Author: Moon Roses or Moony
Rating: R for language
Disclaimer: Don't own anything. The Jump Off belongs to Lil Kim.
Feedback: Not necessary but greatly appreciated.
Recap: Hopping into her car she revved the engine and pulled out after Hector. Let the night begin.

Chapter Three

Excitement coursed through her body, leaving pleasant tingles all over. She had not been to a race in over three weeks and she was itching to get back into the game. It was too bad she had missed the buy in; because she was positive she could waste anyone there. Well maybe not the King, but she certainly had a good chance. Of course there was always next week; but having a car barely restrained around her really got her going. She would never try and hide it. Any true racer knew what it felt like to be sitting at the line waiting for the throw down. The anticipation. It was like an instant orgasm, but better. It was like multiple orgasms. She was really missing out tonight, but that did not mean she could not prepare herself for some fun. And what better way to do that than with loud, vibrating, pulsing music. Jesus. She needed to get laid.

Shaking the thoughts from her head, Shorty turned the volume up until the car was positively buzzing with friction. She could feel the air humming against her skin every time the bass slammed. Yeah. The music was going to take her mind off sex. Absently she sang along.

I been gone for a minute now I'm back at the jump off.
Goons in the club in case somethin' jumps off.
And back up before the hive let the pump off.
In the graveyard is where you get dumped off.
All we wanna do is party.
And buy everybody at the bar Bacardi.
Black Barbie dressed in Bulgari.
I'm tyrin' to leave in somebody's Ferrari...

Whoa.

She needed to pay attention because there went her team left at the lights and here she went straight through. Swinging around she heard horns blaring behind her. Glancing in the rear-view mirror she made sure she had not caused any accidents. None by the looks of it, just a grumpy driver who was overly horn happy. Speeding up and following the direction of the team she caught up easily. Right, time to pay attention.

The team was slowing down now though. All around her cars were pulling to a stop and blocking oncoming traffic. People were already crowding the streets and looking for the best spot to watch the races from. Hector led their team with Marvin and Beto on his left side. The teams "lil homies" Miguel and Pedro took the right while Shorty brought up the rear. When Hector pulled in beside the starting line the rest of the team followed suit. Raring to go, they had stepped from their cars almost before they had stopped.

"Yo Shorty," called Letty from across the street where she had just emerged from her Nissan.

Shorty crossed the street and touched fists with Letty, "What's up?"

"Nothin' girl, just waitin' for the show down," Letty answered and stepped away from the car. "Let's go. V's got the hot spot." She nodded to where Vince and Mia were standing, Vince rolling his shoulders as if agitated. He looked over the scene with a purpose. When he saw them he grinned before talking to Mia again.

Shorty investigated Letty's car. 240 SX. Maroon. Beautiful. Whistling, she asked "Nissan girl?"

"At heart."

"I know how that is." Looking one last time at the car she turned and followed Letty. Jesse fell into step with them and immediately smirked, then proceeded to tell them how he had got head on the way over. His face was flushed and he was practically glowing, so proud of himself. All three of them were laughing as they stepped up to a yellow Skyline. GT-R R33. Another beautiful Nissan. Shorty admired the car while Letty leaned in the window and spoke to the driver.

"What's the deal bro?" she asked.

Shorty crouched against the car and stuck her head in the window as well. Leon was adjusting the sound on the scanners and lightly slapping a small two-way radio against his thigh. He smiled at her gently before answering Letty. "All clear." The inside was just as beautiful as the outside was. The blue roll cage added to the overall effect and gave it a sleek yet tough look.

"Miss Shorty," a gravelly voice said from behind her. An irritatingly gravelly voice. She recognized it instantly.

Rolling her eyes heavenward she stood. "Edwin," Shorty sighed.

"Baby, why you gotta be hatin? Peep this. Me. You. Champaign. Strawberries. You up for it yet?" he asked her.

"Not in this lifetime," Shorty answered. He was one of the few people in L.A. she knew from before she had been sent away. Even then he had constantly tried to get in her pants. She had burst some bubbles before but doing it to Edwin was just fun. He needed to be brought down a few notches.

"Ouch!" Letty laughed loudly nudging Leon's shoulder.

"Shot down," Jesse added and pounded Edwin on the back.

Picking up his wounded ego Edwin snarled "Fuck you then," over his shoulder. Shorty grinned at his back. It was too funny watching a man walk away, tail tucked tightly between his legs. She could watch it all night, especially if Edwin was the one scampering away. But static and crackling brought her attention back to the matter at hand. Listening carefully Leon must have determined that it was a go because he slapped the steering wheel happily.

"That's our sign girl," Letty said and stood up. Linking an arm through Shorty's she yelled at Jesse who had wandered a few feet away to hit on a group of girls. He came back to Leon's car quickly, all smiles.

"The redhead wants me," Jesse told Leon. The both of them broke out into obnoxious laughter. "She's so fuckin' hot! Did you see the ass on her?" he moaned loudly. "And her lips were made for sucking cock." The two men laughed again and peered around Letty and Shorty to stare at the group of chasers.

"Well, I hope her car was made for drivin' your ass to the clinic for the itch cream you're gonna need," Shorty sniffed and brushed her nose. Letty looked at her and both of them broke out into their own laughter.

"What?" Jesse squealed. "Did you even see her? She's hot!"

"Jess, she ain't even a real redhead," Letty answered and ruffled his hair.

"Forget you! If you were a guy, you'd tap that too," he replied while flattening his hair out and turning to look at the redhead again. "Wouldn't you Leon?"

"Uh, well, I..." he stuttered.

"Shit, you know he don't fuck anythin' that don't float or glow in the dark," Letty grinned.

