Her suitcase sat by the door and the eviction notice lay on the table. Taylor sighed, gathering up her school books.  She left the small one bedroom apartment and began the several blocks walk to meet Mia.  They had a test to study for.  One she was sure she was going to fail.  On top of everything else she couldn't afford to crash and burn on another test.  Looking up, she rounded the corner, pushed her long midnight hair over her shoulder, picking up the pace as the Toretto's store came into view.
 
Don't think about it!   Don't!   Just study and get through the test!   Deal with it later!
 
"Mia," she called, trying to keep her voice low as she popped her head around the doorway and scanned the interior of the store. She stepped into view seeing the place was deserted except for Mia with her books open behind the counter.  Eyes the color a spring grass peered at the other woman.  Relieved, she strode forward.
 
"This day has got to get better. Tell me it'll get better."  She sighed, dropping her books on the counter beside Mia's.
 
"Relax and repeat after me. TODAY WILL GET BETTER."  Smiling, Mia cocked her head to the side, seeing the tension in Taylor's eyes.  "So, what's wrong? You gonna tell me or am I gonna have to drag it outta ya?"
 
Taylor shook her head.  "Nothing.  Just your normal everday shit."  She plastered a smile on her face and opened her books.
 
"Tell me," Mia demanded.
 
"NO!"  Taylor, shook her head negatively.
 
"You know I'll make you tell me sooner or later."
 
"Later!  Much later!"  Taylor glanced down at the text in front of her.  Mia promptly began to quiz her, throwing equation after equation into the air. She was off ... that was for sure.  Taylor missed more than she nailed.
 
"Wrong. Wrong.  Wrong," Mia huffed, planting her hands in front of Taylor.  "You're not concentrating."
 
"Tell me about it. I just can't stay focused."  Taylor's eyes went back to the book, not paying attention to the footsteps behind her.
 
"Who we have here?"  The deep rumble of the male voice sent her muscles to tensing, her eyes widened as she stared at Mia before turning to meet the man behind the voice.
 
"This is Taylor, Dom.  Remember I told you about her? Same major," Mia prompted, wishing she could pin Taylor in place before she bolted.  She looked like a rabbit in front of a mac truck.
 
"Yeah, I remember."  Dom was smiling as Taylor turned toward him, her heart hammering in her chest.
 
"Hello, Mr.Toretto." She extended her hand towards him, meeting his eyes for a brief second and then dropping her gaze to the floor.
 
"Dom.  I'm Dom.  My dad was Mr. Toretto."  He looked over her head to Mia with a questioning expression. His sister only shrugged.  He didn't like the fact Taylor wouldn't look him in the eye.  "Must be something damn interesting down there," he teased, only managing to make the woman more tense. But it worked ... she looked back at him, smiling, a bright red seeping into her cheeks.
 
"No. Nothing in particular."  She stammered, inwardly cringing at how she must look to him. "It's nice to meet you, Dom," she said before quickly turning back to Mia and squeezing her eyes closed, hoping Dom would just simply disappear or she would, didn't matter which.
 
"Nice to meet you too, Taylor," he replied and motioned to Mia that he would be in the back of the store.
 
"What was that about?" Mia asked, making sure Dom was out of ear shot.
 
"I don't know.  Just made me nervous is all."  Taylor shrugged it off, smoothing the damp tendrils of hair away from her heart shaped face.
 
"Okay, so you're a freak around my brother. Now, tell me what's wrong will ya!" Mia teased, straightening from where she leaned on the counter.
 
Taylor sighed closing the books and leaning towards Mia.  "I lost my job at the restaurant and I'm getting kick outta my apartment."  With a white knuckled grasp on the edge of the counter she rushed on.  "I gotta find a job and a place to stay or I quit school."
 
"HEY DOM!  Taylor's staying with us for awhile," Mia yelled toward the back of the store.  She laughed as Dom lifted his hand and waved his agreement.
 
