The Ultimate Betrayal Chapter 23

Old habits are hard to break

"You leavin the party already?" Leon asked Tempest as he made his way down the hall from the pent house area they had been at for only a few minutes.

"We'll be back, no worries." Tempest laughed, loving the fact Leon was taking such a notice in her. "Why, what's it to ya?" She asked, her eyes locked with his as she waited for Tiffany to meet her.

"You work that outfit pretty good." Leon grinned, looking her up and down. He thought the black leather mini skirt and fishnet stockings made the knee high combat boots and blood red halter top she was wearing stand out nicely. So nicely he couldn't refrain from his words.

"Pretty good? Oh, I don't do pretty good, boy. I do damn good, hella good." Tempest smiled coyly, making Leon nod. "Try another pick up line." She advised.

"Here's a key to the penthouse.' Tiffany walked up, stepping between the two as she handed the key to Vince, who had also noticed the conversation that was unfolding. Tiffany took Tempest by the arm and headed for the door.

"Leon, you need to think shit through before talking to her. She's nothing but trouble. They live in a different world than us racers and they can fuck your life up." Vince lectured as he led Leon to the elevator, Leon looking back in the direction she had disappeared in.

"Come on, Coyote, I didn't do anything. " Leon said, shaking his head, as though confused.

"there ya go again , Brotha. She's doin all the shit and you'll be the one dealin wit her man while she plays miss innocent." Vince scowled, still not fond of Tempest.

"Temp is just temp, Dawg. Her and her fine ass." Leon laughed, drinking the rest of his tequila and coke he had been ushering around all night.

"You musta had too much to drink to be thinking straight." Vince muttered, getting off on the top floor. HE could hear the music so loud it was thumping under his feet even in the elevators. They let themselves in with the sliding of the card and was amused by the way the place had been turned into a private club. There was a disco ball and lights were low and only one side of the room. There was a bartender and in the far corner was a DJ spinning records. It was just as smoky as a club due to dry ice and the boys rubbed their hands together in anticipation at all the girls that were mulling around.

"Dawg, you can never, ever, drink too much." Leon laughed, putting his arms around Vince as the two walked further in the party scene.

"Velcone to my humble castle." Roman grinned, talking like a vampire as he had his arm around Diego with a mischievous grin. "Where you two been?" HE asked, loosing the accent after getting weird looks from them.

"Downstairs and the shop, just to check on some things." Leon nodded, taking a drink off the tray of a passing waitress. He smiled at her, then turned back to the group, where Dominic and Brian had walked up to join them.

"Everything copasetic?" Brian asked, looking at the scene as he asked, scanning the room for his sister.

"Good as gold." Leon nodded, his eyes following yet another waitress. "You all right, Dom?" He asked, his attention getting back to the group.

"Yeah, just thinking on a job comin up." Dominic coughed, forcing his thoughts into the scene as well. Brian just shook his head.

"It's party time, man. Screw the jobs for now." he said, grinning. "You seen my sis?" He asked, innocently, not wanting to admit he had known of the girls' plan all along.

"Yeah, I have. You know anything bout the shit your wife and her friend pulled?" Dominic asked with a grin as he scratched his bald head.

"Nah. Nothin. Why?" Brian looked away, pretending to be looking for something. They all laughed at his act.

"SO, did it work? You and Corona Barbie back together?" Vince asked, sipping on his Corona. Dominic nodded.

"Yeah." Was all he said, trying to not look as happy as he felt. He had to keep his tough guy image. He saw Jordan over by the Dj booth, talking to the Dj as though she knew him.

"Jimmy!" Jordan screamed, shocked to see him there. "When did you get here?" she pulled him into a huge hug out of drunken excitement. She looked around, looking for Suki, knowing she had to be close in proximity as well.

"I mean, I had to come for Rome's big party, right?" He asked, looking pimped out in his striped suit and hat that matched. "I got here a few hours ago. Ain't seen but you and Rome." HE laughed, then nodded at her. "How you doin? Things better since last time we talked?" HE asked, turning serious.

