Chapter 16: Trying

Vince flopped down and Matty walked around the living room, picking up the various beer bottles that littered the living room. It was three weeks since her encounter with the cops and she was slowly returning back to the old Matty they all knew and loved. The first week she spent it cooped up in her room, only eating when Mia brought down food or Vince forced her to have a cheeseburger that he would bring her after work. The second week she emerged from the darkness and began to interact with the team, but they all watched her carefully.

Any loud sound or unannounced touch would make her jump and soon after she would retreat back into her shell. The team tried to be there for her, but Dom insisted that she get her space. She'll come around eventually, he claimed.

Matty picked up the last Corona bottle and placed it in the garbage can she had dragged into the living room. She sat down next to V and placed her head in his shoulder. "Do you think Dom will ever grow up and stop having these out of control parties?" She asked, sighing. Vince laughed, sending shivers through her body. "The garage and racing is his 9 to 5, while partying is his hobby. You can't take away what the man loves to do. It'll be a love suicide," he replied, placing a kiss on her forehead.

"I want to thank you Vince, for everything. I know it's not easy to put up with me, but God has given you a talent," she said, snuggling up to him closer. Vince froze, butterflies in his stomach at the sincerity that he heard in her voice. No one was usually that nice to him, not even Mia when he bent over backwards to get in her good graces. He was also feeling guilty at the dirty thoughts going through his head.

She felt his body stiffen and Matty looked up at him, a questioning look on her face. "What's on your mind?" Vince cleared his throat and tried to come up with a good answer. "Nothing." Matty separated from him and stared him down. "Vince, I'm not made out of china. It's been almost a month since the incident. You can talk to me," she replied.

He leaned over and wrapped a hand around the back of her neck, taking in her sweet smell. Vince brought his mouth over to her ear and nicked softly at her earlobe. "I want to show you that not every man is bad. I want to show you how it feels to be loved. I want to feel you by my side again, the real you," he whispered.

Matty pulled away from him and stared into his immense eyes. She admitted to herself that his warmth felt good and that it was true, not all men were the same. She nodded to him and took his hand in hers. She led him downstairs into his room, grimacing at the mess that had taken over the room. "Excuse the mess," he muttered, beginning to move the pile of clothes off the dresser and the bed. "What for? We're only about to make some more," she whispered.

When Vince turned around, he came face to face with a very naked Matty. He swallowed hard, pulling off his tank tops. They both stepped towards each other, their lips becoming one. Vince's hang began to run up and down her back, rubbing away all the tension that had built up between them. She found her hands in his hair, tugging gently.

Soon after they, fell upon the bed, their lips never breaking contact. She stared into his eyes, feeling the passion that he was feeling for her. They collapsed upon one another, struggling for air. She rolled off of him and lay down by his side. "Are you sure you want to do this, Matty? I'll wait years if I have to," he said, bringing his hand to her face and running it up and down the sides. She nodded and smiled. "Just take it easy with me, Vince. I'm broken," she whispered, tears slipping out from her eyes.

Vince sat up on his side and shook his head. "Matilda, you're beautiful inside and out. You've always been beautiful. I wouldn't have been here all along if I didn't want to be with you," he whispered, brining his face towards hers. He kissed her on the lips and began working his way towards her sweet spot.

She gasped at the amazing sensations that were running through her body at that moment. She pulled Vince up and smiled. "Make love to me, V." He grinned and placed himself between her legs after placing a condom on himself. He placed an arm underneath her neck and after positioning himself at her entrance he braced himself with the other one.

"I love you," he whispered, as he dove into her. He dug his face into the side of her face and kissed her cheek as she whimpered in pain. Matty clawed at his back, as searing pain ripped through her lower half. "I know baby, I know it hurts. It'll stop hurting in a few, just relax," he whispered in her ear. She nodded and began to sob quietly.

Vince began to move his hips slowly, trying to ease the pain and soon found her moving hers along with him. "Are you okay?" He asked, staring into her eyes. Matty nodded and gasped slightly, as he picked up the speed. "I love you too," she whispered, grabbing onto his hips and pushing him deeper into her.

