and they slept in there every night anyway.
She put on clean underwear and stood there thinking about what to wear. She did not want to look like a racer chaser. She wanted to be classy yet sexy and she had to fit in. She picked out a pair of dark blue leather pants with flames licking up the sides and then a blue tee shirt with matching flames on the hem and the little sleeves. The pants were very low cut and the top was high cut. The pants had a funky belt and she wore her belly chain. She put on her boots with the flames on the toes. Then her rings and her chunky bracelet. She put on the chain her dad had gotten her with both a horseshoe set with diamonds and a horse in full gallop that was the basis of the decal on her car. She left her hair down and did her typical race night makeup. She was the last one down the stairs because of her indecision of what to wear. Dom was not impressed with her because the others had started after her but finished first.
"God Torrie I was starting to think you didn't want to race tonight. We're going to be late."
"Oh Dom you love being late, makes big bad Dom the center of attention."
"Whatever, lets go." Dom said with attitude. He was mad at her taking forever and ending up turning racing into a fashion show among the female members of his team.
"Fine let's go." Torrie didn't want to fight in front of Letty but she wanted to tear a strip off him. She barely contained it. It was only 9:30 and racing didn't start till 10. They were only about 40 minutes out of the warehouse where everyone met up. And they hung out for the first like 2 hours till it got late enough to race. She snatched up her keys and headed out the door. Vince knew she was pissed off and he hated to think of her driving like that. She drove like a bat out of hell when she was happy let alone when she was pissed. He grabbed her arm.
"Torrie, you ok? Don't drive on the freeway like a moron ok?"
"V, I'm fine really. I will follow you if it makes you feel better."
"No, just don't try to goad Dominic into a race on the way to races ok? That wouldn't be smart. Comprende?"
"Yes V, I won't do anything crazy on the highway. Was I really done that far behind everyone else?"
"Not really but you know how he is. Probably wondering how the car will do tonight. First time out after all the new modds."
"Well I remember the last time he treated me like this but the question is does he?"
"Torrie don't go there."
"Why the hell not. I can't handle the mood swings."
Dom honked at them to get into their cars. Letty was happy he was pissed at little miss perfect. In her perfect little outfit with her perfect long hair and perfect tiny figure. Dom being mad at her suited Letty just fine.
Torrie and Vince got into their cars and the Team took off. Mia rode with Letty cause she had missed her and wanted to catch up. Brian took the supra, he hadn't raced in awhile but he was going to tonight to warm up for racewars. Vince and Leon and Jesse took their cars and of course Dom and Torrie. Torrie broke her promise to Vince in a way. She didn't try to race Dom but she did crazy stuff on the freeway. She used her NOS on the freeway and was at the place they all caught up to get in formation 2 minutes ahead of Dom who was going to tear into her for that stunt when they got out of their cars but not now cause there was no time.
They got into the v. Dom at the point then Torrie and Letty, the two Nissan 240sxs, then Brian and Vince, then Jesse and Leon. The other racers were surprised to see Letty running with the Team considering Dom was still with Torrie from all accounts.
The pulled in and Dom was enveloped by both friends and racer chasers. Torrie walked up to Vince and Leon, she made no move to chase the girls away from Dom. Letty thought that was stupid. She was not even watching him to see him smile at the blonde one. Dom wanted nothing more then to get away from the girls to go and yell at Torrie for using a NOS shot on a packed freeway. He could see Vince and Leon talking to her in heated tones and figured they were giving her that lecture. He wanted to do it. She was foolish. He broke away and went over to where they were talking. He stood off to the side and listened to Vince lecture her.
"I'm just saying Torrie, what if you had blown by a cop or came up to an accident and couldn't stop or something. I mean street racing is dangerous but at least we clear the road first."
"Ya well I was pissed and in a bad mood. I wanted to do it so I did. Nothing happened. And I can outrun any cop on the road. 'Cept for maybe Brian in the Supra. No, even Brian and the supra."
"But when you took off like that it made Dom take off, then Letty, then Leon. You see how it started a chain reaction. Then everyone was in danger."
"Well no one held a gun to anyone's head and if Letty and Dom didn't want to drive that fast then they didn't have to."
"Torrie we all care about you and no one wants to see you get killed in some horrific car wreck ok. You promised me you would not do anything crazy on the way here."
"Had my fingers crossed behind my back." She laughed. "Never trust a girl when it comes to acting crazy."
"Oh man, what am I going to do with you Torrie?"
Before she could answer Dom broke into the conversation.
"Nothing, lucky for you, because she's my problem."
Torrie heard that deep voice and hated the way her legs got weak. She loved his voice. But she was still pissed at him for yelling at her for taking a few minutes too long to dress.
They got in the car and she told him how to get there. Dom was surprised to see they did not live in the same affluent neighbourhood Torrie was from. Her aunt and cousin living in a nice but working class neighbourhood.
"My aunt's a nurse and my uncle's a teacher." She told him. "They are just nice working class people. Not at all like my dad. My dad was the only playboy in the family. He tried to give them money for a better house but they never took it."
"They have a nice house so I can see why." They had pulled up and Dom stopped the car and went around and helped her out of the car. They walked up to the house and Torrie knocked then let herself in.