"MIA! I can't do that!" Taylor gasped, glancing toward where Dom sat with his back to them.
 
"Why not?  Got a better prospect?"
 
"No.  But it's...It's..."  Shaking her head Taylor smiled.
 
"It's settled,"  Mia said, returning the smile, turning her attention to the street and the roar of engines. Four shiny sleek machines pulled in front of the store, spilling their occupants onto the street in loud conversation.
 
"Oh, goodie. The team."  Mia rolled her eyes dramatically and turned back to Taylor. "Just be cool, okay.  They can be a pain in the ass but they're handy to have around," she whispered as the group entered the store.  Taylor was content in believing her until she saw HIM ... tall, bearded, well-muscled.  She quickly shoved her book open and stuck her nose in it, the subject never seeming more interesting. Mia nearly burst into laughter watching the wide-eyed stare leveled at Vince and then doing everything in
her power to avoiding looking at him again.  Just like Taylor, she thought.
 
"Hey, Mia," Vince said in the way of greeting, taking the seat directly beside Taylor, turning and staring, wondering how long it would take before she called him on it.
 
The whole way to the store Vince had gone over and over what he'd say to Mia. How he'd try and get her to forget about that pussy, Brian. He knew he didn't have much of a shot but he'd be damned if he'd just give up. Not him. Not Vince. That was before he'd actually entered the store, caught the interested stare directed his way. Now it was his turn, eyes glued to the soft features of the girl. He shoved his face even closer knowing she was trying to ignore him.
 
"Stop it, V," Mia admonished, shifting her eyes to Taylor in surprise as she spoke up.
 
"No. It's okay, Mia."  She managed a smile for the man, one that didn't mirror the nervousness gripping her inside.
 
"I'm Vince. Who are you?"  He reached out flipping the front of her book up and glancing at the title, realizing it was a college level book.  One of Mia's fancy college friends.
 
"Taylor."  Her eyes fell back to the book.  She hadn't been able to hold the look long, her mind screaming that she needn't bother. That was a hard thing to combat,  her mind telling her one thing and her body telling her another.
 
Mia came around the counter tugging on Taylor's hair as she passed.  "Come on, twenty minutes before class."
 
"Yeah. Okay."  She scrambled, gathering up her books and knocking one to the floor in the process.
 
Vince was quick to retrieve it cutting his eyes up at her as he handed it over.  "Might need this."
 
She took it from him, a slow shy smile crossing her face.  "It's probably the only one I really need."  She turned and hurried after Mia, stopping just before she was through the door and calling over her shoulder.  "Later, Vince."
 
Vince, arms crossed against his chest, had been quite content to watch her walk away ... her hips rolling with each step she took, denim molding perfectly to her slim body, black hair brushing the small of her black.
 
"Bet on it!" he shouted after her retreating form.  Standing, he moved to the back of the store.  "What's with the new chick, Dom?"
 
**********
 
Mia eased behind the wheel of her car, not much different from the others in front of the store. Turning the engine over, the car purred to life.
 
"SO........" Mia began, pointing the car towards the college.
 
"Don't start!  Don't!"  Taylor threw up her hand, clutching her books to her chest with the other.  "I don't have time for a guy. You know that. Gotta find another job now," she sighed.
 
"That reminds me.  Just for now don't mention that your last job was working for Tran's family.   Dom and Johnny don't get along too well."  Mia, glanced at her.
 
"Join the crowd.  But it's not like I could afford to turn down the job, Mia.  Besides, I was just a waitress at his father's place.  Dom wouldn't hold that against me, would he?"  Talking about her former employer without getting physically ill was a feat in itself.  Thinking about Johnny was bad enough, the smug asshole that he was but, it was nothing compared to his cousin Lance.  He scared the hell out of her, usually on a daily basis.
 

Part 2
 
 
 
"Well?" Mia asked for the dozenth time as they strode through the back door.
 