"Yeah, much." Jordan laughed, taking the drink Jimmy handed to her.

"Hey Jimmy." Brian walked over with Dominic behind him and knocked knuckles.

"Hey, Bullet. Bout time, boy." Jimmy grinned, stepping out from the booth to shake Dominic's hands. "You believe ol' Rome is settling down?" he asked shaking his head.

"Yeah, Di's a good catch and a good catch to keep his ass in line." Brian laughed, watching is sister and Dominic head to where Roman and Diego were seated, at a table, playing poker.

"Where's T and T?" Roman asked as Jordan sat on the lap of her boyfriend. Her face dropped.

"Outta sight and outta mind, good for me. They're gonna kick my ass anyways." Jordan said, shaking her head convincingly.

"And you don't think you deserve it?" Vince asked, pulling up a chair.

"Ouch. That was rude." Jordan said, taking the dice from Diego as she talked.

"You're with me, I'll protect you." Dominic whispered in her ear, making her giggle.

"You sure?" Jordan batted her eyes at him, holding his face in her hands. He nodded, then held his hands out.

"This is me we're talkin bout, Baby. Of course I'm sure." he grinned, kissing her. A few hours later, they were still at the drinking game and at the table, the group quite sick of the two being so sickenly sweet to each other.

"Take your turn already." Vince rolled his eyes, though with a grin. He was happy that Dominic finally seemed to be in a good mood and that maybe things could get back to normal.

"Talkin bout me, huh?" Tiffany asked, walking up and taking the shot glass right out of Jordan's hand and downing it. Jordan's head popped up, looking shocked as only she could.

"Hehe. Hey girl. I didn't say anything." Jordan smiled, her eyes downcast as she talked.

"You know where you go for lying?" Tiffany asked, her eyebrow raised.

"Where's your partner in crime?" Tej asked, helping distract Tiffany from Jordan.

"In the car, still asleep. Someone want to go get her?" Tiffany asked, pulling up a barstool.

"I'll get her." Leon said, trying to be nonchalant.

"She's already here. Don't worry bout that, playboy." Ice said, carrying his girl in and shooting Leon a look. Vince shot an 'I told you so' look to Leon, Leon ignoring him.

"Yo, let's get the real party started now that everyone seems to be here." Jimmy announced over his microphone and cheers erupted in the room.

"Toast to the soon to b bride and groom." Tiffany said, pouring shots of Gold Slogger into every one's raised glass. As she made her way around the room. Jimmy followed her with the microphone close enough to where the crowd could here her. "if you want to turn your round trip ticket into a one way, keep me following me , boy." Tiffany warned, making the group laugh. He looked scared and pretended to chew on his nails and then made towards his booth.

"I got shot down, hardcore. But, before I go back to my corner to sulk, I gotta make sure I get this public notice out first." Jimmy said, walking by the table where Roman and Diego sat.

"Oh man." Diego said, not liking being called to the center of attention. Roman had warned her of this.

"And what is your announcement. Tread lightly." Roman pointed at him with a grin.

"I was just gonna introduce the bride. And then say that Ken and Barbie are back together, too." Jimmy said, the spotlight turning on and focusing on first Diego and Roman and then Dominic and Jordan.

"I'm going to hurt you for that." Jordan grinned, shaking her finger at Jimmy as he walked away, laughing hard.

"He'd just enjoy it." Tej guessed, throwing the dice again, it being his turn. He ignored the look from Dominic and kept on rolling his dice, pointing to Dominic to drink up this time, him scoring his doubles he had promised.

"Thanks, I was getting dry." Dominic nodded at him and took the shot. Jordan laid her head on hi shoulder and then looked at him.

"What?" He asked, grinning as she kept her stare on his face, then his eyes.

"Nothing." She giggled, making him grin even bigger. He held her out in front of him and raised a skeptical eyebrow.

