To Be Needed
Part 8
Vince watched Ashby do the dishes after dinner. She had let Leon and Jesse off the hook for the night. He stood up and helped her dry them.
"You still wanna go out tonight, right?" He asked, hoping she didn't want to back out.
Ashby smiled at him. "Yes. I said I wanted to and I still do. But I don't want to go to a race." She informed him.
"We ain't goin to no race. I thought of somethin better," he told her slyly.
Ashby glanced at him. She was worried. She didn't want to encourage Vince. She really didn't want him to think this one date would go anywhere. She wasn't going to date him, or anyone. It was simpler this way.
When they were finished with dinner Ashby informed Vince she was going to go upstairs and change, but he stopped her.
"No, you're fine like that." He protested.
Ashby wore a black jogging suit with white strips down the side of the pant leg. She wore a white tee shirt underneath a black hooded jacket that matched her pants.
She looked down at her self then back at Vince.
"All right then, let's go."
He nodded and grabbed her hand, leading her toward the living room to go out the front door.
"We'll be back later," he told the others as he dragged Ashby thru the room and out the door.
Before anyone could ask where they going Vince already had Ashby thru the door and halfway to his car.
Ashby smiled as he opened the door for her and rushed her inside.
"Hurry, Ash. Before Dom comes out here. Then we'll never leave."
She knew what he meant. They would want to know where they were going, especially Dominic.
When had they started dating?
How long will you be gone?
Don't do anything stupid, V.
Ash, you sure you want to go out with Vince?
Yes, Ashby understood Vince's need to leave the house quickly. She didn't much feel like being interrogated either.
"So where are we going?" She asked, once Vince got out on the street.
"You'll see," he said cryptically.
Ashby sighed and settled back into her seat. She knew Vince wasn't going to tell her anything he didn't want her to know.
Ashby looked at Vince curiously when he parked next to the beach. Going to the beach wasn't something she would expect from him. He never took any of his other 'women' to the beach. Of course he usually only takes out the hoes he meets at races, and it's only for one thing. Leon does the same. Ashby thought about it. Maybe there is more to Vince than what he lets them all think.
It was in that moment Ashby began to hate herself. She knew why Vince took her to the beach. She knew why he faked having headaches sometimes so he could sleep next to her. She was different from those other women he's taken out. He felt something different with her.
She never should have agreed to go out with him. It was just going to cause problems. She didn't want to hurt him, which is exactly what she would be doing if she let this go any further.
Ashby wouldn't be able to stand it if Vince hated her. She loved having him as a friend. She didn't want to lose that, even if deep down she wanted more.
"Why did you bring me here, V? I told you. This can't go any further." She asked.
Vince looked at her sharply. "Because I wanted to bring you here. Why can't we see each other? You like me too, Ash. I know you do. You wouldn't let me sleep with you every night if you didn't." He said, somewhat angry. Why was she denying the chemistry between them? He didn't care about her past. All he cared about was being with her now.
Ashby climbed out the car. She headed for the shore, listening for the crash of the waves to guide her, since it was dark. She didn't wait to see if Vince followed her. She didn't much care at the moment. She wished she had just lied to Vince and told him she did have a thing for Dom. Maybe he would have left her alone then.
When Vince came and stood next to her, Ashby sighed.
Vince couldn't hear it because the waves were too noisy.
"I really don't want to talk about it. We're not going to date because I won't let it happen. I can't. I'm never dating anyone. Not again." She said, not even looking up at him.
Vince opened his mouth to protest, but the ringing of his cell phone interrupted him. "What!" He snapped.
Ashby flinched, but didn't look up. She knew he was mad at her.
"What do you mean Dom's actin crazy? Damn it Jesse! Slow down!"
Ashby looked up quickly and snatched the cell phone out of Vince's hand. Her first thought was Mia. Maybe Mia had been lying to her to let her think she was fine.
"Jesse? What's the matter? What happened?"
Vince stared at Ashby, waiting for her to translate what Jesse was saying. He was talking so fast, because he was upset. All Vince understood was something about Dom goin all crazy.
Every second that passed Vince saw Ashby's eyes get wider and wider.
"Okay, Jess. We're comin right now. Five minutes." She said, and hung up.
"We need to go now," Ashby stated and took off running for Vince's car.
Vince followed, but still wanted to know what was up. "What's goin on?" He asked as he started the car.
"Letty showed up at the house," She explained.
Vince's jaw dropped. "Oh shit! Fuck that, we'll be there in less than five minutes." Vince exclaimed and took off.
Ashby was shocked by how fast Vince was going, but was glad. She wanted to get to the house as quick as possible.
Vince pulled up in front of the Toretto house, less than five minutes later. Ashby jumped out the car and ran for the front door, with Vince close behind her.
"Jesse? Where are you?" She yelled as she ran inside.
"Here," he said as he came out the kitchen.
Ashby frowned. It was bad, because Jesse was shaking.
"Where's Dom?"
"In his room, throwing stuff around. Mia took the baby for a drive. Leon tried to go in, but came right back out when he saw Letty and Dom arguing." Jesse explained, still speaking fast.
Vince turned and ran up the stairs, taking them two at a time.
Ashby looked back at Jesse. "Where's Letty now?"
Jesse looked fearful. "Upstairs. She goes in Dom's room and then he yells and throws things, then she comes out. She's gone in three times already. I keep telling her to not go in, but she won't listen. She didn't even say anything when she got here. I opened the door because she knocked and she just asked where Dom was at." Jesse said.
Ashby knew he was hurt. It hurt that he thought Letty cared about him and she really didn't.
"All right. I'll go up and handle her. Stay down here." She told him and gave him a hug to reassure him.
