Chapter 5
A few months pass before trouble finally catches up to me. I had won Tran's Honda from him in Race Wars a month ago and I was going to use it to get a favor out of him. I was going to run it by Dom first, see if he thought it was a good idea.
I popped into the office as he was doing accounts for the week. "Yo Dom, question."
He looked up at me and pushed the papers to the side. "What's up?"
"You know how I won Tran's Honda from him in Race Wars right?"
He chuckled. "That was pretty damn good if I do say so myself. Why bring it up now though?"
"Well, I know he wants it back and I was thinking, since trouble's come calling for me once already," Here, I rubbed at my sore shoulder from where Diablo had thrown me when they had shot her back tire. Besides cuts and scrapes, I had dislocated my shoulder. "Get Tran and his crew to do us a favor as backup in trade for getting his Honda back."
"You don't think we'll be enough to protect you?" I was lucky Vince, Dom and Leon had been riding with me that day or I'd be dead as they had attempted to run me over only to be stopped be two pissed off males and one worried coyote.
"I do. But I just think it'll be a good idea if we had backup standing by if we needed it." I reasoned.
He sat back in the chair, elbows on the arms and fingers clasped before him and I knew he was thinking. "As much as I don't like to get him involved, using his Honda as leverage for his help is an idea. You plan on going by yourself?"
"Like you'd let me." I shot back and he grinned.
"You're right, I'm not. So who's it going to be?"
"Since Vince wouldn't stay back if I told him, have you ride with us to keep him in check while I'm negotiating."
"With his temper, I'd like it if he stayed back as well, in case things got ugly, but I know he won't. You and me are the only ones who can control his temper." He sighed. "We'll go tonight since there isn't a race. Send Vince in here and I'll talk to him, make sure he knows the rules for this meeting."
I wrap my arms around his neck and place a kiss on his bald head. "Thanks Dom." I leave the office and head into the garage where I knew Vince was working. "Yo Coyote!"
He looks up from a Chevy. "What kitten?"
"Dom wants to talk to you." I told him, handing him a rag for his greasy hands. Taking it, as well as a kiss, he went into the office while I worked on what he had been doing.
"You shouldn't even be in here with that shoulder." Leon calls from Jesse's Jetta.
"The doctor said as long as I don't stress it, I'm fine. Doing a little work won't kill me." I replied. I hear footsteps two seconds before Letty is grabbing my jacket and hauling me away from the car. "Come on Letty!" I whine. Leon laughs at me and Jesse smirks. Letty had become like an older sister and looked after me much like Dom would, but in a more sisterly way.
"Until your shoulder is completely healed, you're not working on an engine. You can help me with this one by handing me tools." She told me, smirking when I pouted. "I know you're dying to take a bath in grease, but you'll have to wait. You know Dom will be after your ass if he saw you doing some heavy work before the doc said your shoulder was healed. You're lucky he's still letting you race."
"That's because he knows he can't stop me from racing. Racing is what I love." I grin.
She laughed. "Yeah I know. I'm surprised you haven't got Nitrous Oxide running through your veins."
I look down at my arm and the veins I could see in my wrist. "Knowing me, I wouldn't be surprised." I dimly hear growled conversation in the office and I knew Vince was the source of it, voicing his displeasure about the meeting with Tran.
Letty looks over her shoulder. "What's got Vince mad?" She looked at me since she knew Vince being upset involved me.
"I'm going to use the Honda to get Tran and his crew to act as backup in case we need it." Both Jesse and Leon look at me.
"You don't think we're enough protection?" Leon asked, a little hurt.
"It's not that Leo. It's just that I think it's a good idea if we had the backup in case things got real nasty." I told him. "I just want to be prepared for what they decide to throw at me."
Jesse looked at Leon. "You know he's been wanting the Honda back since she won it from him at Race Wars. If he does us a favor, he'll have a chance to get it back." He told him.
"It's basically the main reason why I'm going to bring the offer to Tran, give him a chance to get back his Honda." I added. "Besides, there's strength in numbers you guys." Jesse nodded, conceding the point.
"Why not ask Hector? At least we're on good terms with him and his crew." Letty pointed out.
"I've got something Tran wants. His Honda. Getting back his Honda is the incentive for him helping us." I told her. "If need be, we'll call in the rest of the crews."
"Speaking of Hector, he wants to race you next time." Leon told me.
"I kind of figured that. Since Reaper was repaired, everybody wants a run at me." I got an idea. "You know what? If it comes down to the other crews helping us out, I'll put the slip to Reaper on the line, as I know all of them wants a try for the pink slip."
Leon's jaw drops. "Are you serious? That's your brother's car." Jesse and Letty had similar protests.
"You can't sacrifice your brother's car!"
"It's just a car guys." I tell them. As much as I didn't want to lose my brothers car, I would put her pink slip up for grabs if I had to.
" 'Just a car'?" I turn to see Vince with Dom behind him. "Sometimes I swear you love that car more than you do me."