"Tell me. OR I'll call the dynamite twins over." He threatened playfully as she laughed even harder, his hands that had been on her waist now tickling her.

"Just you .. It' s good to be back with you, Ken." She joked, using Jimmy's joke.

"It's good to be back with you too." Dominic wrapped his arms around her, making her snuggle close to him with a satisfied smile. "Barbie girl." He added, making her really laugh now.

"Uhhmm. That's Corona Barbie to you." She said, making him nod in agreement.

"That I can do." He kissed her, stopping any reply she had to say back.

"I win again! Pay up, Fool." Tej threw down his cards of the other game he was playing to the right of him as he played the drinking game with the majority of the table.

"That bites." Leon laughed, feeling sorry for the sucker Tej had just taken. He scoped up the pile of bills and grinned, fixing his money.

"Not for me." Tej laughed, then watched as a scantily clad waitress walked by them. Both of the boys were silent, eyes on her and both decided it was time to order another drink.

"You guys need women. To settle down with." Brian came up behind them, a huge grin on his face at the two boy's wistful expressions.

"Nah, man. I'm a playa for life." Tej shook his head, putting his money inn his pocket as he talked.

"I got my sights on someone, but a few one nighters can't hurt." Leon laughed, looking around the room for someone.

"That someone is a dangerous force, so beware." Brian said, before leaving to go talk to his sister. She was by herself now, as Dominic had gotten up to go to the bathroom. "hey sis. How's it goin?" he asked, eyeing her drink she was working on.

"Good and you? You managing to stay out of trouble with Tiff?" She asked, looking over her shoulder to make sure no one was in hearing range.

"I'm her Golden boy, not much I can do to fuck up." Brian teased as he sat down and ruffled hiss sister's hair, making her roll her eyes.

"Rub it in, I am always in trouble these days." Jordan shook her head as Ice sat down beside her on the other side. "Hey Ice." She straightened up a bit and smiled t him, hoping he hadn't hear d what she was saying.

"Hey Babe. You need another drink?" He asked, watching the dance floor as he talked. Brian followed his gaze and immediately noticed what he was seeing. Leon was approaching Tempest and she wasn't giving any signs of letting him know she was taken. Brian started to get up, but Ice stopped him. He sat back, just letting it all unfold as it was going to.

"Hey hot stuff, wanna dance?" Leon asked Tempest after deciding he was gonna give her a shot to chill with him. He had enough drinks in him, the warnings didn't matter anymore, nor make any sense.

"You couldn't keep up, much like that of when you're in yo car." Tempest smiled, batting her eyes mockingly at him.

"That ain't right." Leon shook his head, staring at her eyes that were close range. She pulled away and kept dancing to Fabulous' "No Need for Conversation".

"You ain't right, Leon." Tempest laughed, wondering to some degree why he had waited till now to be so open with her. He was clearly checking her out and looking her up and down. He danced up next to her, his body so close to hers she swore she could feel his heartbeat pounding.

"I'm hurt, how can you say that?" Leon asked, his arm casually making it's way around her petite waist. He was grinning like the Cheshire cat and paying no attention to the shocked looks around him.

"Cause it took you so long to realize you was missin out on a good thing!" Tempest flashed back, her drunkenness getting the best of her as she danced, her mind not caring about Ice or the fact she had a boyfriend.

"Damn, you are hot." Leon took in a deep breath, loving her sweet scented perfume she was wearing and mixed with the alcohol on her breath, she smelled scrumptious.

"This isn't such a great idea." Tempest stiffened, hearing Ice's special name for her. It almost brought her back to reality.

"Oh, come on. You scared of Ice?" Leon asked, his legs grinding on hers.

"Hell no. Why would I be scared of him?" Tempest asked, throwing back another shot as the two danced.

"Yeah, glad you don't care cause I see it this way. IF he cared, he wouldn't just be watching us. Am I right?" Leon asked, whispering in her ear. This made Tempest look out of the corner of her eyes and see that he was right. Ice was chilled on the couch that was in the middle of the room, laughing and talking to Jordan, Tiffany, Dominic, and Brian, not even paying attention to her. That made her blood boil more than words could describe.

