Fifteen minutes later we were pulling up to a large house, cars lined the street outside and music blared through the open windows. I climbed out and looked around. I kind of hoped the guys would be here, but I couldn't see their cars.

"They not here?" I shook my head. "Come on then let's get inside, get a drink and then we'll talk to Dom." He smiled and motioned me to follow him. He climbed the steps up to the house and I found myself watching his ass as he walked. I shook my head and caught up to him just as we stepped inside. The smell of beer was everywhere. Vince grabbed two and flicked off the caps before passing one to me. He started to move forward through the press of bodies and they moved. But I couldn't I was a lot smaller and people paid no attention to me. Vince looked for me and back tracked a smirk on his face. "Come on Tiny stick close." Then he grabbed my hand pulling me with him and easily got through the crowd parting for him again. "Yo! Dom! Look who I got!" Dominic turned from kissing Letty and smiled down at me.

"Hey! I didn't get to thank you and Leon properly before the pigs came." I grabbed his offered hand and shook it.

"Don't worry about it you're welcome." I smiled back.

"Dom she got split from her guys I picked her up. You seen them?" Dominic shook his head a look passed between them and the next I knew Letty dragged me off to the kitchen.

"You want some ta eat?" She asked. I hadn't realised how hungry I was till she asked.

"Erm sure whatever's going." I smiled.

"Yo Mia, give this girl some food." Mia turned and smiled her long black hair pulled into a loose ponytail she quickly handed me a burger.

"Hey thanks for what you did. Johnny and Lance are pretty crazy. I dread to think what they might have done to my brother." I gathered that she was Dominic's younger sister.

"Its ok, I'm glad we could help."

"Where is your brother and your boyfriend." I nearly choked on my mouthful of burger.

"Erm Leon's not my boyfriend, he just our friend, kinda like our big brother. But I don't know where they are. We got split up in the chaos. Vince nearly ran me over and then he took me here. I guess we're even, he saved me from getting busted." She smiled.

"Well if anyone can find them its Dom. So where you staying? You living in LA?"

"We are now, though we're…currently looking for somewhere to stay. Need to get jobs sorted and shit." I didn't want to sound like I was desperate. I was already regretting telling Vince we had nowhere to go. Mia was about to say something when Dominic and Vince walked in Letty behind them.

"So you and your brother are mechanics for Leon?" I nodded.

"Pretty much, Jesse can do all sorts of shit on the computer he's like Einstein or some shit, I do body work, engine rebuilds, injectors, pretty much the works. Course Leon's a mechanic to, but he's the best driver out of us." He chucked a cell at me which I caught.

"You start work for me Monday morning bright and early you and Einstein, Leon we'll put about five grand into his car and get him racing for us bring in the money. You can crash here for now." I shouldn't look a gift horse in the mouth, but Leon might not want to, he'd just lost to this guy.

"I…um I'll have to talk to them first."

"He's offering you a way off the streets and you're not just going to take it?!" Letty snapped.

"It ain't that look, we don't like hand outs…" But she was right nobody gives jobs to people like us. "I'll talk'em into it, the five grand though, you can dock from mine and Jesse's wages, we'll pay you back. Nothing in life is free whatever you give us we'll give back with interest." Dominic smiled.

"You say you drive to?"

"Yeah, but Leon's the best." He nodded.

"Evening and weekends we'll see how good you are, see if we can get you racing too." I smiled and went to dial.

"Thanks Dominic." The cell rang once before Leon answered.

"Who's this?"

"It's me."

"Damn it Cori where the hell are you!"

"I'm at Dominic's I got a ride with one of them after I lost you guys in the crowd." Dominic motioned for the cell and I obliged. He spoke quickly and then ended the call.

"Right we'll go meet them bring them back here. Come on." I followed behind Dominic downing my beer as I went smirking at Vince who looked at me funny after seeing me down it in one. This time I rode with Dominic though I'd have preferred to ride with Vince. When we pulled up at an underpass I quickly came from the car meeting Leon and Jesse half way both of them hugging me.

"Damn it Cori what happened?"

"I don't know Leon you both disappeared Vince picked me up and took me to Dominic's. Look Dominic wants us to work with for him and he's offered us a place to stay." I said quietly.

