Sorry for the wait. My school had a shooting threat, which made things kind of shaky for me. Luckily nothing happen. I apologize for the hiatus though. Thanks for the reviews.

Warning: This chapter shows both Brian and Dom's night begins in the same way, so don't get confused.

Chapter 29-The Protégé's Turf

Brian's POV

I was in the bathroom of my old boathouse. I was sharing it with Rome until we were back on our way to L.A. My nerves were shot all to Hell. Verone is getting out? Will he remember that I put him behind bars? No way, he couldn't remember. It's been almost ten years. But why would you forget the men who took away your freedom? Fuck Brian, why didn't you think about this?! I threw some water on my face. I wrapped the towel around my waist as I was about to get ready for the races. I began to brush my teeth.

FUCK! I forgot about my race. This made me even more nervous. I had to face Dominic again. He had beaten me twice already; once at the races, then at the tracks. I was a legend here in Miami. I knew I was a much better racer now. After I quit the Force in Los Angeles, all I did was race. I practiced and prepared mentally and physically. Even though he hasn't raced in years, I knew Dominic still had his touch. This was like riding a bike to him. A supped up bike with top-notch speed and equipment. I had the confidence that I could beat him. That maybe, just maybe, I could end the great Dominic Toretto's reign.

I sighed and ran my hands over my buzzed blonder hair as I exited the bathroom. Rome was sitting in the love seat, his head in his hands. I walked over to him.

"Relax. Nothings gonna happen," I assured him. To be perfectly honestly, I didn't know if anything would happen or not.

"How do you know cuh? You the one who said he wasn't getting out. Now he is. You ain't been doing shit but lying to me since we met bru," Roman spat, standing from his chair. I knew he was just speaking from anger, so I let that one slide.

"What did I tell you Rome? Stop blaming me for shit you did and take some fucking responsibility man. Now I told you ain't shit gonna happen to your ass and I meant it!" I yelled, just to get even. I hated to fight with Rome, but he was always started it. We were constantly bickering like the two little bad-ass boys in Barstow. We were best friends, but we knew just how to get under each other's skin.

"You gotta prove it homeboy. Move punk," he pushed past me, making his way to the bathroom.

I sighed once more and got dressed. I pulled on some black Dickies pants and a white tee shirt. I slipped my black and white Chucks on and grabbed the keys to my gray Skyline. The day after the cops caught me at the race, I called Jimmy and his boys to pick up the Skyline and get her fixed. I left her down here as my emergency ride. What good would she do in an emergency on the other side of the country Brian? She was parked on the top level of Tej's garage. I exited the boathouse and ran down the lot where Tej's boathouse was located. I knocked twice on his door before hearing a "come on in".

"Yo Tej, I need in the garage soon bro," I said, looking around the room. He had stacks of money sitting on his bed. "Damn Cuz, is that more of that mutual funding you always talking about?" I asked him laughing.

"Oh you know it. This is shit I've saved up from the past ten years or so. The mutual funds I get from the races and bets, I toss 'em in here."

"Damn bro. It's over like fifteen g's in there. What are you gonna do with it?"

"Hell I dunno. Save it up for my kids I guess. Enough talk, let's go," Tej said, seeming to want to change the subject. I shrugged it off and followed him up to the garage.

When we got to the top level of the garage, there was a car parked to the far end of the ramp. It was covered in a tarpaulin. The little light that shone from the roof lights made the car seem golden. Like it was a special prize waiting to be unveiled. I smiled at seeing my car for the first time in over two years. Tej pulled the tarpaulin of my ride, revealing a whole new car. I couldn't help but smile.

"I guess you like? Yeah, Jesse and Jimmy couldn't help themselves. They saw a lonely car sitting around and was dieing to fix it up. I told 'em no, but you see it didn't work," Tej said, tossing the tarp in a corner.

My car was beautiful. It was painted like the old Skyline, except the gray was black and the blue vinyls were gold. On either sides had 'Bullet' on them in gold, with smoke coming from the word as if it was a bullet in slow motion.

I pulled my keys out, but Tej tossed me a new set.

