Chapter UR9
"You think she's okay, bra?" Roman asked, pacing in his deep accent.
"Sit the hell down, Man." Brian ordered, his arms folded and amused grin on his face. Kendall came walking out, looking very drained and as though she had been defeated.
"Kendall!" Roman jumped up, wrapping his arms around her tightly.
"Let me go, please." She requested quietly, her teeth semi clenched. It was then Roman noticed her jaw was slightly swollen and lightly bruised.
"Did they hurt you?" Brian asked, watching Roman turn her head to get a better look. Her lip was swollen and busted in the middle. She walked past him, out into the cold.
"Ain't no love for a homeboy?" Roman asked, holding out his arms.
"Let's get outta here, Man." Brian hit him lightly, taking off after Kendall.
"Don't gotta convince me. Shit." Roman shrugged, walking out.
"Yo, Kendall! We need to bury this. We got too much history to let this stand in our way." Brian called after her. Kendall stopped, breaking down in tears.
"I think it's safe to go hug her, Bro." Roman said quietly, nudging Brian.
"You go. She hates me." Brian said sadly, setting down on the bench outside of the police station.
"Ain't my mess, ain't my business. This is between yawl." Roman said, shaking his head and sitting beside Brian.
"What the hell did I call you for then?" Brian popped Roman on the back of the head.
"A brother's gotta eat, Man." Roman grinned, making Brian laugh. Brian got up and took off after Kendall.
"Can we just go back to Dom's?" Kendall asked, shivering. Brian took off his DT work shirt and put it around her shoulders as she kept her gaze to the ground.
"Yeah. But I'll tell you one thing. Dom's gonna make us ride to San Diego together. Fair warning. Rome, let's go." Brian took Kendall's hint of not wanting to talk.
"I'm done with my anger towards you." Kendall's aid, wiping her eyes and yawning.
"You have no idea how relieved I am." Brian said, opening the door for her.
"That doesn't mean I forgive you. My feelings of wanting to hack you into pieces have left. I'm tired." Kendall said, making Brian cough in surprise.
"Gee thanks." He said quietly as Kendall dozed off in the backseat, her head resting on the cold window.
"Man, she's tired." Roman said, feeling her forehead. He looked at her for a minute, in concern.
"Yeah, lucky for me. You're not the one who was going to be hacked into pieces." Brian shook his head, still in disbelief.
"Don't worry, Man. All women feel that way 'bout you. Monica, Mia…" Roman counted on his fingers. "Tonya. I think you're working your way up an down the alphabet." Roman laughed, slapping his leg and laughing at his own joke.
"Man, that is not even right. Just cause you prefer the Twinkies, hostess, and tollhouse. They don't try to kill you cuz you shove them in your mouth too damn fast." Brian retorted, taking a turn fast and passing a semi.
"Damn. You're drivin hasn't gotten any bit better." Roman frowned, holding onto the door as they pulled up into the driveway that led to Dominic's house. The sun was beginning to rise and the lights were on in both levels of the house. Letty was leaning on the door frame of the entrance, Dominic was behind her , his hands on her hips.
"She better be okay." Letty said, her tongue over her teeth, in typical Letty style when she was in a mood.
"Damn, Let." Bran gave her his best boyish smile he could being it he was so tired.
"Hey man. She's a female. I gotta keep her around cuz she's cool." Letty cracked a half smile, punching Brian in the shoulder. Roman attempted to shake Kendall but didn't have any luck in waking her up. He scooped her up in his arms, despite the frown on her exhausted and partially swollen face.
"They roughed her up. Damn pigs." Roman said, starting to lay her on the couch.
"Hey Romey Rome, can ya take her upstairs to Ma's old room? Its hers now." Letty asked, handing Dominic a cup of coffee.
"Yeah, no problemo." Roman yawned and grinned.
"You got three hours to get some rest before we take off, Arizona. Get some sleep." Dominic waved over his shoulder as he followed Roman. "I'll take her up. We got some stuff to talk about." Dominic took Kendall form Roman's arms. She sighed deeply and nuzzled into Dominic's chest unconsciously. He put her on her bed and sat beside her. He stared at her peacefulness and then shook her.
"Not now. I don' t want to talk about him." Kendall whispered, shaking her head and snuggling into her pillow.
"It's not about Brian. It's about me, you , and something you need to know." Dominic said, his voice sounding like she was in deep shit. "But first I wanna know what happened to that pretty face of yours." Dominic said, noticing her bruises had gotten darker.
"I flipped out and they slammed me down on the concrete. They had fun doin it , too. The scratches are from my head bein held to the concrete with their foot." Kendall sighed, not opening her eyes.
"Kinda a hot head, huh? Must run in the family." Dominic grinned slightly.