"Yeah, right." Tempest said, dancing back on Leon now. The two were almost lost in their own world, completely blind to the numerous pairs of eyes that were on them, as though the two were in a spotlight of some sorts. Tiffany sat beside her brother, irritated that her brother would let this game go on, her setting her own self up for a huge fall while he sat back and leisurely but angrily watched. It was irritating her more than she could stand to admit to even her own self. She saw nothing but a bit mess headed their way and just when things had seemed to calm down. Tempest and Leon were almost close to kissing now and Ice got up, stretching and looking as though he was up to something. Tiffany stopped him, making him look at her in shock.

"Yo, let it go, at least for tonight. I need my ace driver tomorrow. You were good to let it go this far so go take the girl to bed." Tiffany said, her voice low so that Jordan and the rest of them couldn't hear.

"Yeah, as if I'm gonna let her go on it and not call her on that bullshit." Ice scoffed, his laugh bitter sounding.

"Listen, what you do is your business but I know that I need her for what I have on my agenda first. Then you can go at it." Tiffany said, folding her arms, her eyes at a slant to convince him to listen o her reasoning. "you are in on what I'm doin tomorrow too so if you want it to go off without a hitch, you need to let it ride." Tiffany advised, turning her attention back to Brian.

"Everything ok?" Brian moved a strand of hair out of his wife's face. She smiled.

'Just the usual Ice and Temp thing, but yeah.' She laughed, kissing him as he pulled her into his arms. "Hey Brian, can you round the crew up for me and tell them to meet me in that office over there?" She asked , whispering in his ear and pointing to the pent house's office complete with computer and chalk board. It was a perk, she thought to herself ,a s she would need it to show them all the plans in store for the team.

"I'll get Tempest and the guys over there." Ice volunteered, more than happy to go get his girl.

"Ice, I will tell them." Tiffany said, not wanting Ice to have a chance to go off of Tempest or Leon right now. She got up and left, that leaving it closed to discussion. She tapped on Leon's shoulder and gave him a fake smile, one to let him know he could potentially be in some trouble e as he and Tempest were now slow dancing, their bodies pretty much seeming as one. "Meting in that office over there. It's important." She said, flicking Tempest 's arm as she talked. Tempest looked at her indignantly and as though she just now realized how close the two were. It was one thing to piss off Ice but Tiffany was Ice's sister and her best friend. There was a lot to be said of friendship and loyalty. The rest of the crew made their way to the room, leaving all the party goers to either leave as it was getting into the early morning hours or to keep at what they had been doing. Jordan stayed with Jimmy, not even noticing they had all disappeared. She had found Suki and was content to catch up with her.

"So, what's the emergency meeting about?" Roman asked, his anxiety for being separated form Diego apparent, as he kept glancing towards the door.

"Chill, boy." Brian laughed, finding it funny Roman could be so hooked into someone,. He had been the biggest player of them all and here he was not able to spend two minutes away from Diego.

"Dom, I have five semi's I need drivers for. I figure you know the crew the best, outside of Temp so I'll let you tell them who's doin the driving." Tiffany said as Ice shot daggers at Tempest and Leon, making Tiffany slap his shoulder to stop as she talked. Tempest busied her self with her nails, and Leon kept his hands in his pockets and his eyes on the floor. Vince, however, noticed Ice and the looks and he seemed to be trying to get Leon's attention, though to no avail.

"Well, Temp has one. So that leaves me, Leon , and Vince to drive. Brian , you down to drive? Or you got plans for another job description?" Dominic asked, almost teasing. He wouldn't' be shocked if Tiffany or Ice had him on some other detail.

"Nope, I am clear to drive." Brian laughed, taking the teasing well.

"You got room to talk, Mr. lovey dovey I'm so in love." Roman piped up, making Dominic look at him and point.

