Cale sat stretched across the top step of Dom's porch, leaning back against the railing. Her mind was blissfully blank, and she really didn't want to be dwelling on what might happen now. She had gambled big-time, banking on Marc's feelings towards her despite the scandal that had shaken Rockport and ruined her career. For the same thing to happen again when things were starting to go right once more...Cale couldn't take it. Letting Mia draw her into a friendship that had to end in heartbreak and mistrust was something Cale was beginning to regret.
She had no idea how much time had gone by since she had left Dom and the crowd behind, and she didn't care. She just wanted this whole thing to be over. As she was reaching the point where one would normally bury his or her head in their hands, the faint roar of a car engine filtered down the sleepy street. She could see the headlights in the distance and an orange Supra was soon pulling into the driveway.
Dom stuck his head out the window and called to her, "Get in."
Cale pushed herself up off the porch and wandered to the passenger-side. Once she was in, Dom was pulling back out and heading back down the street.
"Tell me," he said simply, eyes never leaving the road.
"I told you. Just as you jumped Butch, Max and another of Butch's group broke off and headed back to the cars. I followed them, but by the time I caught up with them it was too late. They had cut your oil line and were giving me lip when I called them on it. Then they saw Vince coming over, tossed me the cutter and took off. Vince discovered the cut line and saw me standing there with the tool. You know the rest."
Dom nodded, but said nothing. They rode in silence for a very long while, and Cale tried not to fidget. Instead, she let her eyes wander over the interior of the Supra, taking in what details she could from the intermittent light from the street lamps.
"Nice ride," she commented, unable to take the silence any longer.
"It was a gift from someone who tried to fuck me over but thought better of it."
Cale gave Dom a side-long glance. "Don't tell me I owe you a car, now?"
"No. You owe me an end to all this bullshit."
Cale stared at him, slack-jawed. "I'm sorry, what?"
Cale got no answer from the street-racer. Instead, her answer came from the Supra, as she glided in for a landing and the engine was shut off. It was then that Cale realized that they were in downtown Rockport, and a crowd had gathered along the sidelines. There, parked on the line was a red Viper and Cale's RX-8. The hoods of both vehicles were open, and Cale could make out Jesse's form hunched over the Viper's engine block.
As she climbed out of the Supra, she watched as Jesse moved on to the RX-8, noting Leon and Vince keeping everyone away from both vehicles. Once Jesse was done, Marc detached from the crowd and came over to inspect them. She and Dom were joined by Butch at the line, followed by Marc and Jesse. After a brief conference between Dom, Jesse and Marc, Marc detached from the group and looked between Butch and Cale as Dom and Jesse stepped back.
"Both Jesse and I have examined your cars. Both are in good working order and free of any illegal modifications. This is going to be a sprint, with the exception of start and finish being this line right here. I'm sure you know which runs we're combining by where we are." After both Cale and Butch nodded, Marc continued. "This race is for rep. Cale wins, she's vindicated and all sins are forgotten by everyone. Butch wins, Cale returns the Cayman S and walks for good,no more second chances. Agreed?"
Cale blinked. Holy fuck, I'm not ready for this! "Agreed."
Butch nodded. "Agreed."
"Good. Shake on it."
Cale gripped Butch's hand. She suddenly had a revelation and grinned wickedly. "I say we up the ante, actually."
Butch regarded her coolly. "Yeah. Yeah, I like that idea. Whaddya say we toss twenty-grand on top this deal, eh?"
Cale raised a brow. "Not exactly what I had in mind, but sure. I'm good for twenty."
That remark got her a side-long glance as her opponent anted up with Marc and Chris appeared at her side with the cash. "And what did you have in mind?"
"You really want to know?"
"Yeah. Lay it on me Kincaid. I can take it."
She gave Butch a searching look. She nodded slowly and pulled out her cell phone. She saw a slow smile spread on Marc's face and the man turned away to get in place to start the race. Butch, on the other hand, was watching her curiously as she dialled, his look slowly turning into one of shock as she spoke.
"Hi, Rockport PD? Yeah, I just passed a group of kids at Main and Fifth who looked like they were getting ready to street-race. You better get down here right away!"
As the call proceeded, Cale slowly backed towards her car, so that by the time she had hung up, she had the door open and was strapping in.
She let herself enjoy Butch's ashen face and his look of rage for a mere second before she settled into her car and waited for the signal.