We were back at the house and after Leon and Jesse were done singing my praises I was finally left to drink my beer and enjoy the party. Vince was coming my way and I was determined to play it cool.

"Nice going Cori, you were fantastic out there." He smiled standing beside me.

"Yeah well I was taught by the best. But I still got a long way to go to be anything like you, Letty and Dom."

"It's only a matter of time. Dom wants to sort you out your own car, you use a different car every time you practice, but you need your own, it's gotta be purely you."

"And red." I smiled and he nodded draping an arm across my shoulders. He smelled great, his cologne and sweat mixing so it was just him, the smell of Vince and as I thought it, I found it weird, but it was a scent I loved.

"Vince!" I was shook from my thoughts when Veronica made towards us, Vince's hand slowly slipping from my shoulders leaving a cold spot behind. "Hey handsome." She smiled fluttering her eyes. She'd been after Vince long before I was here and she couldn't take the hint and Vince just didn't know how to make it any more obvious he wasn't interested in this bleached blonde bimbo.

"Ronnie, look I'm kind of busy right now."

"What with her? This scrawny little tramp?" I blinked and went red, not just anger but embarrassment that she would dare call me a tramp.

"What did you just call me?" I moved away from Vince and up to her.

"A Tramp. Cos that is," I didn't let her finish as I reared back and punched her. She went down straight on her ass. She squealed and grabbed her face. A string of abuse was flung at me and I was ready to stomp on her face until Vince picked me up. His hands slipping round my waist.

"Hold up Cori, don't waste your energy on her. You ain't a tramp." I couldn't speak his hand was on my bare stomach my shirt having ridden up.

"What's going on here?" Leon asked coming towards us shouting over the music.

"Ronnie insulted Cori and she decked her." I heard the laughter in his voice and blushed again. Vince put me down and Leon grabbed my arm.

"Let's go chill out and have a drink over here." Leon laughed. "I know you have a wicked right hook and we don't want anything broken tonight." I nodded and turned.

"Talk to you later Vince." I smiled a little down. I could have told him or could have made a move if that little skank hadn't have come over. It was like it all the time, every opportunity that came someone got in the way. And Vince was still hoping for Mia to take an interest in him.

It was late one Sunday night when we had all gone into the house to relax after the barbeque that they first suggested it. We'd been there over a year when they came up with the idea to make more money. Mia was totally against it and I just didn't want anyone to get hurt.

"Ok we'll give it a go, we need to plan this right. No foul ups, we gotta plan for everything." Dom said.

"Hijacking big rigs, you sure about this?"

"Letty's right Dom, they could be carrying guns and I don't think they'd hesitate in using them if someone tried to hijack them." I said I wasn't just worried about Leon, Jesse and Vince, but all of them. Mia wouldn't do anything, but Dom and Letty. These guys had fast become my family, they made me and the guys welcome, they accepted us. They didn't look down on us and they'd given us the chance to prove ourselves. I didn't want to lose them by being killed or locked up like my old man.

"Like I said Cori, we'll make it as safe as can be. We'll scope it out get an inside man. Someone is always willing." Mia left then angry as hell. She felt I like I did, if not more so, she'd known the others way longer than me.

"Come on guys I'm coming with you. You can't do this without me!" I wanted to scream, I was so angry.

"Cori, I would but its three against two. You gotta stay back with Mia." Dom sighed, I knew he wanted me to stay back to be safe, but knew I was a better driver than Jesse.

"Fine." I said I wouldn't win, Dom's say was it. I walked back into the house to Mia who sat on the couch worried as hell. "Mia they'll be fine."

"We don't know that. Dominic said he'd rather die than go back to prison." I'd heard from Vince and Letty about Dom's stint in jail. He'd beat the guy that in an accident killed his dad, beat him with a wrench and did two years Lompoc. I can't say I blame him though. Jesse wasn't the type to do something like that, but me? If some fool got any of these guys killed or my old man I would happily beat them to a pulp.

The days turned to weeks and then months the guys were doing great. We had more trouble with the Tran's when Dom and Letty had fallen out during a truce with them. We were mid-way through a deal and Dom got caught sleeping with Johnny's sister. That didn't go well at all. They fought and Lance got involved which brought Vince in. Both sides took a beating and we had nothing to do with them since. Avoiding their territory like the plague.

