Chapter 5

The next day I spent writing a letter to Han, it was so hard I knew he was mad and upset. My letter to Han said:

Dear Han,
I know you're upset but please hear me out, I had to leave I don't want you involved in my past. It was hard not telling you about why my friends and I have been running but I'll do my best now. Back in Detroit we were running jobs for some group, normally they had to do with cars other times it was people, this one job came up and it was fishy we told them we weren't going to do it. They told us if we didn't they would kill us so we packed up things and left, Malachi already had the house his older brother bought it for him two year ago. They tracked us down that's why we had to leave; if you've been calling my phone I'm sorry I turned it off. I need you to understand that one day I will come back for you, I still love you Han and nothing will ever change that. I just don't want you to have a life like I have full of running and hiding. I asked Dom to take care of you while I'm gone, he will treat you like family.

Love,

Lizzy

I stuck the letter into an envelope sealing it and writing Hans name and Dom's address. I sigh and call Malachi asking him to stop at a post office at the next town. When in the post office the post master asked why there was no return address. "It won't be coming back I'm only stopping over here for a few minutes before we leave for where we are going." I say looking at the desk. The post master smiles and puts a return address on it and I paid for the postage on it and thanked him. For the next few hours I drove my own car by myself following Malachi. I focused on driving not letting my head wonder, the walkie-talkie beeped and Raul's voice came through, "When are we stopping to sleep?" Malachi responded, "In a few hours, Lizzy how are you holding up?" I pick up the walkie-talkie and push the button, "I'm fine." We drove for a few more hours before stopping at a motel. Everyone was in bed sleeping I was sitting on the hood of my car outside in the cool night air. Suddenly I feel a poke and then Pharux's voice came from behind me, "Shouldn't you be in bed sleeping my dear?" I sigh and say, "Shouldn't you be in bed?" Pharux puts his hand on his hip and says, "Touché." I pat the hood of my car and tell him, "Pop a squat." Pharux sits next to me and asks, "What cha' thinkin' 'bout?" I lay my head on his shoulder, "Han, I hope he'll be ok." Pharux replies, "He's a big boy he can handle himself, but I understand why you're worried." I smile slightly, "Thanks Ruxie." We sit there in silence watching the scenery for about an hour before going in and going to bed. I fell into a restless sleep dreaming about Han and the people we were running from.

I feel someone poking my cheek as I try to continue sleeping but the keep poking me. I open my eyes and see Raul I groan, "You are so dead Raul." He pokes me again, "Not if you can't catch me." Just before he took a step away I sprung out of bed and had him in a headlock. "Now what was that about catching you?" I sneer. I then yell, "Pharux where is my damn coffee?" Pharux yelps, "I ain't getting it!" Malachi walks in hands in his pocket, "Get dressed your coffee is in a mug on your car, and Raul I warned you to not wake her up didn't I?" I let go of Raul and get dressed not caring about the boys in the room they all knew I didn't care they could see me. After I got dressed I headed out to my car and seen the coffeepot sized mug setting on the top of the car, I smile as I pick it up and take a sip it was just right. Malachi finishes checking out and we gather in front of our cars. Malachi clears his throat before saying, "We have a 5 hour drive to Miami to my brother's house, where we will be staying with him and his boyfriend. We're going to make the best of the time there, Zeph knows where the races are and garages that we can work for are at." We all nod and get in our cars heading out. I ended up drinking all of my coffee by about 2 and a half hours into our trip, the rest of our drive flew by and we arrived at an extravagant house in Miami. We walk in and a guy I presume to be Zeph greats us warmly and shows us around and to our rooms. I set up my room before I head down for lunch. I was the first one down besides Zeph so I sit dawn and chat casually with him. We talk about the house and he says it was a gift from his superiors. Then everyone else came down and we all had an extravagant lunch and talked about everything we were told that the beach and pool were at our disposal. Then walked in a guy in a very nice suit and greeted Zeph with a hug and a kiss before Zeph asked, "I thought you had to work later?" The guy smiles, "I wouldn't miss meeting you brother and his friends for the world." He looks at us all and introduces himself as Jack, he smiles at me and asks, "Who is this little princess? No one told me we had a princess with us." He then bows making me giggle, "I'm Lizzy." He smiles at me, "And what would the princess like to do today?" I smile at him saying, "Well Pharux and I always wanted to learn to surf." Jack nods before saying, "Go get your swimsuits on and meet me down at the beach then." Pharux and I jump up out of our seats and rush upstairs to our rooms; I wiggle out of my corset and skinny jeans and toss my underwear and bra to the side digging through my bag for my swimsuit. I pull out a black bikini with white skulls on it; I frown remembering how Han had picked it out for me. I put it on and quickly braid my hair before grabbing a towel and heading down to the beach in flip flops. Pharux was already down there with Jack waiting for me. Jack teaches us to surf after we had that down we splashed and played in the water until dinner time. After dinner we all buckled down and Malachi took me upstairs to continue teaching me how to play guitar. After a few hours we went to bed, this was like a vacation yet I didn't want to leave even though thoughts of Han kept floating back to me. I crawled into bed for another night of restless sleep.

