Chapter Thirteen

Letty could hardly believe that the person lying in the bed was her sister. She looked different.

Jocelyn usually had this fragile look. When you were around her, you felt like you had to protect her from the big bad world. But now, the fragile look was magnified by ten. Letty immediately felt guilty.

'I should have been there,' she thought.

Letty took another step into the room. She was very nervous. Nervous that Jocelyn would blame her as well.

"Letty," said a hoarse voice.

Letty looked up and saw Jocelyn looking at her.

"Oh, Joce," Letty said as she rushed to her side.

She immediately took Jocelyn's hand in her hand.

"I'm so sorry," Letty whispered. Tears started to fall down Letty's cheeks.

"Don't be," Jocelyn said. "You aren't responsible for what happened."

"But I could have prevented it," Letty argued.

"How?"

"I could have been with you. Or I could have made you come with me."

"Letty, if you had come with me, you would probably be in the bed next to me. And if I had gone with you, the man would have found another way to get me," Jocelyn said.

Letty shook her head. Tears dripped off her chin.

"I just...I don't want anything to happen to you. You're the only person who knows the real me. Dom doesn't even know and we've been together for close to 8 years. If I lost you, I don't know what I'd do."

"You're not gonna lose me, Letty. I'm here, aren't I? God obviously wants me around for a little while longer."

"Yeah, but for how long?" Letty asked.

"As long as it takes to serve out my purpose in life."

There was silence between the two.

"So I was thinking about starting up street-racing again," Jocelyn said with a smile. She was trying to lighten up the mood.

Letty's lips twisted into a small smile. She wiped away her tears before saying, "Absolutely not."

Jocelyn laughed. "Why not?"

"These guys proved that they mean business. They'll stop at no length to see you dead. Do you think that they'll think twice before tampering with your car? What happens when you race and midway through you realize that your brake line has been cut and you can't stop? I'm not gonna take the chances of losing you. From now on, you're gonna be in my sight at all times."

Jocelyn groaned. "You're treating me like I'm a five-year-old."

"Jocelyn, you were almost killed today. Why aren't you taking this seriously?"

"I am taking it seriously!"

"No you're not. You're treating this as if it were a big joke."

"Letty, I understand the seriousness of what happened today. In case you haven't noticed, I'm the one in the hospital bed. I'm the one who almost lost her life. I'm the one who knew what I was getting into when I started to date Carter..."

"What do you mean by that?"

"When we started dating, Carter warned me that there was a slight possibility that there would be threats made against my life. And if I was ever threatened, then I was to tell him or Jared."

"And you still dated him?" Letty asked in horror.

"I loved him, Let. You of all people should know that a person will do anything for love."

"What are you talking about?" Letty asked.

"I'm talking about the trucks, Letty. I know about the trucks," Jocelyn replied.

"How?"

"I had him keep watch on you. Just like I know you had Jesse checking up on me every now and then."

Letty sat down in the chair next to the bed. Silence quickly filled the room.

"I'm sorry," Letty mumbled.

"For what?" Jocelyn asked.

"For giving you the third degree. For making such a big deal about everything..."

"Letty, I-I understand why you're doing it. I really do, but you can't always be there to protect me. I'm a big girl. I can tie my shoes and I know how to drive. It's about time you start treating me like one and not some porcelain doll that you're afraid to break. You can't soften the world up for me. Living in Atlanta taught me that the world isn't some big flower-picking, lollypop sucking place. There are trials and tribulations that everyone has to go through. You can't keep me from the world, Let."

Letty nodded.

"I know. Trust me, I know...I just...it's just...hell, I don't know. I don't want to lose you again, and if it weren't for V, then I would have today."

Jocelyn tried to sit up, but winced when pain shot through her abdomen. Letty jumped up from the chair.

"I'm fine," Jocelyn replied.

"No you're not. I'm gonna get someone in here."

Letty turned to go out of the room.

"Letty!" Jocelyn said sternly.

Letty turned around and looked Jocelyn in the eyes.

"I'm fine," Jocelyn said. Her voice dramatically softened.

"You don't look fine," a voice said from the doorway.

Both girls looked over and saw Vince standing in the doorway.

Jocelyn laughed whole-heartedly. "Trust me; this is one of my better days."

Letty and Vince both frowned.

"Jeez, guys. Lighten up."

"Why does it seem like we're the only ones taking this seriously?" Letty asked.

Jocelyn rolled her eyes. "Not this again," she mumbled.

"Jocelyn, I'm concerned about you. These people are trying to kill you, and you're acting like it's a normal day," Letty replied.

"You wanna know why?" Jocelyn said. Her voice was filled with anger.

Letty was a little taken aback.

"W-why?"

"Because this is a normal day for me. Maybe not the getting shot part, but the fear and having to look over your shoulder constantly is a daily routine for me. I've been through more shit than most of the people in this hospital. I think I deserve just a moment or two to be happy. I'm alive, and that's all I care about right now. When I get out of here, then I start thinking about the 'what-ifs'. But right now, Letty, right now I just want to take a break from it all. I just want to sit here and be thankful for everything good that's happened in my life. I want to forget about my mom and her shit, forget about the people coming after me. I want to forget about Carter, just for a moment. Can you let it go for now? Can you do that for me, Letty? Can you let me have my moment of immaturity? Will you just forget today's events for now, please?"

Jocelyn's speech ended up sounding harsher than she meant it to. Letty looked at Jocelyn for a moment or two before storming out of the room.

"This just isn't my day," Jocelyn moaned as she laid back in the bed.

Vince walked up to the bed and sat in the chair that Letty had been sitting in. He took her hand in his and ran his thumb over her knuckles.

"It'll get better, I promise."

Jocelyn rolled her eyes.

"I've been telling myself for years, V. It's yet to happen."

Vince kissed her hand and ran his thumb over her knuckles again.

"I know. Why don't you get some rest? You look horrible."

Jocelyn laughed and slowly her eyes started to sparkle. Vince let go of her hand and kissed her lightly on her forehead.

"I'll come back later, a'ight?"

Jocelyn nodded and closed her eyes.

"Sweet dreams," Vince said lowly as he walked out of the room.

He froze in the doorway and asked himself, 'Did I just say that?'

Vince then realized that the 'ol Coyote was starting to die away. However, I didn't instill as much fear in him like he thought it would. A part of him was almost happy. A part.