For my 22nd birthday everyone had secretly- though I'm not sure how they managed to hide it from me- rebuilt a Kawasaki Ninja ZX6R sleek black paint with red highlights, it was beautiful. And for racing- as Dom had specifically said that I couldn't race my bike because of Tran- they had rebuilt a Mazda MX6 painted metallic red. The decal the guys had chosen was an onyx sword running across the door with two roses entwined around it on both sides of the car. All the parts were new and with how my racing had been going I was going to be virtually unbeatable.

"Guys I love it!" I cooed not sure which I wanted to try first. I hugged everyone. "Who wants to be passenger on the bike?" I smirked. Both Leon and Jesse said no, they knew how fast I rode. Dom and Letty were both a little unsure, so before anyone could protest Vince hopped on with me. "Later!" I yelled as I revved the engine, loving the growl I got I sped out, shooting down the road Vince holding tight to my waist. We rode to Harry's Pro Shop and stopped. Vince got off and looked a little shaky.

"I guess I know why Jesse and Leon didn't want to ride." I laughed.

"Yeah I ride fast, no point going slow on a beast like this. She needs to be rode fast and hard." I winked. Vince was about to say something I could tell by the way his lips curved into a smirk, but he didn't get the chance as we heard more motorbikes approaching.

"Get on the bike Cori." I climbed on and motioned him on just as Johnny and his cronies rounded the corner.

"Vince," But he ignored me. I wasn't going without him, but I didn't have my gun with me, there were more of them than there were of us.

"Well look what we have here Lance."

"The little girls got herself a toy." My jaw bunched I would have liked to retaliate, but I couldn't so instead I reached out grabbing Vince's arm.

"Vee, let's go."

"Nah, this ain't Long Beach, this is neutral." Johnny smiled and I saw Lance reach for something in his jacket.

"Vince we need to go." My heart was in my throat, they were still pissed with me for pulling the gun on them in the first place and now they had me and Vince all alone I reached to my pocket and pulled out my cell quickly dialling Dom's number. But before I could do anything more Vince yanked free from me and decked Lance. "Vince!" He backed up as one of the guys with Johnny, a guy bigger than Vince moved forward. I backed up to one of Harry's pick-ups and lifted my cell. "Dom were at Harry's!" I got out before Johnny back handed me and I dropped my cell followed by him crushing it. He pushed me back and turned towards Vince who the big guy had knocked to his knees. I reached behind me and pulled out a tyre iron. No one stole from Harry. So he often left stuff in his pick-ups. Lance was up and waving a gun in Vince's face so I lashed out at him hitting his arm forcing him to drop the gun. Then kicked the big guy in the nuts. Johnny laughed pulling a gun to as Vince stood shakily behind me as I placed myself in front of him.

"What was it you said don't bring a knife to a gun fight?" I saw headlights behind Johnny as he laughed and felt my body relax. Vince was up and ready to go again, but I placed a hand on his arm.

"What you going to do Johnny? Shoot us all?" He was about to ask what when he heard the engines. Four cars screeched to halt and our back-up stepped out.

"Cori you ok?" Leon asked I licked my lip tasting blood.

"I'm fine, not so sure about Vince."

"I ought a drop you right now. You got no business round here. The hell you get your kicks from attacking a girl?" Dom snapped pointing at me. He'd seen the bit of blood. Johnny was quiet, calculating his odds, was it worth starting something he may not finish or could go to jail for? Then he put his hands up. Lance made for his gun, but I stepped on it.

"I don't think so pal." They left and Jesse came over quickly.

"CeeCee you ok?"

"Should beat the shit out of them Dom! Look what they did!" Vince snapped pulling my face round to show Dom.

"Vince get off." I pushed his hand off rubbing my jaw. "It's nothing Johnny caught me when I called you and," I turned picking up my crushed cell from the floor. "Well there goes my cell."

"What the hell were they doing here?"

"I don't know Letty. We pulled up ready to head back and then we heard the engines."

"I wanted her to go, but does she listen?" I shoved him.

"Oh yeah leave your ass to get beat?" I shook my head.

"Cori you ain't going out at night on that bike. If you do it's with all of us." And that was that, Dom's word was law when it came to things like this. Though I wouldn't want to cross the Tran's on my own anyway.