"They changed the locks?" I asked him, looking at the keys.

"Nah, just press the button dawg," he smiled, grabbing the hanging ramp controller. He pressed a button, which lowered the ramp, along with us, down to the first level. I pressed the button on the key, which sent the door flying up to the sky. I smiled again. Suicide doors? These kids are nuts.

"Wow, looks like Jimmy and Jesse found a project," I heard Rome's voice from behind me. I turned to him. He didn't look mad anymore. He was wearing faded, jeans with rips in them, a green button-up sleeveless shirt, and a green beanie.

"Yeah man, it's awesome. I love it," I replied, looking back at my car. I slid in the driver's seat, admiring the interior. It was black velvet, outline in gold.

"The races are about to start, I gotta get down to the garage. Call ya boys and get them down there," Tej said, jogging out of the garage.

I turned and looked at Roman, but he was already walking out of the garage. I slid in my ride and drove it out the building.

I drove out to the boardwalk to wait for Rome. He drove his Spyder from the garage and out next to me. He rolled his window down.

"You nervous?" he asked me.

"I'd be lying if I said I wasn't," I replied, gripping the steering wheel.

"Look, you know you're just as good as Dominic. Hell, maybe even better. You just gotta get focused and go out there and prove it," Rome said. For the first time, he was right.

I nodded to him and switched gears, pulling off. We were making out way to Juanito's Garage. Tonight was the night I'd beat Dominic Toretto.

xxx

Dom's POV

I stood in front of the mirror in the guest bathroom that was located in my borrowed room. A towel hung low off my hips and water still dripped from my bald head and my growing beard. My nerves were beginning to shake up. Who the hell was this Carter Verone? Why didn't Brian or Rome tell us they put him away? Brian never ceases to amaze me. I threw some water on my face. Now that we had Jesse and he was safe, what would happen? Would he move back with us, or play it stubborn and stay? Hopefully Leon could coo him into moving back. I wiped my face dry with a hand towel. I grabbed my toothbrush and began brushing my teeth as I left the bathroom to go get ready for the races.

SHIT! I had forgotten all about the races. I wasn't nervous. A little jittery, but definitely not nervous. It had been years since I had been in a street race. How were things down here? Were they the same as the races in L.A.? Were the crowds just as brutal as they were in California? I didn't know. I did, however, know that Brian was a legend in Miami. I know he had been practicing a lot. He proved that in races back home. With my guidance and his constant practice, he was winning. Winning a lot. Now I had to face my protégé for the third time. I had beat him once already. The first time, he wanted respect. He earned it, but he still had lost. The second time, he was under pressure, with stalling while he cop buddies came to get me. He raced the train with me and I beat him, but I lost at the same time. So in my eyes, it was a tie. This would be a battle of the fittest.

I exited the bathroom and walked over to the twin bed. Elijah was sitting on the bed, rolling his cars around. He already had his shower and was dressed. He was wearing camo jeans and a black tee shirt. He wore a black ball cap backwards on his head. Leon bought it for him on his last birthday. I sat on the end of the bed and pulled some clothes out.

"Hey kid, you think Uncle Brian can beat me?" I asked, just for conversation.

"Heck no! The Buster can't beat you Daddy, you're the best," Elijah replied, not looking up from his toys.

"Stop listening to Uncle V. Brian's not a buster," I said, grabbing my clothes and walking back into the bathroom. I dressed into my boxers and pulled my black jeans on over them. I pulled on socks and slipped my feet into my boots. I fixed my gold chain around my neck and exited the bathroom.

I slipped my black sleeveless on and pulled my chain out over it. I sprayed myself down with my cologne. Elijah pretending to be choking from it.

"Shut up punk," I said, playfully pushing him off the bed. He giggled and stood back up. I grabbed my keys off the bed and shoved them in my back pocket. "Let's head out."

As Eli and I made our way down the stairs, we noticed someone sitting on the couch, their back to us. Vince was sitting next to him, gulping down a peanut butter and banana sandwich. It was gross, but it was his favorite. Jesse and Diana were having a married-couple moment in the kitchen. I noticed Leon was missing. Wait ... I started to put two and two together.