"Well, she is my baby." I smile at him as he wraps an arm around my waist.
"And you're mine." He replies softly, kissing my head. "How's the arm?"
"Little sore, but I'll be alright."
"If he does help us, do you plan on racing him for it?"
I shook my head. "He helps us, I'll hand the pink slip over, free and clear. If he doesn't, he'll have to run me to get it back and we all know how that'll turn out."
"You smoked him once, you'll do it again!" Leon crows.
"Got that right." I grin, bumping fists with him.
Later that night found us outside Tran's garage, waiting on Tran to show up. Dom had driven his RX- 7 while I had ridden with Vince in his Maxima. All three of us leaned against the cars, well, Vince leaned against his while he held me against him, hands firm on my hips as I stood between his legs.
"I still don't like this." Vince growled softly. "We've got other crews we can go to if you want backup."
"But we've got Tran's car and you know he wants it back." Dom told him as we heard engines. Dom came over to stand beside us as I gripped Vince's wrists and gave a firm squeeze, reminding him of the rules Dom had set for him during the meeting. Basically, he was to remain where he was and not do a thing. His hands leave my waist and I feel him slip something in the waistband of my jeans at my back.
I look at him over my shoulder, knowing it was his gun. He kissed my neck. "Humor me kitten." I felt him tug my shirt down over it and knew both shirt and jacket would hide it from view.
"Alright. As long as you behave." I relented. We exchanged a quick kiss before I stepped away as Tran dismounted from his bike with Lance following.
"Toretto said you had a business proposal for me. Tell me why I should even deal with the lot of you." He growled at Dom. Vince went to take a step forward and I held out a hand in warning, waiting until he had settled back in position against the car before going into my jacket and withdrawing the pink slip for the Honda.
I held it up between my fingers with a smirk. "Because I know you want this." With the bait in view, I walked a distance away but remained within view of Dom and Vince. They didn't know I would do this and I knew Vince wouldn't be happy but it was part of the plan. By coming over to me where I stood, knowing I held the pink slip to his Honda, would tell me he was interested. Leaning against a statue, I watched them all. Dom looked confused for a minute before he got the plan then a smirk appeared. Vince was not happy at all and I gave him a reassuring smile, hoping he'd keep his temper on a leash with me being this far away from him. Tran looked thoughtful while Lance looked suspicious. Finally, a word to Lance and he came over to where I stood.
"That the slip to my car?"
"You know it is." I reply. "You do this favor for us and I will give you back the Honda free and clear. It's the only way you'll get it back and I know you want it back." I put the pink slip away in my jacket. "I have ridden her once or twice and I admit she's a pretty sweet ride." At that announcement, his eyes flared. "You don't blame me for taking her for a spin, do you? You would have done the same if you had won Reaper." The angry flare died and I knew he knew I was right. "No one else had driven her except for me and I have taken very good care of her. I keep her safely in the trailer I have parked in the yard across from Dom's. You're welcome to come over tomorrow and see for yourself. In fact, once I place the offer on the table, I will give you the night to think about it and you can give me your answer in the morning."
It's quiet for a few minutes as he looks me over. "What's this offer of yours?"
"Long story short, my foster brother got involved with drug running and screwed up a run. The drug boss sent his goons after him and the family I was living with. They killed my foster parents and would have gotten me as well if my foster brother hadn't interfered. He gave me the keys to Reaper and had me escape while he sacrificed himself. Drug lords are a bit like mafia bosses, they don't like loose ends."
"And you're the loose end." He commented, folding his arms across his chest and I nodded. "What's that got to do with us?"
"I've been running from them for years. At the last place, they t-boned Reaper. That race against you was her first since being repaired."
"That's why you've been running with everybody else's rides."
I nodded again. "Exactly, though it's been mainly Dom's RX- 7 and Vince's Maxima. A month ago, they find me again and shot out the rear tire of my bike. Diablo threw me and besides a few cuts and scrapes, I dislocated my shoulder. Even though Dom let's me race, I can't work in the garage like I want to." I pouted then realized why I was here. "Anyway, back to my offer. Even though Dom and the crew may be enough protection, I think it would be a good idea to have backup if the need arose. Besides, I have a good feeling things are gonna get real nasty and I'm going to need all the help I can get just to stay alive." I explained. "You help us when the time comes and I will give you your Honda back free and clear."
"Why not go to any of the other crews?"
"Don't you want your Honda back, Johnny?" I ask in reply. "I know I'd want Reaper back if you won her."
"You're not going to make me race you for it?"
"You know you can't beat Reaper, Johnny, so I'm offering you an alternative. You help us and you get your Honda back. No strings." I tapped my lip thoughtfully. "Though if you aren't interested in getting your Honda back, I can always go to another crew and offer it up as incentive." I muse.
"You wouldn't dare." He growled and I knew I had struck a nerve.
"Even though she is a beauty to look at, I know you want her back. I came to you first thinking you would help us in trade for getting the Honda back. That's my offer Johnny, your ride back in trade for doing us a favor. All the favor entails is that I remain alive until we can think of a way to get them off my back for good."