"You don't know anything about my family." Kendall pouted, sullen and turning her head away from him.
"I know more than you think, dear cousin." Dominic played with Kendall's bangs and swept them form out of her eyes. Her hair was softer than it looked.
"You're trippin or you're drunk. Maybe both. We ain't related. I have no family. No one." Kendall said, more tears falling down her cheeks. Dominic wiped her tears gently.
"You got me and Mia. Our dads were brothers." Dominic said, his gaze holding hers. "You don't think I'd take any girl off the streets and give her my sister's room, do ya?" Dominica laughed.
"You're joking. And it's not funny. How did you know and I didn't if you're serious?" Kendall asked, sizing up Dominic's features.
"honey, let me put it this way. I was just as shocked as you. But I got this summons to appear in court. It scared the shit outta me but I had to go. It was your dad's will." Dominic explained. "They were tryin to find you but they couldn't, so they went with next of kin. And that's me." Dominic nodded, wondering how Kendall would take this bomb he had just dropped on her.
"That explains why Letty hasn't whipped my ass!" Kendall's eyes lot up as though she had solved the mystery of science. He looked at her, confused.
""what the hell you talkin 'bout?" He folded his arms, grinning.
"I know how protective she is of you. I've only been to one race but in that one race, she threatened five tricks." Kendall grinned.
"Yeah, I figured you were safe., being relation and all." Letty walked in, grinning mischievously.
"You know?" Kendall clapped, excited and laughing. Letty shrugged.
"Wasn't my place t tell." Letty sat on Dominic's lap.
"Who else knows?" Kendall asked, now fully awake
"No one. I wanted it to be your choice. You don't have to have to got o races bein known as my cousin. Especially since we are headin to San Diego." Dominic looked at his watch.
"I can't face them, Dom, I can't. They only made me think I could race. " Kendall rubbed her sore face with both of her hand, exhausted. Dominic took both of her hands into each his and looked at her.
"Aw, come on, Doll, you can beat those punks. " Letty said confidently.
"She's right. " Dominic nodded. "So, are we gonna keep it on the down low or what?" He asked, getting up, Letty in his arms.
"Hell no! All I wanted was family. I'm hell a proud to call you my cousin!" Kendall smiled, suddenly hyper.
"You got that and then some, fo sho." Letty threw a suitcase on Kendall's bed.
"Now, get packed cause we're headin for San Diego in like an hour." Dominic said, heading out the door, making Kendall laugh. She was giddy and happy and seeing this new side of her was amusing to both him and Letty.
"He's really my cousin?" Kendall pointed towards the door in amazement, smiling.
"YUP. Can't you tell by your tempers dhow you point?" Letty laughed. "If I didn't love cars so much and have so much respect for them, I woulda died laughing you takin Br's car hostage." Letty grinned evilly, making Kendall bust up into laughter. Then she turned serious.
"Wow. Surely he won't make me ride with Brian, will he?" Kendall asked, pulling some clothes from her closet. Letty folded what Kendall had tossed on top of the suitcase.
"Um, yeah… take that up wit him. I'm gonna go pack. Later." Letty pulled her long black hair up and headed for the door, escaping Kendall's assumptions. Kendall packed and raced downstairs, where she found them all minus Brian in the kitchen.
"Hey, Dall, this is Mia." Leon said, gesturing to a girl who was making eggs and toast. She had a warm smile.
"Hey, cuz." Kendall laughed, making Jesse choke on his orange juice,. Mia laughed and wiped her hands. Soon everyone was setting down and eating when she left to go change.
"Now's you r chance." Dominic said, nodding at Kendall, who hadn't touched anything. She wrinkled her nose.
"For what?" Kendall asked, in amusement.
"To dump that food. It took Bri a while to get used to it, too." Leon laughed, his voice low. Kendall looked relieved, making the group laugh.
"I thought it was just me." She said, pushing away the plate. Jesse was holding his stomach, ready to roll on the floor laughing.
"Nah, we just humor her not to hurt her feelings. " Letty nodded, quickly scrapping her plate. "She came home from school to meet you and to take a mini vacation to San Diego wit us." Letty said, smiling. It was going to be so interesting on from here on out.
AN: so this chapter is a little short…I'm a bit under the weather today of sorts and I had to redo this chapter more than once! Hope you enjoy! Reviews have been scarce except from the troll.. love you all! Thanks for your encouragement, compliments, and time for reading! IT means a lot! To my gals, Chels, cc, laura, and jess. Thanks and you know I love you all! Party on! Hehe. Temp, glad to hear you're still here, tho I knew it all along…guess our troll didn't…Blur, I love ya and twiggs, get better boy! Tiff, you're the bomb and thanks! Behave until we know for sure…same with you other ones hot on the trail!!!! Peace, love CHEER
"You think she's okay, bra?" Roman asked, pacing in his deep accent.