The next morning I wake up looking at the clock realizing its 6 AM and remembering I didn't have to cook breakfast. I sigh getting out of bed and putting my swimsuit back on and a black skull cover up over it and head downstairs with my sketch pad and pencils. Jack is sitting at the bar counter in the kitchen eating while the chef continues making breakfast. The chef stops looks at me and asks if I would like something to eat, I nod and he fixes me a plate of eggs and bacon and a glass of orange juice. I sit next to Jack who greats me with a smile. I set my sketchpad in between Jack and me as I start eating. Jack looks at it and asks, "May I?" I nod before he opens the book flipping through my sketches and stops at an unfinished one of Han. "Are you going to work on this one today?" I nod looking at my plate sadly; Jack hugs me and says, "If you ever need someone to talk to I'm willing to listen." I finish eating and hug Jack before he leaves for work. I leave my sketchpad on the patio and go for a swim while everyone is still asleep it was nice and quiet, until the boys got up.

Each day was the same; it was like paradise anything we wanted we could have. We spent two whole weeks in that paradise before going to the races. That night at the races I met Tej, he owned his own garage, I asked him if he needed another mechanic and he accepted my offer after I told him I design looks for cars. I enjoyed my time at the races that night, but we got out before the cops showed up. I told the guys that night I had gotten a job and I would talk to my new boss about shipping us to Japan. When everyone went to bed I went out to the beach to sit and watch the water for a while, it was calming and peaceful. Jack walks up and sits next to me in the sand, "Are you ok?" I nod before saying, "Yea it's just a little more peaceful without the boys around, and I can handle it to a point but memories of Cali come flooding back. I know they are trying to help me forget the man I fell in love with but it's not that easy for me." Jack sighs and hugs me, "I know that if you asked Tej he would give you a place to stay, I know you love the boys they're your only family but maybe sometime away from them would be good for you." I smile and nod, "Yea, that sounds like a good idea." We sit there watching the water for a while then head in for bed and for me another dream of what I left behind.

The next morning I got up and ate breakfast with Jack before changing into jeans and a t-shit. I went downstairs and le without saying a word to any of the guys, I was frustrated with them all. When I got to work I think Tej could see my frustration. Tej came up and asks as I lean on my car, "What's going on? You look stressed and you haven't even started working." I sigh before responding, "I live with a bunch of guys, I love them all to death I really do but I would like to be able to relax sometimes without them nagging me or begging me to play video games with them." Tej looks at me for a second before saying, "I'll let you bunk in one of me free floaters over there if you like." I smile, "Thanks Tej you're a life saver." I hug him before he sends me off to help Jimmy, the mechanic that keeps checking me out when I bend over.

After work I told Tej I was running to get my things that I would be back in an hour. I headed home and grabbed my boxes putting them in my car as the guys all asked me questions I wasn't in the mood to answer until Malachi grabbed my arm to stop me, "Where you going?" I roll my eyes, "Tej is giving me a place to stay, and I need a little space from you guys." Malachi lets me go and helps me pack what few things I have and take them to my car. "Call if you need anything doesn't matter if its money or a bail out of jail, you call I'll be there to help you." Zeph says leaning against the front door. I walked over and hugged Zeph, "Thanks Zeph." He kisses my cheek before saying, "Any time sis you come visit when you feel like it." I smile and hug everyone before leaving and telling Pharux that Tej has another opening if he wants it. I shift my car into gear and drive off to Tej's Garage, where Tej, Jimmy, and a girl were waiting. Jimmy helped me put the boxes in my new place which was dubbed nickname 'home base' then Tej introduced me to the girl she looked Japanese, her name is Suki. The rest of the night was spent playing cards and getting to know each other more. Suki and I became quick friends, when I decided to turn in for the night I went in and unpacked everything I needed before crawling into bed for a restless night's sleep.

The next few days went the same until race day, that was our day to relax a bit and I was checking everything under the hood of my Skyline. I even hooked the computer up to it to make sure everything was running in perfect order. The rest of the day I spent getting ready to appear at the races that night. Until there was a knock on my door I popped my head out to find Tej standing there with Jack. "I thought I would come see you and head to the races with you." Jack smiled at me. I motion for him to come in, "I have to finish getting ready." I walk into the bathroom and finish my makeup and my hair. I grab a pair of black and white high heels to match my black and white theme that night before asking, "Ready to go?" He looks at me in awe before following me out to my car where even Tej stops and says, "Damn girl! Where you going looking all pretty like that?" I smile at him, "The races, you coming?" Tej laughs, "Of course, I'll meet you there."

The races went well week after week, sometime I raced sometimes I watched. Within a month I asked Tej about getting us to Tokyo and he agreed to in the next three months. Those days ticked by and I got in the habit of sleeping with random guys and kicking them out the next morning, I also spent every day learning Japanese. The guys and I also met a guy we added as a new member to our crew, his name was Jimmy aka Saint Jimmy. Him we met through Zeph it was one of his drug carriers and a personal friend of Malachi, Saint Jimmy was coming to Tokyo with us. When the time came to say our goodbyes Suki was sad to see me go but I gave her and Tej my number. Saying goodbye to Jack and Zeph was hard but as we all sat on a ship on our way to Tokyo we were happy. I slept most of the ride in my car. Until we docked in Tokyo and headed to the new house and unpacked a new life was ready for us.