Sorry for the lack of updates. I've had Internet connection problems and writer's block to deal with. I hope you enjoy. Let me know what you think. I will be adding another chapter soon.

Chapter 44

Mia crept into Leon's room as quiet as she could. Her breath caught in her throat when she saw Sky sound asleep in Leon's arms. For a moment she just stood there staring at them sleeping. They looked so peaceful together. Slowly she backed out of the room and darted up the stairs. In her hurry she nearly knocked Jesse over at the top of the stairs as she bolted past him and continued on to the second floor. She rushed into Dom and Letty's room. Thankfully Letty was alone. Mia grabbed hold of Letty's wrist dragging her out of the room. "You got to see this."

"Where are we going?" Letty dug her heels in and they came to a sudden stop. She hated surprises.

"Come on. We've got to hurry before one of them wakes up." Mia jerked Letty hard pulling her towards the basement. They reached the bedroom and gently opened the door. Mia tiptoed into the room, followed closely by Letty against her will. "Look at them. That's sweet."

"Damn boy must've worked some spell on her cause last time I talked to her she wanted to kill him."

Mia sighed, "I wish a man would work a spell on me."

Letty suppressed a laugh. "Girl you're already under a spell. Tuna Boy got you wrapped up in them big blue eyes."

"No he doesn't." Mia could feel the heat coming from her cheeks. She had hoped no one noticed her feelings for Brian.

"Do you two need something or did you just come to watch us sleep?" Leon called out from the bed scaring the hell out of Mia and Letty.

After regaining her composure Mia told him that they were having a barbeque and that it was his turn to go to the store. Annoyed with the sudden end of his time with Sky, Leon growled. He wiggled his way out of bed leaving Sky to rest.

Sky rolled over onto to the right side of the bed and woke with a start. It took a moment to realize where she was. It was Leon's room and she was alone. She reached for the lamp on the nightstand and light flooded the room. With her hand she shielded her eyes from the bright light. A note on the nightstand caught her attention.

Hey Girl,

You were sleeping so good I couldn't wake you. If you're reading this before 2pm go back to sleep you need your rest. Besides you got a couple of hours before the food's gonna be ready. By the way, I unpacked the boxes in your room and we got a lot to talk about later. I brought you some clothes to put on for barbeque. See ya in a few.

Leon

Sky dropped her head back on the pillow. He was taking care of her and she didn't mind one bit. Besides he owed Sky for puking on her in his drunken stupor. She switched the light off and laid her head back on the pillow. She pulled the covers up to her nose. They smelled like Leon. Within minutes she was sound asleep.

The warm hand across her stomach raised her from deep sleep. Sitting straight up in a flash her face was only inches from his. Leon quickly removed his hand from her stomach and scooted down the bed. "Feeling better?"

Sky crossed her arms in front of her chest, "Yeah. Thanks for letting me take over your room."

"Anytime. Why don't you get ready, the food's almost done? Oh and heads up Dom invited Tuna Boy and your cousin took off."

"Oh shit. Just the way I like to start my day. Have you tried to call him?"

"Several times, but I ain't getting an answer. He'll be back after he cools off."

Sky knew it was true. Vince just needed time to think on his own. "V better get us a movie for tonight while he's out and it better not be the Bruce Lee story again."

The team took their seats at the table. Dom took the head of the table with Leon at the other end. Mia and Letty sat to Dom right leaving a seat at the end in case Vince came back in time to eat. Sky sat across from Letty between Jess and Brian. She had the same uneasy feeling she always got when Brian came around. She didn't trust him and he smelled like a cop, but Dom would never believe her without proof. Everyone watched as Jess made a move for the chicken. They breathed a sigh of relief knowing they wouldn't be saying grace. After the Car Gods were thanked properly the feast began.

Brian tensed up as Vince came around the corner. Leon greeted him in his usual manner, "Look who it is, Ol' Coyotes R Us. I thought you weren't hungry, Pumpkin."

"I gotta eat." Vince almost sounded defeated. He sat across from Tuna Boy. Leon, Sky, and Vince all exchanged looks in a non-verbal communication. They made it known to each other that the punk couldn't be trusted and needed to be taken care of.