"That's it? Doesn't seem like much of a challenge to me." He commented.
"These thugs make the Marines look fluffy but think of the reward, Johnny." I stepped closer to whisper in his ear. "Your pretty Honda." I patted his shoulder. "Think about it and let me know in the morning." With that, I walked back to Vince and Dom.
"Well?" Dom asks as Vince immediately envelops me in a hug, grip tight as if he hadn't been able to hold me for weeks.
"Don't you dare do that again." He growls in my ear, nipping at it.
I lightly kiss his lips. "Let's get out of here and I'll tell you guys how it went." We got in the cars and left. In the rearview, I saw Lance go up to Johnny, most likely asking what I had wanted. I expected him to tell his cousin and the two to discuss it before he came looking for me in the morning.
"So what happened?" Vince asked. Instead of telling him, I moved to perch on his lap. A soft chuckle before we kissed.
After a minute, I pulled back. "You're driving Coyote."
"And you're a tease." He shot back.
"And you wouldn't have me any other way." I cooed, kissing his nose.
"Just don't go teasing me like you did that one night or we'd be in trouble. I can only take so much, you know." He smiled, taking the gun from my waistband and tossing it in the passenger seat. The night he was referring to had been the night Reaper was finished and we had taken Reaper and his Maxima out to the Race Wars site and raced for a few hours. His Maxima gave Reaper a run for her money without Nos. Dom had gotten him to set it up as a date and he had brought dinner and drinks while my laptop had provided the dance music afterwards. Then we had just cuddled on Reaper's hood before I got the idea to have a little fun, setting up a playlist of slow music and proceeded to give him a little show. It wasn't actually a strip show, but it came close with the moves I was pulling. After a few songs of me just teasing him, he couldn't take it and I'll just say I will never look at Reaper's backseat the same way again.
"Why not? I was having fun." I pout.
"I know you were. You were driving me insane with those moves you were pulling baby girl." He looked worried. "Are you sure I didn't hurt you? I know I got rough when I didn't want to."
I rolled my eyes. Even though I had assured him then, as that night in the backseat of the Eclipse had been my first time, he was still concerned. "I'm sure Vince, you didn't hurt me." I pat his unshaven cheek. "Will you stop worrying? I wasn't some china doll you could easily break. You didn't hurt me."
He turns his head to kiss my palm, removing one hand from the wheel to lay it on my stomach, pushing my shirt up a little to trace the scars there. Besides Mia and Letty, who had found out when they had taken me shopping for a bathing suit, Vince was the only other one who knew about the scars. Because of the things he said about them, I wasn't as self-conscious about them as I was. He told me they were a badge of pride, proof that I was a survivor. I would need to be reassured several times before I let the rest of the world see them. "I wanted to be gentle your first time and do it in a bed, but due to your teasing, that didn't happen." He growled and nipped my ear.
"I won't deny I didn't like it."
"You didn't like it, you loved it." His grin turns wicked.
"And we definitely gotta do it again sometime." I grin back as the Maxima pulls into the Toretto driveway.
"Definitely." He agrees, cradling my head and kissing me. Since he wasn't driving anymore, I let him deepen the kiss. We might have worked toward another makeout session if Dom hadn't slammed a hand against the window, scaring the total shit out of me. He must have scared Vince too since I felt him jump. We look out the window to see Dom laughing his ass off at us. Just so you know, he's done this – the scaring the crap out of us while we're making out thing – more than once. He finds it highly amusing. We hate it even when we know he's messing with us. Vince rolls down the window.
"Fuck you D." I growl.
Dom grins wickedly at me. "A threesome should be fun. Come on." Then he laughs again. "No really, Letty would kill me. Before you two rabbits go at it again, give up the goods. What did Tran say?"
"I told him my offer and let him think it over. He's supposed to come by tomorrow to give me his answer."
"You think he'll bite?" Dom asked.
I nod. "Absolutely. Helping keep me alive is a surefire way to get his Honda back. And he knows it. I made sure to stress that the reward for helping us would be the return of his ride, free and clear."
"He know how dangerous it could get? Vince asked.
"I told him these thugs make the Marines look fluffy. If that doesn't tell him, I don't know what would." I reply.
"You going to wait around for him tomorrow?" Dom asked and I nodded.
"I offered to prove to him that the Honda was well taken care of. He got a little miffed when I told him I had taken it for a ride."
Dom chuckled. "He wasn't too pleased when you beat him."
I laughed. "I know! He was only running for pinks cause he wanted Reaper. I saw the way he was checking her out before he challenged me. He was wanting her something fierce."
Dom nodded. "I saw the way he was looking at it. Too bad it didn't work like he wanted it to. I'll have Jesse stay behind with you tomorrow." Vince must have given him a look as Dom gave him one of his own. "We've got jobs to do at the garage Vince. We can spare Jesse until Tran shows up. I highly doubt he'll try anything tomorrow."