I'd come in from the garage to get some food. Dom was in the back somewhere, Mia was serving and the others were all out somewhere, trying out a new injector system. I walked in seeing the same guy that had been here every day for the past three weeks. I knew Mia thought the guy was cute, but he needed to watch it. Vince had clocked him a few times and immediately hated him. Whether because he had the hots for Mia or he genuinely got bad vibes from him I wasn't sure. Mia passed me my stuff over, a steak sandwich and a coke before serving the guy.

"Tuna on white, no crust, right?" She asked him as he smiled at her.

"I don't know. How is it?" I rolled my eyes what an ass.

"Every day, for the last three weeks, you've come here, asking how the tuna is. Now, it was crappy yesterday. It was crappy the day before. And guess what? It hasn't changed." I smirked I loved it when Mia was like this now she just needed to chew him out and send him on his way.

"I'll have the tuna."

"No crust?"

"No crust. Thank you." I shook my head. I was surprised Dom hadn't had something to say about this ass clown. "So that your MX6 out there?" He asked turning to look at me while Mia made his sandwich.

"And what if it is?"

"It's a good looking car, wouldn't mind racing a car like that."

"Dream on pretty boy. You ain't in my league." Mia laughed.

"She's right, she'd wipe the floor with you." The guy looked a little put out, but soon started smiling again. I shook my head and gave Mia a warning look. I heard the cars before I saw them and turned in my seat as they pulled up I watched them all get out seeing Harry's truck, this guy worked for Harry, then they made their way inside. Letty went straight to the back to Dom saying hey as she went and Vince sat down on the other side of the guy while Jesse and Leon stood back watching.

"What's up guys?" Mia asked.

"You figured the problem Jesse?" Jesse shook his head.

"How you doing Mia? Cori?" I tilted my head and lifted my can, I couldn't complain. Mia turned away to look at the guy she wanted him gone so there'd be no problems. Then Jesse and Leon started.

"He's beautiful." Leon joked.

"I like his hair." I had to laugh at Jesse's remark. But Vince wasn't paying attention just glaring holes into the guy.

"Vince!" Mia snapped having had enough.

"What?"

"Can I get you anything?" She asked her hand on her hip. Vince looked up appraisingly.

"You look good." I rolled my eyes and stood going out I had work to do. Not two seconds later was the guy walking out Vince hot on his heels.

"Try Fatburger from now on. Get yourself a Double Cheese with fries for $2.95, faggot." Vince snapped shoving him.

"I like the tuna here."

"Bullshit no one likes the tuna here." Vince crowded the guy.

"Yeah well I do." Then Vince swung getting in a hit, but the guy came back swinging.

"Damn it Leon! Do something!" I shouted as the guy knocked Vince down. But I knew the only one that would step in would be Dom who chose that moment to come out. He backed the new guy up against his truck, ready to beat his ass. I moved to Vince and helped him stand.

"Hey man. He was in my face!"

"I'm in your face." Dom growled out as Jesse whipped forward. Vince moved passed me to go at the guy again, but Dom stopped him. "Relax. Don't push it, you embarrass me. Cori get him back."

"Come on Vee don't be an ass." I placed my hands on his chest and walked him back.

"Jesse, give me the wallet." Dom took it as the new guy straightened himself out. "Brian Earl Spilner. Sounds like a serial killers name, is that what you are?"

"No man."

"Don't come round here again." Dom ordered.

"Hey, man. This is bullshit." I smirked I knew he had just over stepped the line.

"You work for Harry?"

"Yeah, I just started."

"You were just fired." The guys laughed as Spilner got in his car with his tail between his legs. I shook my head still laughing and headed back to the garage. Dom wanted a full tune up on his car for tonight's race.

"I don't know why you don't just make a move." Letty said walking in just as I popped the hood. She'd already worked out how I felt about Vince. Mia had her suspicions, but had never said anything.

"And do what? You see the way he fawns over Mia. I can't contend with that shit. Besides you all pull us apart any time I even consider making a move." She laughed.

"You'll end up a lonely old spinster."

"Ha ha so funny." I said rolling my eyes and throwing my grease covered rag at her.

A/N: So if you re-read the first chapter you'll notice I actually changed the ages. Stupidly I forgot that Vince was 24 in the movie as Brian says it later on in the movie. So I did a quick change of ages :D