"Guys!" Jesse yelled running into the kitchen. He flipped on the television quickly. "Listen to this."
A news broadcast was running. "Police are saying that the body they found in the back alley of a local bowling alley was that of 21yr old Angelina Garcia. Her friends who last saw her said she'd attended a local meeting of the city's racing community. They did not see who Angelina left with." A picture flashed up on the screen. She resembled all of the women in the kitchen, but Rina was the only who noticed. The screen flashed onto a police officer, "It is quite obvious that Ms. Garcia was sexually assaulted, beaten, and tortured. There were marks on both wrists that would indicate that she was bound. We are running the evidence that we have and have found one match from another state. We're asking that anyone who has any information into Ms. Garcia's whereabouts last evening, or whom she might have left with, please come forward."
The kitchen was silent. Rina didn't realize she was gasping. Tears streamed down her face, and her breath came shallowly. "Um, I forgot, I have something I have to…" Without finishing her statement she ran from the room. She made it to her front yard before dropping and vomiting into the grass. Letty had followed her, and held her hair back as she kept heaving. When she was done, Letty helped her stand.
"Come on chica. Come nap at my house. You don't look so good." She led her back to the house and helped her lay down on the couch. Brian brought a cold, wet washcloth for her face, and a glass of water to rinse her mouth out with. She fell asleep within minutes.
Brian headed into the kitchen with the rest of the group. Letty looked at them. "I think she was raped."
Dom nodded, it would certainly make sense if that was the case. "Think it was Trust Fund?"
"I don't know. He doesn't seem to be like that with girls. I mean, he's a smug asshole, but raping them? Now I could see him getting violent, but rape? But that girl couldn't handle what she just saw on the television."
"I guess that would explain why she doesn't form relationships." Brian added. Letty nodded at that.
Letty watched the girl on the couch sleep. She wasn't sure if she liked her, but she certainly felt for her. Mia was right, she was so very alone, and Letty knew how that felt. This girl was young, she looked at the guys like they might spring at her at any moment. Then sometimes she looked at them with wonder, like she never knew men could be that way. Perhaps her being around wouldn't be bad. If she was raped, and Letty was sure she had been, well then maybe they could teach her that not all men were bad.
Rina woke up later and groggily looked around. She barely remembered where she was, and when she did, then she remembered why. She knew what had happened to that girl. She knew who had done those things to her. She sobbed a little, and that's when she noticed Brian on the ground next to the couch.
"You okay?" he mumbled with sleepy eyes.
"Yes." she answered halfheartedly.
"You don't sound so sure." he told her with a smile.
"What are you doing here?" she whispered.
"Just keeping an eye out on you. Making sure you were okay." he told her honestly. He reached up a hand to brush her hair aside and she flinched. "Sorry." he muttered.
"No, I'm sorry. It isn't your fault I'm like this. I wish I wasn't." she said as tears came into her eyes. "I wish I was normal. I feel things that I don't understand. Whenever I see you."
"You do? What do you feel Rina?"
"It's like butterflies circling through my stomach. It's like a happy little feeling deep down. I've only felt that once before, and that turned out to be a lie." she told him simply. "I'm not any good at this. I'm scared of you, and I want to kiss you, but that scares me even more."
"So kiss me Rina. I won't move, I promise. You control it." he told her looking her in the eyes.
Rina hesitated for a moment, and then, keeping her eyes wide open, moved her lips to brush lightly across his. Her heart jumped at the contact. A mixture of fear and pleasure. She pressed her lips closer to his, and deepened the kiss. Rina reached out her hand and touched a silky blonde curl. She stayed that way for what seemed like an eternity to her, and then finally pulled away. She smiled at him, "Thank you."
"Wow." he whispered. "Anytime."
"Really, I could do that again sometime?" she asked with such naivety and innocence.
"You just let me know when you want to and I'm there."
"Why? I mean, why me? You could have all types of girls." she told him curious. "Why kiss someone who's such a freak?"
"I don't think you're a freak Rina." he told her with such sincerity. "Why you? Because you make butterflies circle through my stomach, and cause a happy feeling down deep inside of me."
Everyone noticed a slight change in Rina after that day. She still got nervous, but it was obvious something was happening with her and Brian. Brian never made the first move, but would wait for her to. She would take his hand, or lean in for a hug. Letty was surprised at the amount of patience he was showing. She wondering if this was more than a flirtation for Brian.
Rina was at home on the phone with her attorney when Letty and Mia showed up at her door. She ushered them inside and went into the kitchen to finish the call. Rina didn't realize they could still hear her. "Mel, I want that file on the LAPD's desk. I know all the trouble you went to, and I appreciate it. I also want them to know I'm here and licensed. Just notify them."
She joined the two girls in her living room. They were looking around at her sparse furnishings with dismay. "Rina, how do you live like this?" Mia asked.