"Well what?" Taylor finally countered, playing into the wide eyed innocent routine.
 
"The test!" Mia shoved hard against her shoulder, setting her books on the counter and turning to the fridge. "I swear if you don't tell me I'll call Dom in here."
 
Rolling her eyes Taylor shook her head. "You wouldn't."
 
"I would." Mia's eyes narrowed. "I will."
 
"What about Dom?" came a voice from the doorway. Both women turned, surprised they had been overheard.
 
"Hey, Letty. Just threatening Taylor. She thinks Dom is the boogyman." Mia burst into riotous laughter at the thought. Taylor noticed the other woman had an amused smile on her face too.
 
"I do not, Mia. God, I'm not scared of everything," she grumbled, tossing her books on the counter along with the others.
 
"Yeah. Not everything. Just guys." Mia first tossed her a Coke and then a second to Letty. A trio of popping tabs and carbonated fizzing filled the kitchen as they fell silent for a moment. Letty cut her eyes to Mia wondering if she were serious about the girl, then deciding to ask herself.
 
"Guys spook you, huh?"
 
"No." She shrugged, seeing Mia staring knowingly at her. "Ok..ok...Maybe, a little."
 
"Why?" Letty continued to question.
 
"NOW, that's the million dollar question." Mia pointed over to her books, saving Taylor from the subject she knew she was uncomfortable with, men. "The test. Hand it over."
 
"I dunno, it's not what I was expecting. I mean...." She flipped open her binder and pulled out the thick set of papers, handing them to Mia.
 
"NO!" She glanced over the the test flipping through the pages. "How?" She glanced up at Taylor. "You realize this is an A, right? This morning you didn't know any of this." Mia tried not to gape but she knew the best she could hope for was a high B.
 
"Inspiration?" Taylor smiled.
 
"Yeah, and I know his name." Mia giggled, shoving the papers back at her.
 
"Who?" Letty smiled, curious.
 
"Vince," Mia supplied. "Isn' t that right, Taylor?"
 
"He's okay." She mirrored the other two's smile, a sigh escaping her without realizing it.
 
"Ouch! That's a bad sign." Letty shook her head, her smile widening.
 
"What?" Taylor asked, confused.
 
"Just don't let Vince hear you making those noises. Make him work for it, girl!"  With the words barely out of her mouth Vince came ambling through the back door.
 
"I hear my name?" He smiled, his eyes going directly to Taylor.
 
Taylor froze, eyes locked with his as the can in her hand slipped to the floor. "Shit!" she hissed, the moment vaporizing as the sticky liquid splashed from the can, pooling on the tile. Vince was moving across to her in a flash but she was distracted with Mia handing her a roll of paper towels.
 
"I got it," he said, dropping to his heels at the same instant as she. There was a dull thud as their heads made hard contact, knocking together in a painful flash. Taylor slapped her palm against her forehead with a loud groan, teetering in her squatting position as she clamped her eyes closed trying to will away
the pain. His hands were on her shoulders steadying her, warm, caressing through the thin T-shirt she wore.
 
"You okay?" he questioned, moving to tilt her face to his as she nodded. She didn't trust herself to say a word.  The pain was gone but it felt like all the oxygen had been pulled from the room.  Her blood rushing through her veins left her feeling shaken.
 
Slowly the laughter of the other two women intruded and Mia was pushing Letty towards the other room. "Come on, help me with the extra room." She said, shifting her eyes to Taylor and Vince.  "V....." She called, trying to get his attention.
 
Vince was distracted with pushing Taylor's hair away from her forehead, running his fingers along the soft strands. His eyes had migrated from her forehead to her full lips as she licked them nervously and it his stomach quivered in response.
 
"V!" Mia shouted, hands on her hips.
 
"Yeah?" He glanced over his shoulder, hands still in Taylor's hair.
 
"Taylor needs a ride to her place to pick up her stuff. You mind taking her?" Mia knew the answer but doing the asking was the fun part.
 