"Aunt Jean, Uncle Dave, Brad. We're here." Her family came out of the back room to greet them. Her aunt, uncle, and cousin hugged her. "Aunt Jean, Uncle Dave this is Dominic Torreto, my employer, mentor, and boyfriend." She laughed at the look on Dom's face when she said that.
"We've heard nothing but good things about you Dominic," Dave said, "We can't thank you enough for taking care of Torrie. She is so independent and we understand you took her in and gave her a job. We were worried till Brad told us she was safe and happy. We can't say we're pleased she is racing cars illegally but that is hardly your fault." Dave laughed and winked at Torrie.
Dom was impressed. Her aunt and uncle took him at face value and were not stuck up or mean to him at all. They were happy Torrie was happy and safe. They had a great time and Torrie's aunt was a great cook. It was nice to have a meal Mia did not cook for a change. Torrie left him and her uncle and cousin to talk cars while she went to help her aunt clean up, much to her chagrin.
"Well he sure is a hansom young man Torrie. How old is he?" Her aunt was not being nosey, she just wanted to know more about the man who was obviously very important to her niece.
"He turned 25 yesterday. We had a big party last night."
"And he owns his garage and a corner store already. He must be a very determined young man as well."
"Well his dad was killed in a car wreck at the track. Some other driver put him into the wall at a very high speed and he was killed. His mom left him the store but he opened DT on his own ambition."
"Oh I remember that accident. What a terrible tragedy it was."
"Yes and his mom died not long after. And Dominic ran into the man that, well, killed his dad in a way and he, well, he beat him up pretty bad. They sent him to prison for it." Torrie looked at her aunt out of the corner of her eye to see if she was going to be appalled over Dom's criminal record.
"They sent him to prison for that. The poor boy. You would not think he would go to prison after all he had already been through. You would think he could have pleaded temporary insanity."
"Well, he did and I think he should have gotten off easier too. The DA wanted to charge him with attempted murder but his lawyer got it down to assault. Well I don't want you to let on to Dom I told you because it is not really my place to be telling anyone but I did not want you to find out some other way and think I either hid if from you guys or didn't know myself. And don't tell Brad or everyone will know."
"It makes no difference to me as long as he is good to you and you're happy with him."
"Oh I couldn't be happier that's for sure. I love him so much."
"I know your father would not be pleased but I think your Dominic has grown up a lot since he hung around the store in his teens."
"I think your right and no guy would have been good enough for me in dad's eyes."
"Your right of course. But you're his only child and a daughter at that. You've been through more in 22 years then most people go through in a lifetime and I'm glad you're happy. You deserve it." They hugged. Dom came into the kitchen.
"Torrie we have to go if we are going to make it home in time for our other plans." Dom did not want to say racing in front of her relatives just in case.
"We have races tonight and we have to get ready and meet the team at home so we can head down." Torrie informed them with no qualms.
"Of course, go, go. It's been so nice to meet you Dominic. You and Torrie will have to come back soon." Jean was sincere.
"You can call me Dom, everyone does, and thank you. We'll have to clean up the guys and have you all over some time soon as well. It's been nice meeting you."
"You too and we look forward to meeting the rest of your family."
Dom and Torrie got in the car and headed for home. "So what did you think Dom? Did they give you a hard time while I was in the kitchen?"
"Not at all. They were super nice. You take after them I guess."
"Aw you're so sweet."
"No you are, that was the whole point."
"Oh stop. But Jean and Dad really are nothing a like. It is hard to think they are related. Or were I guess."
"You never told me how your dad died." Of course Dom knew through Brian but he wondered if she would tell him now, after all they had been through.
"No, I never did. He, well, he drove his car off the road over a cliff and the car burned up so bad they could not even confirm he was in it. But since he was gone and we never heard from him again we assumed he burned up in the wreck."
"Oh Torrie, I'm sorry. I assumed he took a heart attack or something. They know for a fact he drove over. He wasn't run off the road or fell asleep or something?"
"No, the cops said that the way the car went over and the marks on the road were consistent with the fact he drove over."
They stopped at a light and he leaned over and hugged her. "Sorry to bring it up, I don't want to be a downer."
"It's ok. I'm much more at peace with it all since I found you all, my new family."
"I'm glad you're happy with us. I know the guys and Mia love you like family and I can't imagine what I would do without you."
"I can't think about life without you either Dom."
They arrived home to a house full of people watching TV. No one was ready yet even though it was 8:30. Dom looked around at his team lazing in the living room.
"What are you guys doing? We leave in an hour for races and none of you are even dressed for it yet? You know there are races tonight right?"
Leon answered. "Yo Dom we knew we just lost track a'the time. This is a good movie Dawg."
"Oh ya, what movie?" Dom wanted to know what movie was better then actual racing and it was a commercial right now.
"Gone in 60 seconds." Letty answered.
"A movie about boosting cars is better then going racing?"
"Of course not Dom but it's over in 30 minutes anyway."
"Well I am going to get ready Dom, I don't like that movie much anyways." Torrie said and headed upstairs. That movie made her remember her youthful mistake. Boosting cars had been stupid.
