Running Away From the World
Chapter Five

Raylen climbed shakily out of Leon's Skyline and peered out at her surroundings. Part of her was taking in all the sights and sounds of the LA scene and comparing it to that of Memphis's. The other part, however, was looking for Jarrett's goons. They were all around undoubtedly. Jarrett was never one to loose something and not strive to get it back. In his sick little mind, she was his. End of story.

A shiver tore throughout her body, and she backed up against the Skyline. Leon sat in the driver's seat listening to the police scanners. There was a homicide over at Glendale and Park. Most of the police units that were around town were being dispatched to the scene.

The revving of engines let her know that the race was about to start. She stood up and took a step toward the road. Down it sat four cars with four drivers. She was sure that each driver was feeling something different at the present moment. Dom probably knew that he was going to win. It wasn't a probability. It was a fact.

Edwin was probably trying to convince himself that he was going to win and get Monica. Leon had filled her in on the couple's rocky past. It sure was an exciting one. The other two kids that were racing were probably nervous as hell. Raylen didn't blame them. If she were in their spot, she would have been nervous too.

She watched as Hector gained eye contact with each driver before dropping his hands, signaling that the race had started.

The cars took off from the starting line within seconds of him giving the signal. Dom was once again in the lead and keeping it. Edwin was a car length from Dom and the other two kids were neck in neck a car length and a half behind Edwin. Raylen shook her head and allowed a small smile to cross on her face. Dom crossed the finish line and pivoted his car around before returning back to the starting line. The race, to Raylen, had been somewhat exciting, but she couldn't help but think that it would have been better if Dom had actually had some competition.

Maybe I should get Dom and Pierce to race when he comes down, she mused as she climbed back into Leon's car.

"So, it better than Memphis races?" he asked as he took his eyes off the scanner and looked at her. The smile on her face grew bigger.

"It was all right," she said with a slight laugh.

Leon chuckled and turned the volume up on the scanner when the dispatcher began to speak. "…a 147 at Cisco's Market on Junipero and Tchulahoma…"

"Havin' fun?"

He smiled and placed a hand on her leg. "Not really, but I will be at the after party."

Raylen blushed a bit for an unknown reason and turned her head to where she was looking out of the car. Her eyes scanned the crowd and stopped at a figure that was staring straight at her. Immediately, she noticed that he didn't look as if he belonged in the racing scene. He was too… Raylen never finished the thought. The scanner beside her began to blare as the dispatcher called upon all available units to check out suspected street racing at their current location.

Leon let out a string of obscenities as he dove for the walkie-talkie that was kept in the car for emergencies such as the ones they were facing.

"Yo, we got cops!" he screamed into it. "Get going. Fast!"

He then threw the walkie-talkie into the back and started up the car. Within seconds, he floored the gas and was pulling away from the street. Cops cars began to appear at intersections and Raylen watched as the Skyline's speedometer steadily rose.

A cop car appeared behind Leon's car as they pulled out onto another street. Raylen threw a look over at Leon, but he seemed to be in the zone. He took a left hand turn very sharply and pressed the gas down harder. There was very little traffic out at twelve o'clock and Raylen was very thankful. She pulled the harness on and fastened it. Better be safe than sorry, she told herself before a smile appeared on her face. It had been a while since she had to run from the cops and she certainly did miss the adrenaline rush. She relaxed into her seat and allowed herself to watch Leon's as he shifted gears with ease and further left the cop car in the dust.

She studied his profile for a while before Leon pulled the Skyline into the driveway of the Toretto household. Raylen took off the harness and slipped out of the car. As Leon began to walk into the house, she came up beside him and smiled. Leon noticed this and threw a questioning glance her way.

"I just had fun that's all," she replied to his unspoken question.


A deep sigh escaped Pierce's lips as he walked out of his four bedroom apartment. He held a leather suitcase by the handle and walked slowly over to the elevator door. A low ding floated throughout the room as the doors to the elevator opened and a few people stepped out from it. Pierce slipped past them with a nod and pushed the first floor button. The doors slid close and he once again found himself alone.

Nervousness ran amuck throughout his body as he tightened his grip on the suitcase handle. The suitcase had three thousand Benjamins stacked neatly. 30 K was a lot of money even for him. But it's all worth it, he reminded himself as the door to the elevators slid open and he stepped out into the foyer. The clock above the main doors read nine forty, giving him twenty minutes to get to the designated meeting spot.

Exactly fifteen minutes later, Pierce stepped up to the main entrance to Central Park. His fingers tensed up around the handle as his eyes scanned the surrounding area. No sign of Jarrett, but that didn't mean that he wasn't around or that his goons weren't watching. Another sigh fell from his lips as he waited for five minutes to roll around and the dreaded meeting to begin.

It's all worth it.

"Follow me," a man said into his ear just before passing him. Pierce glanced up and watched as Jarrett entered the park, not looking back to see if he was following him. Once the two men reached a secluded area, Jarrett turned around and motioned toward the bench next to him. "Lay it there."

"What's with the commands?" Pierce quipped as he sat the briefcase on the bench.

"Shut up."

He rolled his eyes and backed away from the bench. "My part of the deal is done. What about yours?"

Jarrett approached the bench and opened the briefcase, examining the money closely. Once he was satisfied that there was 30 K sitting in front of him, he closed the briefcase and handed it to a man who had appeared at his side. "Put it in the car."

The man nodded and disappeared within seconds. "Now, Pierce…"

He adjusted his shirt collar slightly and smiled at the man in front of him. "I will honor my part of the deal," he said as he reached behind him and pulled a 9mm out, "once your sister is dead."

Pierce attempted to run away but Jarrett was too quick. He wrapped an arm around his neck before hitting him in the head with the butt of the gun. Pierce's body crumpled to the ground, unconscious. Jarrett made a tsk-tsk noise as he wiped the blood off his gun with a rag.

"What do you want us to do with him?" one of Jarrett's goons asked.

"Leave him here."

"Are you-"

"I said leave him," he replied, his voice raised slightly. "Now, I need a ticket to LA immediately, and tell Stefan to make sure Raylen is single when I get there."

"Will do," the goon said before walking off. Jarrett kicked Pierce in the side as he said, "Asshole."


A/N: Real short, I know and I'm sorry, but I haven't updated in forever and I wanted to get this out tonight. I love you guys!

x scorchingreality