"No," he answered, just like she knew he would, his eyes bright with anticipation. He turned back to Taylor as Mia disappeared through the doorway. He began helping her mop up the spreading spill.

You mind?" he asked, shifting his eyes to her.
 
"Wh....What?"  She stumbled over the word, looking to him and just as quickly dropping her gaze.
 
"Mind if I give you a ride?"  He leaned in closer, inhaling. He smiled liking her smell, all tropical, like she belonged on an Island somewhere. For a moment he let himself imagine her with a scrap of cloth wrapped low on her hips, topless, wandering along the white sand of a beach. A shiver raced down his
spine at the perfection of the mental image he conjured up.
 
"..........Thanks" He managed to catch the last word of what she was saying and from that gathered she was cool with the ride.
 
The screen door behind them suddenly slammed shut.  "Hey," came a soft male greeting. Taylor looked past Vince to the blonde standing just inside the kitchen, eyes slightly narrowed at Vince's back.
 
"Mia's upstairs," he said, voice emotionless, even with no trace of hostility. Taylor noticed the other man looked surprised as he turned to go. "Yo, Brian. Dom's looking for you."
 
"Nah, Dom's found 'em." The deep voice echoed behind them as the screen door slammed again. "Need that shit from Harry's," Dom said following Brian from the room.
 
Leon was the next to storm through the door. "Where's Dom?"

Vince pointed through the doorway to the other room as they finished cleaning up the last few droplets of Coke from the floor.
 
"It's busy around here," Taylor commented, smiling at Vince, slowly relaxing.
 
"Most of the time." He took the paper towels from her hand and tossed them into the trash. "Ready?"
 
Out of the back door, they walked toward a sapphire blue Nissan. Taylor eyed it appreciatively, running a finger along the it's side. "Nice," she sighed, jumping when Vince lightly touched her side just below her ribs.
 
"Hey, sorry." He jerked his hand back and reached for the door for her. Turning into him, her lips nearly ended up against his neck as his arm extended towards the door. That was another surprise to her ... but she didn't flinch, didn't try to back away.
 
"It's not your fault. I have this...this thing.... with my sides and back being touched. Weird, I know, but...." She trailed off, inhaling the male scent of him. A trace of cologne, sweat, and grease. Oddly enough to her it wasn't unpleasant, just the opposite.  It branded her brain with the impression of him.
 
Vince gripped the car's door in a white knuckled hold feeling the warm moist fan of her breath against his neck, his own breathing hitching and then filling his lungs in a rush. His body reacted instinctively, all male, all wanting. "That's good to know," he said, lamely, not able to formulate a better response as his brain turned to liquid goo inside his head.
 
She nodded, turning and sliding into the passenger seat, watching him round the car. Taylor tried to shake off the feel of rolling heat along her skin in stark contrast to the iceberg inside her stomach. What the hell is wrong with me?
 
At the back of the car Vince rolled his eyes, fist clenched tight. What the hell had happened right there? he questioned, feeling the tight pinch of denim against already overly sensitive areas.
 
Easing behind the wheel Vince cut his eyes to her.  She was smiling at him, open and without the shyness he'd seen earlier. With a smoothness he wasn't necessarily feeling at the moment he reached out and grasp her hand, entwining their fingers, pulling her closer to him. "Okay to touch you like this?"
 
The question filled her ears, that slow sizzle starting up along her skin again. She nodded, pulse pounding through her veins so distracting she couldn't think past the warm wrap of fingers around her hand. Then she realized she was close to becoming a mute drooling idiot in the next few seconds and fought to pull herself together. "Yeah. That's good, Vince."  She let his name hang between them for a
moment and then decided she wanted to know about him, the ins and outs. She started off simple enough, saving the more weighty questions for later.
 
"Mia, told me Dom races. Do you?"
 