She felt the pressure to dress in the height of fashion since Letty's arrival. She did not want the other girl to look better then her. She was jealous of Letty's curvy, fit figure and pretty dark skin. She was so pretty. She went into her room and started fishing for clothes. While she was doing that she wondered if Dom was ever going to ask her to move her stuff into his room. She thought it was kind of silly to have her own room and never sleep there. She could put her dresser in his room and he hardly used his closet anyways. She would have lots of room to move there and they slept in there every night anyway.
She put on clean underwear and stood there thinking about what to wear. She did not want to look like a racer chaser. She wanted to be classy yet sexy and she had to fit in. She picked out a pair of dark blue leather pants with flames licking up the sides and then a blue tee shirt with matching flames on the hem and the little sleeves. The pants were very low cut and the top was high cut. The pants had a funky belt and she wore her belly chain. She put on her boots with the flames on the toes. Then her rings and her chunky bracelet. She put on the chain her dad had gotten her with both a horseshoe set with diamonds and a horse in full gallop that was the basis of the decal on her car. She left her hair down and did her typical race night makeup. She was the last one down the stairs because of her indecision of what to wear. Dom was not impressed with her because the others had started after her but finished first.
"God Torrie I was starting to think you didn't want to race tonight. We're going to be late."
"Oh Dom you love being late, makes big bad Dom the center of attention."
"Whatever, lets go." Dom said with attitude. He was mad at her taking forever and ending up turning racing into a fashion show among the female members of his team.
"Fine let's go." Torrie didn't want to fight in front of Letty but she wanted to tear a strip off him. She barely contained it. It was only 9:30 and racing didn't start till 10. They were only about 40 minutes out of the warehouse where everyone met up. And they hung out for the first like 2 hours till it got late enough to race. She snatched up her keys and headed out the door. Vince knew she was pissed off and he hated to think of her driving like that. She drove like a bat out of hell when she was happy let alone when she was pissed. He grabbed her arm.
"Torrie, you ok? Don't drive on the freeway like a moron ok?"
"V, I'm fine really. I will follow you if it makes you feel better."
"No, just don't try to goad Dominic into a race on the way to races ok? That wouldn't be smart. Comprende?"
"Yes V, I won't do anything crazy on the highway. Was I really done that far behind everyone else?"
"Not really but you know how he is. Probably wondering how the car will do tonight. First time out after all the new modds."
"Well I remember the last time he treated me like this but the question is does he?"
"Torrie don't go there."
"Why the hell not. I can't handle the mood swings."
Dom honked at them to get into their cars. Letty was happy he was pissed at little miss perfect. In her perfect little outfit with her perfect long hair and perfect tiny figure. Dom being mad at her suited Letty just fine.
Torrie and Vince got into their cars and the Team took off. Mia rode with Letty cause she had missed her and wanted to catch up. Brian took the supra, he hadn't raced in awhile but he was going to tonight to warm up for racewars. Vince and Leon and Jesse took their cars and of course Dom and Torrie. Torrie broke her promise to Vince in a way. She didn't try to race Dom but she did crazy stuff on the freeway. She used her NOS on the freeway and was at the place they all caught up to get in formation 2 minutes ahead of Dom who was going to tear into her for that stunt when they got out of their cars but not now cause there was no time.
They got into the v. Dom at the point then Torrie and Letty, the two Nissan 240sxs, then Brian and Vince, then Jesse and Leon. The other racers were surprised to see Letty running with the Team considering Dom was still with Torrie from all accounts.
The pulled in and Dom was enveloped by both friends and racer chasers. Torrie walked up to Vince and Leon, she made no move to chase the girls away from Dom. Letty thought that was stupid. She was not even watching him to see him smile at the blonde one. Dom wanted nothing more then to get away from the girls to go and yell at Torrie for using a NOS shot on a packed freeway. He could see Vince and Leon talking to her in heated tones and figured they were giving her that lecture. He wanted to do it. She was foolish. He broke away and went over to where they were talking. He stood off to the side and listened to Vince lecture her.
"I'm just saying Torrie, what if you had blown by a cop or came up to an accident and couldn't stop or something. I mean street racing is dangerous but at least we clear the road first."
"Ya well I was pissed and in a bad mood. I wanted to do it so I did. Nothing happened. And I can outrun any cop on the road. 'Cept for maybe Brian in the Supra. No, even Brian and the supra."
"But when you took off like that it made Dom take off, then Letty, then Leon. You see how it started a chain reaction. Then everyone was in danger."
"Well no one held a gun to anyone's head and if Letty and Dom didn't want to drive that fast then they didn't have to."
"Torrie we all care about you and no one wants to see you get killed in some horrific car wreck ok. You promised me you would not do anything crazy on the way here."
"Had my fingers crossed behind my back." She laughed. "Never trust a girl when it comes to acting crazy."
"Oh man, what am I going to do with you Torrie?"
Before she could answer Dom broke into the conversation.
"Nothing, lucky for you, because she's my problem."
Torrie heard that deep voice and hated the way her legs got weak. She loved his voice. But she was still pissed at him for yelling at her for taking a few minutes too long to dress.