Prologue - Part 4

{Home Free}

It didn't take but a few minutes to walk down to Toretto's Market & Cafe, which was right down the hill and on the corner from where we lived. The entire walk seemed like a fever dream, however, as Mia and I caught up a bit more. She told me that, like myself, she was a junior in high school and preparing for her extra credit college cram courses that very summer. College wasn't in the game plan for me, but when I asked her what it was she wanted to go to college for, she told me that it would be for her medical license.

"I lost someone very important in my life before we ever met, J.P, and while I couldn't do anything about it at the time, I want to do my best to make sure that nobody else has to go through that same type of loss ever again."

I knew that she was talking about her father, Jack. I had heard many stories of the man from her and Dominic as we grew up, and I was honestly a bit jealous that the two of them even got to meet their father unlike myself. I understood what she meant though. If I had ever lost my mother, I could only imagine what I would've done.

"But anyway, here we are."

With a clink of the bell above the door, Mia walked right inside of the restaurant with me in tow.

It was then I saw him; my brother from another mother. He was standing over the counter, having a rather heated conversation with someone over the phone.

"What do you mean you're going out of business!?" He said in a raised voice as he slammed a closed fist upon the glass top of the counter. "You're the best damn tuna vendor in L.A! How could you go bankrupt?" Dominic rubbed his temples with his free hand and noticed us out of the corner of his eye. Motioning for the two of us to take a seat while he finished up, he continued on with his conversation. "Whatever you say, Enrique. I've got to go. Thanks for nothing." The phone slammed harshly against the base as the man hung up the call. He then shook his head and looked sternly at Mia. "Looks like the rumors were true. Enrique filed for bankruptcy and has to sell the company, so it looks like we're going to have to go with the shitty South Bay Fishery vendor instead."

"Are you serious, Dom?" Mia asked in a remorseful tone. "They're the worst vendor in the state, and tuna was our best selling item."

Dom shook his head and placed a delicate, brotherly hand upon her shoulder.

"I know, Mia, but we will figure things out." Dominic looked into space for a moment before realizing who it was he was talking to. "Wait a minute. What are you doing out of the house? Didn't I tell you that you need to study?"

Mia looked at Dom with an annoyed expression as she folded her arms across her chest.

"What? I can't come out of the house for a bit of fresh air?" She then pointed directly at me. "Plus, we've got a new kid in town." Dominic turned his gaze to me and looked me up and down. Like Mia, he had deep, dark brown eyes that were easy to get yourself lost in. They were inviting, much like his personality.

"Jorge Perez." He said, the light in his eyes sparkling from the reflection of the sun against the window behind me. "How've you been, kid?"

"Been better." I rubbed the back of my neck, not sure how Dominic would take what I was about to lay upon him. "Just got out of juvie for boosting cars three years ago. Mom finally decided it was time to leave the desert, so you've got yourself a new neighbor."

Dominic nodded his head and placed the same delicate hand upon my shoulder as he had Mia's.

"Well welcome to the neighborhood, mi hermano. I'm glad that you're here for good this time. Means I can help keep an eye on you and make sure you don't get into too much trouble." The bell above the door clinked again as a customer walked into the building. He walked up to the counter and Dominic gave the man a pack of cigarettes. He continued to address me as he rung up the gentleman's total and shift through the cash register. "So what are your plans, J.P? Looking for a job?"

"I haven't really decided yet. I know I'm not going back to school, so I'll probably just hit the pavement and look for work."

Dominic glared at me as if I had just rained all hell down upon the world.

"You're going back to school. No questions asked. Like I said, I'm going to make sure you don't get your ass into any more trouble." Dominic handed the patron his pack of cigarettes and told him to have a good day before turning back to me again. "As for a job, you've got to help your mother and grandmother out, so you're gonna start working here first thing tomorrow morning. We will shut down early tomorrow to give you time to register at the school."

As I had been with Mia a little while beforehand, I was taken aback by Dominic. I wasn't mad, of course, just surprised. He talked to me not as a friend, but almost like a father figure. I couldn't help but smile childishly. Other than my mother and my abuela, I had nobody else who cared about me as much as these two did.

Like I said previously, Mia and Dominic were perhaps the two most awesome people I knew.

I sighed defeatedly and nodded my head.

"Alright, Dom. I'll register at the school tomorrow."

"Good." Dominic took a few steps over to the food preparation station adjacent to the counter. "Now let's hurry up and eat some of this tuna before we run out. I don't know how much longer it'll last, and no way in hell will you want to eat that crap from South Bay. How do you want your's, J.P?"

"Um… On white bread, please." I paused for a moment, wanting to say something else but not wanting to be embarrassed by the request. It was childish. After mulling over it for a moment, I decided to just go ahead and say it anyways. "Can I get that with no crust, Dom?"

Dominic chuckled.

"No crust?" He asked cheekily.

"No crust." I replied, soaking in the fact that I finally felt at home for good.