"Yeah, sometimes. When the car's runnin nines, I can put some hard cash in my pocket." He wanted to see just how his lifestyle effected her but suddenly lost the nerve. I wasn't in him to care what other people thought, not until now.
 
"Sounds exciting. Mind if I tag along sometime?"
 
"Hell, no. Anytime you want, baby." He gently squeezed her hand, not even realizing the endearment that had slipped out.
 
She giggled, hearing the vehemence in his voice. "You sure? I mean, I wouldn't want to force you or anything." She found herself teasing him, relaxing enough to loosen the tight reins she held over herself.
 
He turned his head, smiling. "You force me? Don't see that happenin. Beside, you need a good education in street racin."
 
"Yeah, that would round out my education nicely.  Hummmm....Professor V. It's kinda catchy in a weird way." She shook her head in amusement. Vince laughed at her teasing, wanting to pull over and pull her into his lap, needing more and more to have her body melded against his.
 
More than two blocks from her apartment she looked over and saw the big store front of a local video place, zeroing in on the sign in the window. "V. Could we stop here for a minute. There's something I need to do." She smiled sweetly.
 
"Yeah. No problem," he answered turning into the parking lot and releasing her hand as she shot from the car and into the store. His head fell back against the head rest, trying to slow himself down. He didn't know how much time had passed when she jerked the door open again, excited and obviously pleased with herself. "I did it! I got another job!"
 

Part 3
 

 
Vince followed Taylor up the stairs to the second floor apartment watching the swing of her nicely rounded ass inside tight denim, knowing there was no way he was going get enough of watching that anytime soon. How the hell had Mia managed to have a friend like Taylor and he never had seen her before? He thought he knew almost everything about Dom's sister and that included her friends. But Taylor had appeared from out of nowhere to drive him crazy. All he wanted to do was touch her, run his hands across her back and sides, the idea of the skin there had becoming a quick obsession in the last half hour.
 
At the door to her apartment she glanced over her shoulder to make sure Vince was still there.  He was too quiet. She grinned seeing where his eyes had latched onto. "Enjoying the view?" The urge to tease him was too strong and she couldn't resist.
 
"Yeah."  He lifted his eyes, answering honestly, seriously relieved there was no shy smile or turning away in embarrasment.
 
She pulled in a studdering breath and made herself hold his gaze, wondering how many girls fell over themselves for that look. She slowly turned her attention back to the lock on the door, slipping the key home before she noticed the scrap of paper stuck between the door and the frame. Grabbing it, she clenched it in her hand not bothering to look at it, already having a good idea who it was from and what it said.
 
Vince noticed it and reached around her gently taking her wrist between his fingers and with the other hand pulled the now crumpled paper free.
 
"Vince.....It's....." She began to protest, pushing the door open. "Nothing."
 
He opened the the note and read, eyes cutting back to her. "Who wants to talk to you, Taylor? Sounds pretty fuckin presistant."
 
"Nobody, V. He's someone that just doesn't take NO for an answer." She shrugged, walking into the small cramped space that passed for her home.
 
"He?" Vince growled, jealousy surging to the surface. "He'll take NO for an answer now, goddamn it."
 
"And you're going take care of that, huh?" Smiling, she tried to make light of the situation, drawing his attention as she crossed her arms under her breasts, leaning against the wall beside the hallway.
 
"Goddamn right." He was determined to show her he wouldn't step out of the way for some college dick. He knew she could do better then him but he wouldn't let go of what had sprung up between them, that rush of feeling that happened when he looked at her.  This was more than the physical pull of his body. He knew what that was like with the girls that hung around the races and this wasn't it.
 
There was no time to think, to react, other than fall into the moment as Vince advanced on her. His lips were a breath away from hers, teasing her, making her want to beg for contact. She nearly collapsed in relief as his tongue glided across her lips seeking premission to slip inside and explore the warm wetness of her mouth.
 
