Chapter 2

The following weeks, Dom and the guys had come up with the plan to look into the competition for race wars. They had waited until closing time and dark enough to be covered by the shadows to check out the garages. With Leon at home with Letty and Mia, Vince and Jesse ventured out with Dom. Their first stop was Hector's shop. They knew he would be across the street at the bar, El Gato Negro, so they went around the back. When they had arrived, they spotted a familiar red truck parked in the alley. Splitting up, Vince caught Brian coming out of Hector's garage and dragged hum over to where Dom was waiting in the dark. They harassed him with questions until Dom was convinced that Brian was worthy to investigate with them. Of course, that only added fuel to the fire that was burning inside Vince.

If Vince had his way, he would have shot Brian with the shotgun. He knew Brian reeked of cop but Dom wasn't listening and that pissed him off more. Vince knew he was losing his friend slowly but he wasn't going to turn his back on his long time friend nonetheless. The next stop was Johnny's Tran garage and Vince never spoke a word after that.

By the time they got back to the house, Vince couldn't bear to go inside. He told Dom and Jesse that he needed to sit down for a bit. Dom brought him a beer and was going to sit with him but Letty kept calling him. Vince shook his head and drank his beer alone. It was close to midnight when Vince watched Mary pull around the corner. The street was filled with cars except for a parking spot right in front of Mia's car. He watched her park and knew she was a good driver, 'probably a better one if she had a racer's car', he thought.

Mary was dressed in her medical scrubs and when she climbed out, she immediately grabbed some of her belongings from the backseat. She had closed the back passenger door when she heard a voice.

"Hi." Vince said as he sat the beer bottle down by his foot.

She brushed her loose hair out of her face. She adjusted her belongings in her arms. "Hi Vince. Nice to see you again." She sighed and made sure her car was closed off.

"Yeah." He noticed that something was off. "You okay?" He couldn't help but ask.

She looked over to him and watched as he stood. "Oh yeah. I'm fine. Just had a long day at work." He walked over to her to let her see his rugged features. Quickly, she grinned and changed the subject on him. "How have you been?" Even though in her head she was thinking, 'Gosh you look really good.'

Vince shrugged his shoulder and then commented, "My heart's still beating. You?" He knew it was corny but he grinned on the inside when she smirked.

A chuckle escaped her as it was one comment, she had heard many time. "Still standing," She replied and brushed her hair away again.

His piercing blue eyes caught her arm and it was a scar, which made him think about the first time he noticed it. "Interesting scar."

Her eyes widened slightly and then she put her arm down. "Oh this...it's old, got it when I was young." She slightly blushed. Vince had smirked and knew not to push. He could hear loud talking from his house, which meant the team was hanging out in the living room. Glancing over his shoulder, he looked to see who was sitting by the window. Taking that pause, Mary cleared her throat as she wanted to get home and get some food in her system. "Well I better go. Gotta put some grub in me before I pass out." She grinned at him.

Vince snapped his head back at her when she spoke and nodded. Taking a step back, he let her start walking away. She was a good five feet away when he closed his eyes. He knew it was time to move on. "Hey, Mary?" He called out to her and then open his eyes to see if she had heard him. She did, so he then added, "Want to get a drink sometime?"

Looking at him, she saw no harm in saying no. Grinning, she nodded. "Sure, I'd like that." He seemed sweet despite the intimidating looks he was apparently giving off.

Vince slightly grinned and then quickly thought. "Tomorrow good for you?" He wanted to get away from the team for one night, hoping he could have some time to himself with Mary by his side.

"Yeah, meet you in the garden around nine?" She suggested since she was off at eight, which gave her an hour to get home and get ready.

Vince nodded as it was fine with him "Yeah."

She grinned again and then waved to him. "Night Vince."

He waved at her after she did and then went back up to the porch steps. He picked up his beer and glanced over just in time before she disappeared into the complex. Sighing, he went inside the house and joined in on Jesse and Leon playing video games.

The next evening, Vince was wearing jeans and an actual shirt compared to his usual tanks. He grabbed a coat that Letty had gotten him for Christmas a year ago but never wore until now. Guess he didn't have a reason, since Los Angeles was never that cold. He walked out of his room and eventually found everyone lounging about in the living room. He sighed as he walked to the coffee table and grabbed his car keys.

Letty had looked over and saw how dressed up he was. It wasn't his usual attire, so she couldn't help but ask, "Where are you going?" She smirked.

Vince looked at her but quickly glanced over to see everyone was now looking at him. He simply replied, "Out." He turned and left without wanting to hear another question.

"What's up with him?" Dom watched him leave and wondered what was going on.

"He's got a date." Jesse said simple-minded as he continued to watch the movie from his spot on the couch.

Dom looked at his younger friend. "With who?"

Jesse grinned and shrugged. "Probably that chick I saw him ogling at a couple of weeks ago." He looked over to Dom and then went back to watching the movie.

Vince walked over to the garden and arrived just as Mary was walking out of the complex and into the garden. He saw her wearing skin-tight jeans and a nice floral high halter neck top. Her hair was straightened and her make up was light. Vince thought he was seeing an angel and couldn't help feel his stomach flopping around.

Mary saw him and thought that he cleaned up nice given the fact that his facial hair still made him look a bit scrubby. Yet, she liked it on him. They greeted each other before proceeding to Vince's car. Mary then knew he was a racer but she wasn't going to hold it against him since he drove with carefulness. They got to the coffee shop and found a spot to sit at. Ordering a coffee and pastries, they stared at each other before Vince asked how her day was. Happily, Mary told him and enjoyed talking to him about her work. She asked him about his and listened as Vince was so infatuated with his work. Their conversation dragged out and went past their jobs. They discussed childhoods, best friends and even exchanged their scars' stories.

Vince learned that her scar was caused by her breaking the window on accident and her forearm got nipped by a broken piece. She told him that she didn't feel a thing because all she really remembered was blood dripping down her arm. An urge to want to touch the sensitive skin went through him as he listened carefully. However, it was gone when she asked him about any scars he had. He told one about how he was wounded by a little punk who was being initiated into his gang. It was a knife to his thigh but it wasn't too deep because Vince fought him off.

Their conversation switched to their interests as they left the café and took a stroll down the avenue. They seemed to enjoy each others' company because even when they had their silent moments, it didn't feel awkward. Joined by the hand, they slowly returned to Vince's car. He drove them back to their neighborhood. It was close to midnight when he pulled into the driveway but he had walked her home. She was now wearing his coat since it was a cold night.

At her doorstep, she faced him and smiled. "That was fun. Thank you for the coffee." She took off his coat and handed it back to him.

"Anytime." He smirked and held it in his hand as he continued to look at her. Part of him didn't want to end the night but he knew she had to be up early.

"I better get inside before I catch a cold." She fished out her keys and grinned.

Vince nodded and then asked, "Can I see you again?" He said as he was nervous but more excited on seeing her again.

She looked up to him and nodded. "Yeah." Mary wasn't worried about his lifestyle. He was different and she enjoyed different. Besides, something inside her, told her, he would give her an adventure that would be marked with her forever. Stepping over to him, she kissed his cheek and smiled sweetly. "Call me."

Vince nodded as he pocketed his hand and held onto the piece of paper with her number. She had given it to him at the coffee shop. "Tomorrow, once I'm off work." He said knowing that would be the best time to catch her since he worked and she bound to be off by then.

"That's fine. I'll be waiting." She got her door opened and walked in. Turning, she waved to him as she watched him walk away.

TO BE CONTINUED...