"Sit the hell down, Man." Brian ordered, his arms folded and amused grin on his face. Kendall came walking out, looking very drained and as though she had been defeated.
"Kendall!" Roman jumped up, wrapping his arms around her tightly.
"Let me go, please." She requested quietly, her teeth semi clenched. It was then Roman noticed her jaw was slightly swollen and lightly bruised.
"Did they hurt you?" Brian asked, watching Roman turn her head to get a better look. Her lip was swollen and busted in the middle. She walked past him, out into the cold.
"Ain't no love for a homeboy?" Roman asked, holding out his arms.
"Let's get outta here, Man." Brian hit him lightly, taking off after Kendall.
"Don't gotta convince me. Shit." Roman shrugged, walking out.
"Yo, Kendall! We need to bury this. We got too much history to let this stand in our way." Brian called after her. Kendall stopped, breaking down in tears.
"I think it's safe to go hug her, Bro." Roman said quietly, nudging Brian.
"You go. She hates me." Brian said sadly, setting down on the bench outside of the police station.
"Ain't my mess, ain't my business. This is between yawl." Roman said, shaking his head and sitting beside Brian.
"What the hell did I call you for then?" Brian popped Roman on the back of the head.
"A brother's gotta eat, Man." Roman grinned, making Brian laugh. Brian got up and took off after Kendall.
"Can we just go back to Dom's?" Kendall asked, shivering. Brian took off his DT work shirt and put it around her shoulders as she kept her gaze to the ground.
"Yeah. But I'll tell you one thing. Dom's gonna make us ride to San Diego together. Fair warning. Rome, let's go." Brian took Kendall's hint of not wanting to talk.
"I'm done with my anger towards you." Kendall's aid, wiping her eyes and yawning.
"You have no idea how relieved I am." Brian said, opening the door for her.
"That doesn't mean I forgive you. My feelings of wanting to hack you into pieces have left. I'm tired." Kendall said, making Brian cough in surprise.
"Gee thanks." He said quietly as Kendall dozed off in the backseat, her head resting on the cold window.
"Man, she's tired." Roman said, feeling her forehead. He looked at her for a minute, in concern.
"Yeah, lucky for me. You're not the one who was going to be hacked into pieces." Brian shook his head, still in disbelief.
"Don't worry, Man. All women feel that way 'bout you. Monica, Mia…" Roman counted on his fingers. "Tonya. I think you're working your way up an down the alphabet." Roman laughed, slapping his leg and laughing at his own joke.
"Man, that is not even right. Just cause you prefer the Twinkies, hostess, and tollhouse. They don't try to kill you cuz you shove them in your mouth too damn fast." Brian retorted, taking a turn fast and passing a semi.
"Damn. You're drivin hasn't gotten any bit better." Roman frowned, holding onto the door as they pulled up into the driveway that led to Dominic's house. The sun was beginning to rise and the lights were on in both levels of the house. Letty was leaning on the door frame of the entrance, Dominic was behind her , his hands on her hips.
"She better be okay." Letty said, her tongue over her teeth, in typical Letty style when she was in a mood.
"Damn, Let." Bran gave her his best boyish smile he could being it he was so tired.
"Hey man. She's a female. I gotta keep her around cuz she's cool." Letty cracked a half smile, punching Brian in the shoulder. Roman attempted to shake Kendall but didn't have any luck in waking her up. He scooped her up in his arms, despite the frown on her exhausted and partially swollen face.
"They roughed her up. Damn pigs." Roman said, starting to lay her on the couch.
"Hey Romey Rome, can ya take her upstairs to Ma's old room? Its hers now." Letty asked, handing Dominic a cup of coffee.
"Yeah, no problemo." Roman yawned and grinned.
"You got three hours to get some rest before we take off, Arizona. Get some sleep." Dominic waved over his shoulder as he followed Roman. "I'll take her up. We got some stuff to talk about." Dominic took Kendall form Roman's arms. She sighed deeply and nuzzled into Dominic's chest unconsciously. He put her on her bed and sat beside her. He stared at her peacefulness and then shook her.
"Not now. I don' t want to talk about him." Kendall whispered, shaking her head and snuggling into her pillow.
"It's not about Brian. It's about me, you , and something you need to know." Dominic said, his voice sounding like she was in deep shit. "But first I wanna know what happened to that pretty face of yours." Dominic said, noticing her bruises had gotten darker.
"I flipped out and they slammed me down on the concrete. They had fun doin it , too. The scratches are from my head bein held to the concrete with their foot." Kendall sighed, not opening her eyes.
"Kinda a hot head, huh? Must run in the family." Dominic grinned slightly.