"Hey now, this ain't rag on Leon night," said Leon as he played with the scanners again. Hollering and engines revving signalled to them that the races were underway. Four cars including Dom's pulled up to the line and prepared themselves for the flag drop.

"It's go time. Come on," said Letty and she began tugging Jesse and Shorty away from Leon's car.

Looking over her shoulder she yelled "Later," to Leon and smiled before she was willingly dragged towards Vince and Mia. Both were on their feet and though not actually bouncing they looked like they were. The crowd's tension was palpable and it pressed against her eardrums. Shit. Was she ready for this or what? Her brother was talking through a two-way radio excitedly. The cars were quivering, plumes shooting from the exhaust. The smell of machine and power filled her nose. She looked at her brother again to see him listening intently, his brow furrowed. He was definitely ready too.

Shorty glanced behind her towards Leon and found him watching her while talking into his two-way. When his gaze connected with hers, he blinked and looked away. Shrugging slightly she stepped up beside Vince where he nudged her. "You ready for this?" he grunted.

"Always."

Her brother's hands rose into the air and he made eye contact with each driver. Simultaneously he shouted "GO!" and threw his hands down. The cars shot forward and slammed back instantly. The crowd was thundering but she could not hear it. She could not see them cheering. All she could focus on were the cars. Everything seemed to be in slow motion. Dom was in front, the others right behind. They were getting beat down and by the looks of it; he was not even going to need nitrous oxide tonight. She could see him clench his jaw and slam the car into a new gear. He was pulling further ahead. This one was in the bag.

As they passed where she stood she could feel the pavement beneath her shiver. The crowd closed behind the cars as soon as they had zipped past and the sounds of them yelling would have been deafening – if she could hear. The finish line was fast approaching, looking promising. A golden S2000 chose that moment to take a hit of happy gas. The shot of nitrous hissed and the car leapt forward, blurring into a gold streak. Whoever was driving was closing in on Dom quickly and she felt the crowd draw in a collective breath. Either sensing or seeing someone was hot on his trail he took his own hit of the gas.

And then it was over. Noise. Sight. Both returned to Shorty slowly and everyone surged forward to congratulate the winner.

Shorty hung back not wanting to interfere with Dom's welcoming. It seemed she was liked well enough, but unsure if it was a facade because of whom she was. Hector's baby sister held street credit simply because of who he was. So, with that in mind she decided the sidelines were good for now. Dom emerged from his car, still King of the Races. Hector slapped a huge wad of cash into his hand and grinned. She could imagine the praise he was showering Dom with. It was praise that was honest and not anything like Dom received from the others around him. Shorty could see the differences between Dom's friends and the racers who wanted to be his friends. It was like a free for all, each trying desperately to think of something new to say but in the end sounding like a washed out record.

Shorty could see Dom manoeuvring through his legions of faithful followers to where his team stood. He handed the money wordlessly to Mia and picked Letty up. She wrapped her legs around his waist and kissed the top of his bald head affectionately. Dom was beaming. It was obvious how the two felt about each other. Love. In its purest form. Chasers were already creeping away defeated, knowing full well they could not compete with Letty. Not on any level.

The crowd disbanded one by one and her team and the Toretto team headed her way. Every last one of them was glowing with happiness. A win for one of them meant a win for everyone. They were two different teams but had grown so close over the years. They were connected through memories and friendship.

"So what you think?" Dom asked when they reached her.

"Tight," she answered. "Profits were?"

"13, 14, 15," Mia mumbled to herself as she finished counting the bills. "15 grand."

"Not bad," Shorty bit her bottom lip feigning innocence. "And proceeds will go? Cause you know – I gotta have these new shit stompers." She let loose a toothy grin.

Chuckling, Dom turned to her boys. "Time to celebrate."

The two teams broke away from each other and headed back to their own cars. Time to celebrate? Did that mean what she hoped it meant? 'Yo! We partying?" she asked bouncing around her brother.

"Hell yeah," Beto laughed when she bounced right in front of him. With her team she could be as immature and soft as she wanted. They knew her through and through. And they knew she was anything but soft. She would knock down anyone without a second thought. "Excited?"

Shorty nodded before shouting "Miguel!" The baby of the group, at eightteen, stopped and turned to her. "I think lil' homie owes me a llittle something something." She wiggled her eyebrows suggestively and he braced himself. The minute she saw he was ready she jumped on his back and wrapped her arms around his neck lightly. He held her legs around his waist and continued walking.

"Shit chica, aren't you a bit old for a piggybacks?" asked Pedro as he opened his door.

"Nope. You're never to old," she answered simply. Who would give up piggyback rides? It was the ultimate laziness. Miguel dropped her off next to her door and she jumped in. Pulling out before the rest of her team she stopped by Hector's car. "Yo, what's the address?"

"Why? Just follow us," he asked looking confused.

"I need to make a quick stop."

Hector's face relaxed. He was thinking it over. "Fine, but if you aren't there in thirty minutes I'm gonna come get you."

Rolling her eyes at him she snapped "Yeah, yeah. Address?"

"183 Echo Park Crescent," he answered. "And I'm not playing. Thirty minutes."

Shorty nodded and peeled away from and the team. So, maybe he was a little over protective. And maybe he treated her like she was twelve instead of twenty three, but she knew he was only trying to make up for lost time. He had missed his baby sister grow up, become a woman, and she owed him this much. Plus, she loved him and all that. So yeah, she would put up with it.

Pulling into a parking lot she thought back to the races. Amazing. No other word for it. And bonus. They had got out clean tonight, no cops. Just smooth cruising. Now that was what she called a good night. Glancing up at the neon sign, she smiled. The night was only going to get better.