"I know you aren't goin there wit me. I seem to think you are whipped worse than a dog itself." Dominic shot back, making everyone laugh. Everyone with the exception of Ice, Tiffany noticed as he sat there, no doubt fuming on the inside.

"hey…" Jordan stuck her head in the door, not realizing at first she had interrupted something. "I just needed to get some paper.." She trailed off, then became aware something was defiantly up and she was missing out on it, whatever the case was.

"We'll be out shortly, Baby girl." Ice said, nodding at the door and for her to go back out of it. Jordan wasn't moving. Tiffany and tempest looked at each other, not shocked by her defiance.

"I want in on it. Whatever it is." Jordan at down beside Tempest, her arms folded.

"Nope, not a chance." Ice, Dominic and Brian said all in unison. Dominic started to get up to go take her back out to the party scene.

"No, Dom, its' okay. Let her stay. She wants to be in it, she can stay." Tiffany said, shaking her head, her mouth in a thin line. Jordan smiled, winning the victory, so it seemed to her. "We'll be right back. Come on, Temp." Tiffany said, making sure Tempest was with her on this one.

"Are you serious? I'm not playing games, I want in." Jordan told them as the two took her out the door.

"You can be in but just know there is no backing out and no running to the cops no matter what is going down,." Tiffany said, Jordan's eyes now huge as she talked. Inside, there was a stiff silence, almost so thick you could run a knife through it.

"Why do you pull your bull shit?" Ice asked, no longer able to keep his tongue to himself asked as he stared down Leon, the two had up until now had refused to make eye contact.

"listen, Dawg, I don't know what your issue is. I was just having some fun." Leon said, shrugging as he focused on the plush office carpet.

"My ass. Yeah, maybe you are right." Ice said, making Leon grin as though he had gotten on up on Ice. Then Ice's agreeing grin disappeared. "You were having fun with MY girl." Ice said, his fist in a ball and his composure about to blow. HE was shaking his leg, trying to stay in his seat. as he sat in the chair, his back slumped in it and his legs spread out in the space in front if him.

"You weren't exactly paying attention anyways." Leon shot back, his tone defensive now.

"Really? I gave you yo chance and you couldn't hack it to her standards, racer boy. Your chance was done a long time ago.' Ice jumped up, making Leon jump up as well. Vince steeped in front of Leon, hoping he didn't do anything stupid and Brian and Dominic were blocking Ice, everyone on their feet now.

"The way I see it, I still have a chance. I didn't se her backing down at any costs." Leon shot back, making Ice jump over the folded up chair and lunging for him.

"You led her on and started the shit. You need to learn to stay the fuck away form my girl." Ice said, throwing a penchant Leon's left cheek, knocking the air out of him after that punch by knocking him with his fist in the chest.

"Ice, get a grip, man." Dominic pulled him off, Ice still swinging as the two tried to go at each other yet again. Ice shook Dominic and Brain off of him and headed for the door, seething anger written all over his face. He stopped and pointed at Leon, who was holding his busted nose.

"You have been warned. Step lightly around me and me girl." He said, walking out, catching Tempest and Tiffany off guard. "Let's go to bed, Tempest." Ice said, grabbing her arm, not stopping at all and left her down the hall, not another word out of his mouth he ignored the objections coming from Tempest's mouth as he strutted down the hall at a fast pace.

"You sure you won't back down on us?" Tiffany asked, her thoughts back to Jordan and the whole letting her in thing.

"I'm sure I won't let you down." Jordan promised, looking satisfied to be included. Dominic came out, shutting the door behind his, his arm hat was behind his back, still holding the door knob shut as though someone would be trying to go in or out and that wasn't happening.

"Let' go to bed, J." Dominic said, looking at Tiffany with a questioning look.

"But I'm not tired." Jordan said, her face and yes telling of a different story. The red rimmed eyes of hers told Tiffany and Dominic that she was more than likely not telling the truth.

"I can change that, Baby girl." Dominic promised, making Jordan laugh as he carried her off, over his shoulder.