"What?!"

"Shut up, look I told them whatever he does for us, whatever he gives us, we'll pay him back with interest, this isn't a free ride. And me and Jesse start Monday in his garage. He wants you to race for him." I got it out quickly so they couldn't cut me off.

"Cori," Leon started.

"Think about bro, she's right. When are we ever going to get another chance like this?" Jesse put his arm round my shoulders.

"Come on Leon we won't do this without you. Three Musketeers and all that jazz." I smiled.

"Ok, but we ain't anyone's bitches, they take the piss we're outta there. But we will pay back everything they do for us." I hugged him. "Ok Toretto we'll do it," I elbowed him. "And thanks man, we appreciate it."

"Don't worry about it, we owe you, it could have got ugly earlier." They shook hands and I climbed into Leon's car to drive back to Dominic's. Things were starting to look up. Or so I hoped.

"How's it going?" Vince asked walking into the garage as I tuned up his car. I was covered in grease and oil.

"It's good, girls about done you should be able to take her out tonight." I smiled watching him as he leaned against his car. There was something about Vince, something I couldn't put my finger on that drew me to him. I washed up my hands after I closed the hood on the car. Picking up a rag I cleaned up the few marks I had left on the metallic blue paint job running a finger across the metal shark decal running down the side of his car.

"Perfect wanna go for a ride later?"

"Can I drive?" I smirked at him.

"Maybe." He winked. Mia walked in with some lunch for me and suddenly it seemed like I wasn't there. Vince had eyes only for Mia.

"Hey Cori, how's it going?"

"It's fine, in fact it's done Mia." I smiled. Mia had no interest in Vince other than he was her brothers friend so I had no problem with her in fact I'd grown close to her these past few weeks she was so kind and care free until Dom suggested something stupid. But I couldn't get my head round how Vince drooled over her every time she was near. I pulled off my overalls and went outside with my sandwich and sat down.

"Yo Cori! Dominic says you're racing tonight!" Leon shouted running over a big ass smile on his face.

"Cori that's great! I didn't know there was a race on tonight?" Mia said following me and sitting down Vince trailing behind her.

"That's great." I tried to sound enthusiastic I'd hoped I could talk to Vince make him see I liked him.

"Well be a bit more excited Cori."

"I am Leon, I can't wait. Just hope I don't let you guys down."

I was driving Jesse's now totally souped-up Volkswagen Jetta, painted white with a silver rocket down the side blue flames licking out from it. Dad would flip when he saw this, that's if the old man ever got out. I was at the start line, some up and coming guys like Hector lined up next to me. Hector was a Hispanic guy from a friendly group that got on well with Dominic. At my window stood Dominic and Letty.

"You got this girl. Just focus, these asses won't know what's hit them." I nodded Letty had warmed to me once she realised I had no interest in Dominic.

"Just stay calm, stay ready, it's just you and the road. Don't hit the NOS until you have to, shift gears smoothly and don't let them bully you out, hold your ground. You got this." He smiled. I nodded, this was my first hardcore race and if I was totally honest I felt sick.

"Yo CeeCee you got this!" Jesse smiled thumbs up, Leon stood behind and winked mouthing go get'em. They were right, I'd been training under the Toretto team, the best of the best. I could do this. I breathed deeply, my hands tightening on the wheel. I wound up my window and concentrated on the road in front of me. I watched as the flag went up and came down then floored it. I speed through the streets like a demon over taking all but Hector. I was gaining on him inch by inch and knew I wasn't far from the finish when Hector hit his NOS. I watched him speed away. 300 hundreds yards and I was gaining again and that's when I hit my own NOS quickly coming level with him. He looked sideways at me and I winked before shifting gears and pulling a head to take the win. I spun the wheel and came to a stop facing Hector as he braked. Dominic and Leon where there to pull me out Leon hoisting me up on to his shoulders.

"You did it Cori, knew you could." Dominic smiled.

"Damn it! Girl you had me good, but I almost won!" Hector smiled reaching to shake my hand and Dominic laughed.

"Hector it doesn't matter if you win by an inch or a mile. Winning is Winning. And Cori won." I smiled Dominic was right. I looked around for Mia and Vince and for once his eyes weren't for Mia, but on me. I had his complete attention.