Rina frowned. "It's clean."
"Sure, but that's about it. Have you heard of furniture? Art? Tables?"
"Mia, if the girl wants to live like a hermit, then let her. She comes over enough to realize how people should be living." Letty teased. "Rina, we're here to talk you into going to race night tonight."
In truth, Rina had been considering it. She thought it was time for them to know she was there. Especially since the cops would be sniffing around them soon. Could she handle looking into their faces though? She could. She would put the fear of God into them. "I'll go."
"Well, that was easier than we thought it would be." Mia stated in a shocked tone.
Rina grinned. "It's time Heath knew that payback was approaching."
"Great, now we just have to figure out what you're gonna wear!" Mia said brightly.
Rina blinked, "Wha?" This made Letty burst into laughter.
It had been a long time since Rina had worn anything close to being revealing, and she didn't really know how Mia and Letty had talked her into the outfit she had on. The pants were fine. They were army green cargo pants, and hung low on her hips. Then Mia had made her wear a lace edged camisole. The camisole was rusty brown, and the lace was ivory. The colors went well with her skin tone and hair. She was nervous and wondered what Brian would say.
He smiled when he saw her, and she felt herself blush. I'm such a nerd, she thought. She rode with Brian, and when they got there she realized how nervous she was. She leaned over and kissed Brian before he could open the door.
"What was that for?" he asked.
She shrugged. "Courage." He didn't really understand but he nodded.
They got out and joined the group. They dispersed to talk to friends, and Rina felt the fear edge in. Taking a deep breath she walked forward. He wouldn't do anything in public, would he? Brian had smiled and headed over to talk to a black man she didn't recognize. She cut Heath off on his way to talk to Dom and Hector. His friends were right behind him. As soon as they saw her they looked like they'd seen a ghost, and they stopped abruptly.
"Hello Heath." she said with a pleased grin on her face. No they hadn't expected this at all. The look on their faces, and their silence had gotten Dom and Hector's attention, but neither Rina or Heath's group noticed.
"Well, Kitty Cat, what a surprise." he said a bit shaky.
"Yes, it is isn't it?"
"What are you doin in L.A. Kitty Cat?" the muscle in his cheek was twitching.
"Well, I thought I'd check out the sights. I heard L.A. was a happening place."
"Did you? Well this is a coincidence, isn't it?" he said as a nasty note crept into his voice. The rest of Team Toretto had joined Dom.
"Yes," She told him with a feral grin on her face. "Who would have ever thought I'd run into old friends here?" She put special emphasis on 'old friends'.
Drew stepped forward, his face red with fury. Heath put his hand out to stop his friend. "So how long are you staying?"
"Ya know, I haven't really decided yet. I really like it here."
"This isn't like the little town you're used to Kitty Cat. You should be careful, you don't want to run into something and get hurt." he said smoothly, but the threat was there. Anger built when she smiled widely.
"Oh, I'm not worried at all. I've learned a lot since I saw you last." she challenged. "Although, you're right. Bad things do happen here. Like that poor girl who disappeared the other night. Just horrible. I really hope they find out who did that." she looked thoughtful. "Do you think they'll seek the death penalty when they do?"
His jaw was clenched now. "I wouldn't know."
She nodded. "So are you racing tonight?"
He relaxed slightly. "Probably."
"Against Dom? Admirable." she said. "You should be careful though Heath. Dom's a real man, and a real racer, I don't see how you stand a chance against him."
He lashed out grabbing her shoulders and pressing into her skin. "You should be careful Kitty Cat, I'd hate to have to teach you a lesson." he hissed.
"I'd suggest you get your hands off her." Brian said approaching them quickly. He looked straight into Heath's eyes. "Touch her again and we'll be having more than a discussion." He pulled Rina against him with his arm around her waist. She didn't even flinch like she normally did. It just felt right.
"You and O'Connor, huh? That's pretty funny Kitty Cat. When you fucked him did you tell him I taught you everything?"
Rina kept perfectly calm although she felt like screaming. "Say Heath?" she called out as Brian led her away. "I saw that some of your cars were in an accident. That's just horrible, I was sorry to hear it." Then she walked away, and felt like she'd won something that night.
Away from the group Brian hugged her to him. He was trembling in anger, and she just held him back. It was the first time he'd made the first move in their relationship. So this is how it's supposed to feel? She thought to herself. "I'm sorry." Brian told her.
"What for?" she was confused.
"Grabbing you like that. Threatening him when I know you want to handle it yourself. But when he put his hands on you, I couldn't handle it."
Rina looked into his deep blue eyes. "It's not going to be easy for you in this. I can't tell you everything, and I can't include you in my plans, but back there…You did fine Brian. I liked that you wanted to protect me, and I liked you pulling me to you and away from him." He smiled relieved. "Kiss me." she ordered. So he did.