Ashby made her way to the stairs. Just for causing the look on Jesse's face Ashby was ready to beat Letty down. When she heard Vince yelling at someone she started running even faster up the stairs.
"What the fuck, Letty! Get the fuck out of here! He don't want to see you!"
Ashby saw the small petite woman Vince was yelling at. For some reason Ashby expected more. From the way they all use to talk about her Ashby expected her to be this big bad wannabe gangster. Not the same small girl she remembered from high school.
"Fuck you, V! This is between Dom and me!" Letty yelled back at Vince. She pushed her way past him and shoved herself back into Dom's bedroom.
Ashby watched the door, waiting for Dom's reaction. Sure enough Dom started yelling at Letty in Spanish and throwing things. Letty came running out the room and slammed the door shut behind her.
"I told you! Stop being a bitch and just get the fuck out!" Vince snapped.
Letty glared at him. "I ain't leaving until me and Dom talk!" She snapped back.
Ashby walked further in the hall and stood next to Vince. "Oh, but I think you are. You're going to leave and you're going to do it now. And then you're never going to come back." Ashby stated firmly.
Letty glared at her. If looks could kill, Ashby knew she would be dead on the spot.
"Who the fuck are you? You must be one of Leon's hoes. Or maybe Vince's. Don't think just because you're fucking one of them you can tell me what do in our house. Back the fuck up before I beat your ass!" Letty growled viciously.
Ashby sighed. "You have two minutes. Get the fuck out now, before I have you hauled out in handcuffs." Ashby snapped, not having patience anymore.
Letty lifted her arm as if to raise a fist to swing at Ashby, but Vince grabbed her and stopped her.
"Don't you ever lay a hand on her, Letty. If you do you'll have to answer to all of us." He told her coldly.
Letty looked at Vince in surprise. He never stepped in for one of his hoes before. She didn't understand why he was doing it now.
"Like I said. Get the fuck out." Ashby repeated.
"I ain't leavin until I talk to Dom," Letty insisted. She pulled out of Vince's hold and rushed back into Dom's room before Vince could stop her.
Ashby winced when she heard another roar from Dom and then a loud bang as he threw something against the wall. It caused the door to vibrate. Letty came rushing out again and slammed the door shut.
"Leave Letty and don't come back. He don't want nothing to do wit you anymore." Vince said his eyes stared at her coldly.
Letty brushed past Vince and Ashby. "I'll come back tomorrow. He'll calm down by then." She muttered to herself.
Vince turned to go into Dom's room, but Ashby stopped him.
"Better let me. Why don't you go down and check on Jesse. He seemed really upset." She told him. Before Vince could argue Ashby had already opened the door and was on her way in.
"Dom? It's me, Ash." She said, softly as she walked in slowly. She winced when she saw the look on Dom's face. Twice now, Ashby wanted to beat Letty down for causing pain to someone she loved.
Dom saw her and his body collapsed on to the bed. He was mentally and physically drained.
He had tears in his eyes, Ashby saw. She knew that Letty coming back wasn't how he thought it would be. Letty must have said something to upset him otherwise he wouldn't have been so angry towards her.
Ashby made her way over on the bed and sat next to him. "You okay?" she asked, knowing that would prompt him to talk.
Dom laid back on the bed, with his eyes closed. "She doesn't love me Ash. She never did. Do you know what she came back here for?"
"No, why?"
"For the fucking money. She's wasted hers already. She had the nerve to ask if we were still jackin trucks cuz she wants back in. Can you believe that? God, I fuckin hate her!"
Dom finished on a snap.
Ashby's heart broke for him. She knew he's harbored his love for Letty well over a year, hoping she would come back. Ashby knew what it was like to love someone and then realize that they never loved you all along.
"I Know, D. I know. She's gone now. She won't be coming back again. I'll make sure of that." Ashby said, firmly.
Dom drew in a shaky breath. " I can't see her again, Ash. I don't want anything to do with her. She makes me so angry. I wasted all that time on her and all she was doing was using me and us to get money." Dom said, still angry.
"I hope you know what you're talking about. Remember a week ago you were defending her. Make sure you think about this Dom. Maybe you have it all wrong." Ashby offered.
Dom shook his head to emphasize that he was sure. "I know. But When I saw her again, I knew it was over. I was just angry with her because of the way she snuck off in the middle of the night without saying good-bye to me or the 'team'." Dom explained.
Ashby opened her mouth to say something, but she heard the slow creak of the door.
"Come on in, Jesse." She said, knowing who it was. If it were Vince he would have just barged right in, along with Leon.
Jesse poked his head in. He still had that upset look on his face.
"You okay, Dom?" he asked, speaking really softly.
Immediately Dom felt bad. Here Jesse was, too afraid to even speak too loud. "Jess, come here." Dom said as he motioned for Jesse to come closer to him.
Jesse walked over to where Dom sat on the edge of the bed. His head remained down.
"I'm sorry you saw that. You know that I would never hurt Letty, right? I was just angry about some stuff she said," Dom explained.
Jesse nodded numbly. He still wouldn't look up.
"There's something else, isn't there Jesse?" Ashby asked as she watched him. She was guessing that Dom might have misinterpreted Jesse's reaction.
Jesse looked up. He had tears in his eyes. He nodded again.
Dom looked confused. "What's the matter, Jesse?"
Jesse looked hesitant. He didn't want Dom to be angry with him like he was at Letty.
"It's okay, Jesse. I'm here," Ashby informed him. She gave his hand a squeeze.
Jesse took a deep breath.
"Don't let Letty back on the 'team,' Dom please. She abandoned us once, without looking back. Don't let her do it again. Don't let her do that to you again. If she really loved you or us she wouldn't have taken off in the middle of the night without sayin good-bye." Jesse said. He shut his eyes, waiting for Dom to explode.