"Leon!" I yelled at the couch. He turned around, a nervous look on his face. I knew I had frightened him.

"What dawg?" he answered.

"Nice hair," I smirked. It was cut short and slicked back like it used to be. Also, his long beard was trimmed down. Old Leon was back.

"Yo Einstein, what'd I tell you about detailing a car with the cover on?" I asked Jesse, who was making out with Diana in the kitchen. He just smiled and pulled away from his wife.

We all gathered what we needed and headed outside. I debated to myself on whether I should let Elijah go. He was already dressed and ready, and I didn't want to crush his spirits. But the races, in any city, could be crucial for a child his age. When we got in the car, I asked him again.

"You sure you wanna go Bruno? You can stay with Jesse's neighbor, she's babysitting Cousin Jessica."

He furrowed his brows, contemplating the idea. He could spend as much time as he wanted with his baby cousin, or see his Dad race for the first time. Letty would probably flip if she knew he was at the races at such a young age. Finally he spoke up.

"I'll only get to see you race once time," was all he said before he sat back. I smiled and started the car up, letting Jesse lead for once.

xxx

No POV

At Juanito's Garage, the races were starting to jump off. It was crowded like always, but there seemed to be at least a hundred more people there. The place was packed. The news about the battle of the legends had spread like wildfire throughout the town. Orange Julius and Slap Jack, along with two other racers, were making their way back to the starting line. Tej slapped at least $12,000 in Jack's hand. Jack handed him a grand back and walked over to his girlfriend. He hugged her tightly and stuck the money in his pocket.

Brian and Rome pulled up to the races side by side. People split down the middle, not wanting to get run over. The crowd quieted as they waited for the drivers to erupt from their cars. Rome got out first and looked around, noticing the large group of silent people. He chuckled out loud. Brian then got out and looked around. The audience suddenly roared with cheers and screams as they noticed their leader was back. He let out a sigh of relief, followed by a smile.

Tej approached the guys.

"Scared ya huh?" he asked, slapping hands with Brian.

"Nope. So who took over after I left?" Brian asked.

"Slap Jack. Julius swears he's better, but each week he loses about thirty grand to him," Tej laughed. Brian laughed with him, then walked over to Jack.

"See you still paying rent huh?" Brian said to Jack's back. Jack turned around and smiled, pulling Brian in a hug.

"Don't need to when you just bought a mansion. But I need a li'l extra something for the mini-me on the way," Jack replied, his hazel eyes turning on his girlfriend belly, which was protruding from her shirt.

"I hear ya bro," Brian said, shaking his girlfriend's, whose name was Roshanda, hand as he walked away.

Again, the crowd grew silent and parted down the middle as the sounds of engines roared over the music. The Jetta appeared, causing the crowd to cheer. The Jetta led the other cars into the middle of a circle. Jesse got out first, nodding to his Team. They all got out at the same time, looking around the area of new faces. Dom lifted Elijah up into his arms.

"Guys, this is my Team. These are the best street racers in Los Angeles, hell in the world. This here is Dominic Toretto, The King of the Streets in L.A," the crowd didn't even give Jesse time to finish before they started clapping and cheering.

Dom couldn't help but smile. Tej walked over with Brian and Roman by his side.

"How you like it Toretto?" Brian asked, crossing his arms over his chest.

"They love me," Dominic said arrogantly, looking around the crowd.

"Don't get excited. This here is my man Brian's turf. He's the King around here, so don't get comfortable," Slap Jack said, approaching the other men. Vince stood from the hood of the Maxima, but Dom held him back.

"I understand that. But from what I see around here, you were just used as a replacement until Brian got back. Now that he is, where does that leave you?" Dom snapped, raising his eyebrows in amusement. Jack looked around as he understood what Dom was saying. He walked away embarrassed. The crowd oooed, making Dominic feel at home.

"Alright, let's get started," Brian said, ending the small-talk.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Kinda long, I know. The race will be up either tonight or tomorrow. Read&review please.

-Kita