Author's Notes: Hey guys! As promised, there is action in this chapter and we're getting pretty close to when Vince will join the others, couple more chapters. Hope you all enjoy!

Chapter 11: Making a Break

Monday morning: Hesitate, I can't get out of bed
I'd rather go back to the dreams I'm living in my head
Tuesday evening: Pack my bags, I'm heading out the door
I left a box of memories lying on the floor

"It's Too Late" – Dirty South

The sun was just struggling over the horizon when the truck with the medical logo was steered into the wide paved lot that sat next to the abandoned junkyard. Here on the very outskirts of Sao Paulo the wilderness began to encroach on civilization. The lot itself was overrun by weeds and the wild long grasses that grew out here were trying to push themselves past the cement barrier.

The junkyard was surrounded by a rusted chain link fence topped with curls of barbed wire. Heaps of metal stretched up into the sky; old appliances, broken down cars stripped of anything of value, and stacks of metal wiring and rebar. At the entrance to the yard, which was connected to the lot, there was a padlocked gate guarded by a crumbling out guard shack. The windows on it were dusty with age and broken.

There was the rumbling of an engine as the black Buick pulled into the lot. It drove past the truck and parked behind the dilapidated shack against the fence. Dom stepped out into the smoggy light of early morning, his eyes shadowed and lined with sleeplessness. His boots scuffed over the cracked pavement as he crossed towards the truck, where Leon was climbing out of the cab.

Neither man had gotten a good night's rest. Leon rifled through the front of the truck, grabbing out the two coffees he'd picked up at the diner near the hotel. He passed one to Dom. The two men shared a weary look and then leaned back against the long white trailer of the truck.

Boosted by the strong, bitter coffee Leon rubbed a hand over his scruffy jaw and sighed. They still had hours before the arranged meeting time. The drugs were stashed and an anonymous tip had been left to local authorities about the medical supply place. But right now the most important thing on his mind was getting the girls back. He knew that Dom shared this sentiment.

They watched in mutual silence as the sun ascended further into the smoggy sky. Leon felt a cold sliver of dread creep up his spine. As he swallowed the cooling coffee, he felt that he couldn't chase the feeling away.

0000

Vince stood in the driveway, the late afternoon sunlight shining down with its usual southern Californian strength. He wiped a hand over his sweaty brow and let out a long heavy sigh. An empty beer bottle sat on the ground near his feet. His scarred work boots scuffed over the cement and then fell still as he shifted uneasily. The neighborhood was quiet this time of day, the sounds of children playing having died off when they were called in for dinner.

Behind him the house was dark except for the lone light shining from the kitchen window. He gazed out across the back lawn, his eyes falling on the shape of the grill that sat unused by the porch, a layer of dust settled over its black lid. The old table they had hauled out for barbeques was folded up and tucked into the garage he knew, and it was unlikely it had been used since that summer five years back.

The back door slammed shut loudly enough to jolt him from his thoughtful study and he glanced up as the figure that stood up on the little back porch.

Mia met his gaze and smiled slightly. The faint breeze made the skirt of her red sundress flutter around her legs as she made her way down the wooden steps and crossed towards him.

"You looked far away."

"I guess I was. Another time." He smiled half-heartedly and she nodded, knowing at once what he meant.

"Vince," she began, looking hesitant. "Will you tell me what's going on?"

He looked at her with somber blue eyes, and she thought it had been a long time since she'd seen him with such heavy thoughts swirling through them.

"I saw Brian here last night," she continued. "Is he the one that got you out of prison? Please Vince, I need to know."

"It's better if you aren't involved Mi," he told her.

She shook her head. "My brother tried that tactic once already, remember? I ended up involved anyway. There's no way I can't be involved when it's about someone who I care about. You're family."

He sighed, rubbing a hand over his head, and then bent to pick up the empty beer bottle. "Let's go inside, and I'll explain everything."

