Chapter 12: A day at the track.

Dom's PoV

We were all hyped as we waited in he pit. Dad had just gotten a new Stock car to race and it was the irst time he'd had it on the track. When he had told us that we were going to be his crew I dont think any one had ever heard a louder set of yelps and hollars.

"What you looking nervous for?" Letty asked nudging my side.

"what if he looses?" I said looking down, It was the first time dad had ever asked any of us to crew for him, "what if he looses bcause we suck as a pit crew?"

"Dom, when me and you are together we can never loose, and these monkeys just add to it." She said tipping her head towards Leon and Vince. Dad had made Jesse stay at home with Mia saying hey were to young to be in the pits and he wasnt going to let them loose in the stands. Mia had shrugged it off saying she had school work to do, Jesse hadnt been so quick to except.

Soon the race started we were all on edge.

Letty's PoV

Papa T was in the lead, I couldnt say I was surprised. It was the final lap and everything had gone perfect. We were abot to take first place out irst time as a pit crew, when suddenly the car just behind Papa T swerved and clipped his trunk. I felt my heart stop as his car went side ways. We could all see him trying to correct it but it was no use, he was rolling. The car spinning side over side stopping only when it hit the wall causing an explosion. I could see Dom move next to me but it took a moment or me to realize he was running across the track, I was hot on his heels, the rest of them just behind me.

"DAD!" Doms voice ressonated in my head, the only thing louder than my own heart beat. The officials stopped us, three of them holding Dom back as they worked to put out the fire. I could feel my whole world shrinking as it crashed around me. I felt a pair of arms pull me close as I just stood there and watched, I could see Vince move foreward to try to calm Dom.

The officials moved us off the track and braught us up to one of the track offices, telling us he hadnt made it past the explosion. The ride home was silent, Dom had immediatly urned off the radio and neither of us alked the whole way home. Once there I moved down to my room, not even knowing if Dom was following me or not. I heard Mia's screams as someone told her what happened. I layed down on my bed, still fully clothed in my overalls. I wasnt sure how long it took but soon I felt Mia crawl in next to me, sobs racking her small frame. I held her close, the sounds of her mourning finally pushing me into my own.

Three days later i stood in a black dress and heels at the grave side, Dom dressed in a suit in between me and Mia. Next to me was Vince, then Leon and finally Jesse. On Mia's otherside was a great aunt of her's, Papa Tony's sister, the only other living relative they had. The pastor read the ulagy beore asking if any one had anything they wanted to say. I didnt know what prompted me to step forward but I did.

"Papa Tony was the best person I have ever met. He was a father to so many people. He had two amazing children at home that he looked after all by himself, and yet he still had no problem taking in the rest of us misfits as his own either. He worked so hard to make sure we all had enough food on the table. He made sure we knew our please and thank yous, made sure we washed our hands and said grace before every meal. Made sure we got our home work done, made sure we learned how to take care of ourselves, but cross him and he would set you straight. His tongue lashings were always effective no matter the problem, and God bless any one who tried to mess with one of his kids." I smiled thinking back to the times he had stood up to me against my own family, "even if they were family. I don't know yet how we will make it with out him there to hold us up, but I know he raised us, all of us, and because of that I know we will find away as long as we stick together."

Dom's PoV

I wasn shocked that no one wanted to say anything after Letty. As usual her words covered everything that could be said. When she stepped back by us I reached down and squeezed her hand. I still wasnt sure how I had made it through the last several days, but I knew it was because of her. I could tell she had been completely numb the last several days, and yet sme how she had managed to make sure all of us had food for every meal. She had made calls to all of our customers letting them know the shop would be closed for several days. After the funeral we all went back to the house and bunkered down. The TV never went on, even as we all sa staring at it. Mia had somehow ended up curled into Vince and honestly I didnt have enough strength let in me to quesion it.

Two days later we got a call from the track, asking if we could come own and clean out all of the tools from dads area. I told them I would stop by the next day. When I told Letty she quickly stated she was going with me.

The following day me and her climbed into dads old truck and drove to the track. It had been one week since we had been here last and evey thing felt so different now. Letty went up to talk to the people in the ofice while I headed straight towards my dads lock up area. I started to back up the tools that had never gotten put away, when I heard his voice. Linder had just walked in and was saing goo be to who ever he had been talking too. I didnt even ealise I had moved but I was over half way towards him, a wrench in my hand.

"Dominic," he said turning towards me, " I am so ..." he words were cut off as I hit him. It was supposed to be once, just once. But suddenly I was being pulled off of him and his face was a complete ruin, he wrench was coated in blood, and I couldn lift my arm.

Letty's PoV

I walked into the tool area to start helping Dom but what I found instead was him hitting Kenny Linder repeatedly with a wrench. I tried to pull him off but it was like he didnt even feel me. I screamed for help in between tring to call his name. It took two security guards to pull him off and before I knew what was happening the cops were loading him into a police cruiser.

"Baby" I called framing his face with my hands. "Dominic look at me." I demanded. His eyes were completely life less. Suddenly he looked at me.

"You have to look after Mia." He said, voice bareley over a whisper.

"I will Dom, I'll take care of everything I promise." I said kissing him, "We'll all be here when you get out I promise you that." I watched as they halled him away, not sure how I was going to tell every one what happened.

Once they were gone I went back to finish packing up Papa Tony's tools, trying my hardest to ignore the pool of blood where Dom had nearly Beaten Linder to death. I coulnt blame him though, If we had gone opposite directions I may have been the one on my way to countr now. How was I ever going to afford a lawyer for Dom?