Two chapters posted this time so don't forget to read Chapter 65 first.

Chapter 66

"Ces, I watched the car flip over and over. It was like everything was in slow motion." The emotion he had kept at bay flooded to the surface. "I didn't turn back for them. All I cared about was the job."

Cecily stroked his hand, "You know that's not true. What could you have done? You needed to help Vince. Sometimes you have to make critical decisions in the heat of the moment. Don't second guess yourself."

"And I chose my best friend over the woman I loved." He put his head down on Cecily's lap and sobbed.

Seeing him like that brought Cecily back to that fateful day when her life went from a dream to a living nightmare. With soft gentle strokes on his head she tried to comfort him while letting the memories come flooding into her mind.

Flashback

Sunlight broke over the horizon in a burst of orange and yellow. It was a beautiful clear morning, a rarity in Los Angeles. The backdoor to the large white house was wide open. Cecily called in through the door, "Hello is anyone here?"

Nino, Dom and Mia's father, stepped into the kitchen. He was a man of similar build to Dom with jet black hair cut short. He was wearing a simple white t-shirt and his race suit with the sleeves wrapped around his waist. "Well if it isn't my favorite daughter-in-law to be."

"Better be your only daughter-in-law to be." Cecily walked up to him and was instantly enveloped in his strong arms.

He leaned back slightly and stared down at the tiny young woman, "How on earth did my son get so lucky?"

"I'm the lucky one Nino."

"Well my dear I insist that you come over to the table and have a cup of coffee with me. It'll be at least another 20 minutes before Mia is ready to go. Since she became a teenager neither me nor Dom can get a moment in the bathroom. I'm thinking about adding a second one in the basement."

"Be careful. If you add a bathroom down there then Vince may never leave. How long has he been living in your basement?"

"About six months now. I believe you're right. If I put a bathroom down there he'll stay indefinitely." They both laughed at the thought of Vince being in the Toretto house forever. He had moved in with the family when his mom's house had become too crowded with the addition of her new husband and his three kids. Vince was never one for hanging out in a house full of kids under the age of 10. Vince's mom hated to see him go, but knew it really wasn't a comfortable situation for him. When Vince's dad died from a heart attack when Vince was in the fifth grade he never imagined his mom would ever move on. She of course did after many years alone and Vince had a hard time dealing with it. Vince's mom hoped with time he'd come to respect his stepfather, but for the time being they'd keep their distance.

The diamond on Cecily's ring caught the sunlight streaming through the back window and sparkled brightly. Nino took her hand in his and looked at the ring, "I still remember in vivid detail the day I gave this very ring to Rosalie. She was the most beautiful woman I had ever looked upon, but that day her face glowed with a beauty indescribable and you know what?"

"What?" Cecily tilted her head slightly to the right.

"I see that same beauty in you. I'm so happy that my son found you."

A tiny tear slipped down her cheek, "Oh Nino. You just know how to get to me. Now I know where your son gets it from."

"Gets what?" Dom walked into the room at the tail end of the conversation.

Cecily got up from the table and walked over to Dom placing a sweet kiss on his cheek before whispering to him, "Nothing baby."

"You're a terrible liar, but I'll let it slip this time. Hey Pops are we ready to head out?"

"Is your sister out of the bathroom?" Nino was beginning to show his impatience with the young Mia.

"I'll get her." Dom left the room and walked to the bottom of the steps leading to the second floor. "Mia get your ass out of the bathroom before I come up there and pull you out myself."

The young girl stormed down the stairs, "Can't a girl get a little time in the bathroom alone."

"No. We're gonna be late because of you. Now get your ass in the truck so we can go. Dad…Ces, we're ready to go. Where's Vince?"

"Right behind you brother. The truck's been loaded."

"Let's go then." Dom commanded. Everyone filed out of the house and into the truck.

Race day was always chaotic and that day was no exception. Cecily and Mia took their positions seated on a platform above the crew. Cecily's job for each race was to record the statistics and this gave her a bird's eye view of the track. Mia sat beside her reading some women's magazine meant to instruct a woman on how to dress and behave. Vince and Dom worked as part of the pit crew. It was a family affair and many on the pit crew were either relatives or friends so close they were considered family.

The race began like any other with racers battling for position with each lap. Nino had the lead going into the final turn of the race. The entire pit crew was on their feet ready to celebrate another well earned victory. Then the unthinkable happened. Another car slipped its front bumper under Nino's car sending him into the wall at 180mph. Everyone held their breath waiting for Nino to remove the netting from the driver's side window indicating that he was ok. There was no movement in the car and in a flash an explosion rocked the track as the tank blew. Dom rushed over the wall trying to get to his dad. His screams were audible over the roar of the engines of nearby cars and the sirens of the rescue team. The crew rushed to hold him down and keep him from rushing to the burning car. "Vince get Mia." Cecily yelled out as she rushed to Dom's side. Her arms wrapped around him and he collapsed into her.

A week after the accident Dom went to the track to collect his dad's things. He saw the man that had caused his dad's accident, Kenny Lindner. When the police knocked on the door of the Toretto residence Cecily thought Dom had been in an accident. She could never have imagined Dom was capable of almost killing a man. The officers detailed every injury suffered by Kenny Lindner.

There were witnesses to the beating making it impossible for Dom to escape jail time. Many spoke of his lack of remorse for the beating and the brutality of the unprovoked attack. All Cecily could do was watch in horror as the jury recommended a two year sentence in prison. The judge passed the sentence immediately and order Dom transferred to Lompoc.

Her world came crashing down on her in that moment. Mia was sent to live with relatives and Vince went back to his mother's home. She found herself alone again. With only one person left to turn to she went to stay with her brother Diego. He was one of the racers in the scene. With Dom locked up there was an empty spot at the top with many racers vying for the title of King of Los Angeles. No one suspected that Johnny Tran would make a play for the position. His gang swept in leaving a trail of disaster in their wake. Cecily watched as her brother was gunned down trying to save her from Johnny Tran's unwanted advances.

Johnny kidnapped her keeping her prisoner in the basement of a secluded location until she finally accepted her situation and became his. Her heart belonged to Dom, but her body was Johnny Tran's property. Her every move was watched by his henchmen leaving no chance of escape. Many times she thought of turning to suicide to end her suffering.

Two years of hell passed before Dom set her free, but by then his heart belonged to another. Cecily accepted that her place now belonged to Letty. She tried to give the engagement ring back to Dom before she left, but he wouldn't accept it. "You're the only woman that I'll ever want to be my wife, but I don't deserve to have you. I'll never love another the way I loved you." His words etched in her soul forever. They said their goodbye and parted ways.

End Flashback

Somehow he had found his way back into her arms. She wanted to keep him there for eternity. They had before them a second chance at happiness. "Dom, we should leave before the sun rises. We'll get farther under the cover of darkness." He silently agreed and helped her gather the things they'd need on their journey. Cecily, Dom, and the baby loaded into the car. One last look was all Cecily had time for. She left behind the life she had built alone for what she hoped was a life of happiness with Dom.