0000

Letty watched as the vehicle came closer and closer to the city of Sao Paulo. Her body was aching and her wrists felt rubbed raw, but she ignored the pain and shifted her gaze towards the men in the front seats. The driver was fiddling with the radio in between watching the road that stretched out ahead of them. They were still far enough from the city that there was no other traffic. She briefly shifted her gaze to Syd, who met it and nodded once then yawned and sat back, her eyes half-lidded.

The man in the passenger seat glanced back at them then began to roll a cigarette. Letty took this as her chance. She vaulted herself over the seat, landing in his lap while striking out with her legs to kick the driver. They both began yelling in Portuguese and the car swerved dangerously on the road.

Tobacco went flying as the man in the passenger seat grabbed at Letty, struggling to subdue her. He couldn't reach for his weapons as she was sprawled over him. Syd leaned forward and tugged at the handle of the driver's side door so that it flew open. The driver struck out with one hand, catching her in the jaw before Letty kicked out with both feet firmly against his shoulder and sent him falling from the car.

It was still swerving on the road and slowing down. Behind them people in the other cars were yelling, while the car at the head of the procession had continued on for a bit, unawares.

The guard in the passenger side would not loosen his grip on Letty and she was struggling against him. Syd leaned down between them, grabbed his gun and whacked him hard over the back of the head with it. There was a sickening crack and blood matted the butt of the weapon. The car had come to a stop and the others were pulling up and scrambling out of their vehicles.

"Grab the wheel go go!" Syd yelled and Letty slid into the driver's seat. She yanked the door shut and slammed her foot down on the gas. The car peeled down the road, tires squealing. Syd fell to her ass in the back seat as Letty steered the car into the correct lane to avoid an oncoming car. She glanced back and saw that one car had stayed behind to pick up the fallen driver, while the other was giving chase. The vehicle up ahead had come to a stop.

Letty ducked as a spray of bullets danced over the windshield. They bounced off the bulletproof glass harmlessly and she swerved around the stopped vehicle, sending the car briefly onto its left wheels. Syd cursed and clung to the seat. Beside Letty the passenger slumped out of his seat, his head falling into her lap.

"Syd can you dump this guy!?"

The other girl moved to search him, grabbing the knife, before opening the door and shoving him out onto the road. She winced as the car giving chase ran him over without a thought and ducked to avoid their bullets. Yanking the door shut she plopped into the vacated seat and tried to maneuver the knife to cut her bonds.

More bullets whizzed past them and Syd tried to keep her head low while she focused on the task. Her hands slipped and she cursed as half the time she cut herself rather than the rope.

Letty watched carefully in the rearview mirror, letting her foot off the gas so that the other car could catch up a bit. She kept pace with it for a while, and then when it was close enough to press bumpers with her she slammed on the brakes. The knife flew from Syd's bloodied hands to land by her feet and she scrambled to brace herself on the dash.

The car following them smashed into their rear, giving them both a jolt, but it was going too fast to maintain control and went sailing into the air before flipping, the car crunching and the metal squealing as it scraped over the pavement. Letty took her foot to the gas again, their rear bumper dragging behind them until it fell free. The remaining two cars had been further behind and pulled to a stop beside the wreck.

Syd glanced back behind them, her face pale and her eyes wide. She looked away, her gaze drawn at the frayed ropes binding her wrists. She gave them a quick tug and they broke free. She winced at the cuts on her hands and wrists, but luckily they were shallow and would do her little harm.

She glanced over at Letty. "Want me to cut you free?"

"If you wouldn't mind?" Letty's gaze flicked to the rearview mirror to see that one car had picked up the chase again. However now she had a good lead on them. "It will make it easier to drive. Also we have to figure out some way to contact the boys."

"Already thought of that." The other girl smiled brightly as she held up the cell phone she'd swiped from the passenger. She pocketed it and leaned over to cut at Letty's bonds. "Once you're free I'll call Leon."