"You don't know anything about my family." Kendall pouted, sullen and turning her head away from him.
"I know more than you think, dear cousin." Dominic played with Kendall's bangs and swept them form out of her eyes. Her hair was softer than it looked.
"You're trippin or you're drunk. Maybe both. We ain't related. I have no family. No one." Kendall said, more tears falling down her cheeks. Dominic wiped her tears gently.
"You got me and Mia. Our dads were brothers." Dominic said, his gaze holding hers. "You don't think I'd take any girl off the streets and give her my sister's room, do ya?" Dominica laughed.
"You're joking. And it's not funny. How did you know and I didn't if you're serious?" Kendall asked, sizing up Dominic's features.
"honey, let me put it this way. I was just as shocked as you. But I got this summons to appear in court. It scared the shit outta me but I had to go. It was your dad's will." Dominic explained. "They were tryin to find you but they couldn't, so they went with next of kin. And that's me." Dominic nodded, wondering how Kendall would take this bomb he had just dropped on her.
"That explains why Letty hasn't whipped my ass!" Kendall's eyes lot up as though she had solved the mystery of science. He looked at her, confused.
""what the hell you talkin 'bout?" He folded his arms, grinning.
"I know how protective she is of you. I've only been to one race but in that one race, she threatened five tricks." Kendall grinned.
"Yeah, I figured you were safe., being relation and all." Letty walked in, grinning mischievously.
"You know?" Kendall clapped, excited and laughing. Letty shrugged.
"Wasn't my place t tell." Letty sat on Dominic's lap.
"Who else knows?" Kendall asked, now fully awake
"No one. I wanted it to be your choice. You don't have to have to got o races bein known as my cousin. Especially since we are headin to San Diego." Dominic looked at his watch.
"I can't face them, Dom, I can't. They only made me think I could race. " Kendall rubbed her sore face with both of her hand, exhausted. Dominic took both of her hands into each his and looked at her.
"Aw, come on, Doll, you can beat those punks. " Letty said confidently.
"She's right. " Dominic nodded. "So, are we gonna keep it on the down low or what?" He asked, getting up, Letty in his arms.
"Hell no! All I wanted was family. I'm hell a proud to call you my cousin!" Kendall smiled, suddenly hyper.
"You got that and then some, fo sho." Letty threw a suitcase on Kendall's bed.
"Now, get packed cause we're headin for San Diego in like an hour." Dominic said, heading out the door, making Kendall laugh. She was giddy and happy and seeing this new side of her was amusing to both him and Letty.
"He's really my cousin?" Kendall pointed towards the door in amazement, smiling.
"YUP. Can't you tell by your tempers dhow you point?" Letty laughed. "If I didn't love cars so much and have so much respect for them, I woulda died laughing you takin Br's car hostage." Letty grinned evilly, making Kendall bust up into laughter. Then she turned serious.
"Wow. Surely he won't make me ride with Brian, will he?" Kendall asked, pulling some clothes from her closet. Letty folded what Kendall had tossed on top of the suitcase.
"Um, yeah… take that up wit him. I'm gonna go pack. Later." Letty pulled her long black hair up and headed for the door, escaping Kendall's assumptions. Kendall packed and raced downstairs, where she found them all minus Brian in the kitchen.
"Hey, Dall, this is Mia." Leon said, gesturing to a girl who was making eggs and toast. She had a warm smile.
"Hey, cuz." Kendall laughed, making Jesse choke on his orange juice,. Mia laughed and wiped her hands. Soon everyone was setting down and eating when she left to go change.
"Now's you r chance." Dominic said, nodding at Kendall, who hadn't touched anything. She wrinkled her nose.
"For what?" Kendall asked, in amusement.
"To dump that food. It took Bri a while to get used to it, too." Leon laughed, his voice low. Kendall looked relieved, making the group laugh.
"I thought it was just me." She said, pushing away the plate. Jesse was holding his stomach, ready to roll on the floor laughing.
"Nah, we just humor her not to hurt her feelings. " Letty nodded, quickly scrapping her plate. "She came home from school to meet you and to take a mini vacation to San Diego wit us." Letty said, smiling. It was going to be so interesting on from here on out.
AN: so this chapter is a little short…I'm a bit under the weather today of sorts and I had to redo this chapter more than once! Hope you enjoy! Reviews have been scarce except from the troll.. love you all! Thanks for your encouragement, compliments, and time for reading! IT means a lot! To my gals, Chels, cc, laura, and jess. Thanks and you know I love you all! Party on! Hehe. Temp, glad to hear you're still here, tho I knew it all along…guess our troll didn't…Blur, I love ya and twiggs, get better boy! Tiff, you're the bomb and thanks! Behave until we know for sure…same with you other ones hot on the trail!!!! Peace, love CHEER