Leon broke the silence, "Where'd you go? Rent a movie or something?"

"Yeah."

"And it better not be the Bruce Lee story." Sky had seen the movie at least 50 times in the last six months.

"How'd ya guess?" Vince gave her his famous smart-ass grin.

"That's the last time you go to the video store. Always the same damn movie. Can't ya watch something else?"

"Stop complaining. What'd ya have picked?"

"Anything with Brad Pitt." Sky joked.

"Amen." Letty and Mia shouted in unison.

"Especially Fight Club where he's all ripped and sweaty. That man's got a killer body."

"Them abs are tight." Letty said with a devious smile.

Dom had enough of the talk about Brad and his body, "Shut up and eat."

After dinner the team headed to the living room for the movie leaving Brian and Mia alone in the kitchen to clean up the mess.

"Make some popcorn V." Sky asked sweetly from the couch.

"Why don't you go make it?"

"I can't Jess and Leon have me blocked in. Please." Sky watched V get up from the floor and head to the kitchen. She gave Jess a high five. He had really wanted the popcorn, but he knew that Sky would have an easier time of getting it than him.

A snicker caught Mia's attention. Vince made a wise crack about Brian helping with the dishes, but Mia got the last laugh. She invited Brian to dinner on Friday night to the little Cuban restaurant that Vince wanted to take her to. With a hit to the door with his elbow, Vince stormed out of the kitchen and headed for the front door. Sky jumped over Leon's head and chased after Vince. She didn't need him taking off after the amount of alcohol he had drank at dinner. Within feet of his car she caught him. "Don't even think about getting in that car Vincent."

"Don't get in my business Sky. I'm a fucking grown man and I can take care of myself. Leave me the fuck alone."

"To hell with that Vince. Tell me what's going on."

"None of your business."

"Bullshit."

"Mia is taking that punk to Cha Cha Cha's Friday night. I've asked her every day for the last six months and always no. White boy wins her over in a few weeks. I just don't get it."

"V, I never did understand why you're always trying to get Mia. Man she don't wanna be with you that way. Get over it and find someone else."

"Not that easy."

"Sure it is. Whatever happened to Eva? You two were hot and heavy before I ran away." She noticed the grimace on his face with the mention of Eva's name. There was a lot she didn't know about what happened in L.A. while she was in New York. "What's wrong?"

"Eva got married two years ago. To a doctor she met at the hospital. They have a little girl."

"How do you know this?"

"Every now and then I used to drive by her house. When I found out she got married I stopped. I dated a couple of the nurses from her hospital and found out about the kid."

"So you focus you attention on Mia? That doesn't make any sense. Mia doesn't want you. Get over it and move on."

"Fuck off Sky." He pushed off the car and unlocked the doors with the keyless entry.

"You better squash the attitude V. I ain't playing with you. You get in that car I'll kick you ass."

He laughed, "Not on your best day."

Leaping in the air with a spin kick she caught him across the chin. Vince dropped as she landed on her feet. He would have a sore jaw the next morning, but to Sky it was better than him getting killed in a car wreck. The team stood on the porch watching the entire episode. Dom and Leon rushed down to help her get Vince back inside. Once inside she pulled Mia to the side, "Brian is bad news. Understand what I am saying to you. Be careful what you say to him. Our freedom is at stake and I know you don't want your brother to go back to prison." Sky didn't wait for a response and headed up to her room.

A few minutes later Leon appeared in the room. He walked over and lay on the bed next to her. Tears stained her pillow. In her hand was the last picture of her and her mom taken on the day she died.

"I found the roll of film in the bag you took to the beach that day. Thought you would like them developed."

"Thanks." Her voice cracked with sadness and tears.

"Baby I'd have cleaned the house out for you. Why'd you put yourself through that?"

"It was something I needed to do. I just want to sleep in peace without the dreams. Just one night of happiness, I thought if there was laughter in the house again the nightmares would disappear. But all I really needed was to be with you. In your arms I had the best sleep I've ever had. I found my peace."

"My arms are always there when you need them." Leon rolled onto his back and pulled her closer to him. She laid her head on his chest and let the sleep take hold of her body.