He growled and the rest was history.

---

Vince emerged from the basement, with a scowl on his face. He came face to face with Leon, who had a smile on his face. "Seems like someone was up late last night," he said, passing him a cup of coffee. "Last night? Try I just went to bed 4 hours ago and I was supposed to be at the garage an hour ago," he muttered, grabbing the cup of coffee and downing it.

"So… tell me all about it," Mia said, placing a plate of pancakes on the table and motioning for him to sit. He sat down and stared at her. "I don't mean tell me about the sex, tell me about the talk you guys had," she replied, rolling her ass. Vince shrugged and began to rip the pancakes apart. "How do you know we talked and didn't just spend the whole night having mind blowing sex?"

Mia scoffed and poured him a cup of orange juice. "Because Vince, not matter how much of an ass you really are, you have a heart," she said, slapping him in the back of the head. He glared at her and gave her the finger. "We talked about everything and how she was dealing with getting back to normal," he replied after finishing off the pancakes.

"Have to go before Dom rips me a new one for being late again," he said, standing up and exiting the kitchen. He grabbed his keys off the coffee table and left the house, walking around the street towards his car. As he turned to get into the driver's seat, he caught Matty exiting also, walking towards her car. "Where you going?" He yelled across the street, startling her. She glared towards him and gave him the finger, before walking over to him.

"I have some unfinished business with my dad. Do you want to come with?" She asked, a hopeful look on her face. "Do you think that's smart, Matt? You're just getting over what happened, this could open up a whole other shit load of problems for you."

Matty shook her head and leaned against his car. "No, I'm TRYING to get over what happened Vince, and this is a major part of what happens next in my life. So you can either come with or I'll drive myself." Vince shrugged and motioned for her to get into the car, knowing he had no other choice.

---

Matty banged on the door for a second time and waited patiently for an answer. She knew it was too early for the bastard to be out and about. She glanced back to Vince, who was leaning against his car, watching her. Moments later, the heavy oak door in back of her opened. She turned and came face to face with her father, Manuel.

"Matilda," he said, opening the door wider, motioning for her to come in. She shook her head, thinking back to the conversation her and Vince had on the drive to the house. If she were to enter the house, he would break down the door and drag her out. "Manuel, I think we need to discuss some things," she replied, taking a step back.

"How about you have some respect and learn to call me father?" Matty scoffed and smiled at him. "You've never been a father, so don't expect me to start treating you like one," she replied, glaring at him. "What do you want? Why are you here at this ungodly hour?"

"I'm here to tell you to keep your dogs away from me. If you're bored, go fuck with someone else, leave me out of it," she barked at him. Manuel looked at her with confusion and shook his head. "I have no idea what you're talking about," he replied.

Matty stared at her father and took in how the years had aged him, but underneath it all he was still a cold-hearted asshole. "You had cops pull me over, beat me and rape me, you fucker," she yelled. Manuel slapped her across the face, but she retaliated with a fist to his. Vince ran across the street towards them, a grin on his face when he found Manuel grabbing on to his face. He protectively placed a hand Matty's waist and stood at her side. "I had nothing to do with what happened to you," he replied, standing up and facing them.

"Just like you didn't rape and beat me when I was a kid," she yelled at him, spitting in his face. Manuel froze and glared at her. "So this is what you've been doing all these years? Street racing and hanging out with these tattooed punks that will take you nowhere in life," he yelled back.

"Well sucks for you because I love this tattooed punk and I'll probably get married to him and we'll probably have kids. So you'll just have to live with the fact that those kids will also be tattooed street racing punks and they'll be running around calling you grandpa," Matty said, before grabbing Vince by the arm and dragging him towards his car.

When they jumped inside and pulled off, tires screeching, Vince had a huge grin on his face. Matty glared at him and slapped him on the shoulder. "Explain to me what's so fucking funny?" She barked, strapping herself in. Vince glanced over to her and chuckled. "Did you mean what you said back there?"

She rolled her eyes and scoffed. "Don't push your luck Vince. We still have to get through the end of the day, let alone the rest of our lives."