Hands splayed against the wall at her sides, pressed tight against her, Vince groaned as she opened her mouth pulling his tongue into her mouth and feeling her suck lightly. He fought the natural urge to move against her with the raw pumping of blood just below the tight jeans he wore, wanting to let his hands slip between her and the wall to grasp a handful of ass, to grind his hard on against her flat stomach.
 
There was a quick moment when his lips slanted just enough for her to force him to retreat bringing herself into his mouth, tongues warring over posession of the shared space. She won, eagerly exploring his mouth to the fullest. With a regret filled moan she slowly disengaged herself from him.
 
"Shit, Taylor," he panted, echoing her breathing. He was reward with her fingers grazing the hair across his jaw.
 
"I like you too, V." She giggled, ducking under his arm and fairly floating down the hall to the back of the apartment.
 
Vince leaned forward, his forehead planted against the wall, trying to find the control he know he had. Come on, V. Fuck. It's not like you haven't had to wait for it before. You did it then and you sure as hell can do it now. Pushing away from the wall he followed her down the hall, stopping in the bedroom door.  A hard kick in the gut followed as he look towards the bed and saw her sprawled across it, black satin sheets below her, reaching for something in the other side. A rush of air pushed from his lungs and filled the quite room before he could stop it as she jerked a blue lacy bra from the nightstand.
 
Rolling to her side, she watched him strung tight like new barb wire. Vince took it as an invitation and came to the bed, sitting slowly on the edge. "We gonna.....I mean, I wanna......"  Suddenly he couldn't find just the right words to express what he wanted, what he thought she wanted. This wasn't like talking to the girls he usually found himself with.  Taylor had class.
 
Sitting up on the bed, legs crossed, she leaned into him. "I can't. Not here. I just wanna get outta this place."

His hand was on the back of her neck pulling her even closer for another round of kissing, pulling at one anothers lips until they couldn't breath. Parting, he searched her eyes and found the same eruption of heat echoed in him. His hand went to her lap and took the bra from her. The lace lay lightly between his fingers as he imagined the material warm from her body, smelling like her.  He was embarassing her but couldn't bring himself to care at the moment as he continued to inspect the pattern of the lace with his fingers.

"Bet this looks damn good on you," he finally broke the silence by saying, inwardly vowing to win as many races as it took to keep her in things like that, lace, satin, things that just seemed like her.
 
She shrugged, her attention pinned on more interesting things, namely the art on his bicep and shoulder. With her index fingers she slowly began to trace the designs fasinated by the beauty crossing his skin. "Jesus,"  she exhauled, low and long.
 
He tried not to be offended, tried not to let her disgust at his tattoos get to him, but it did and anger followed. "Look, I know they're not what your used to but they're there and I wouldn't get rid of them even if I could."
 
She laughed, laying her head on his shoulder.  "V! You don't get it. I think they're incredible." She paused. " I like. I like VERY much."
 
 
*******************
 
Dinner was an important affair in the Toretto house, Taylor learned, with Dom presiding over the assembled team. Mia had laughed and quietly explained how Jesse never learned, always the first to help himself, the first being the one that Dom required to say grace. Letty shook her head as Jesse finished grace and Vince was the one to relate that Jesse always gave thanks according to which part of the car had given him the least trouble that day. Taylor was amazed at how easily she fit in, felt like she really belonged.  Not even Dom's deep voice made her want to jump out of her own skin anymore. The only thing that still made her uneasy under the Toretto roof was Vince. She was growing attached, very
attached.
 
The dinner dishes had been done and Taylor stepped out into the back steps, sitting down, staring at the darkening sky. The screen door behind her clapped shut and there was a warmth sliding in behind her, fingers running through her hair. Instinctively she knew it was Vince, even before twisted her neck to see
him . She leaned into the hard wall of his chest, feeling his eyes linger on her.
 
"We're gonna watch a movie. You comin?" he asked finally, standing and offering a hand. Taking it, she stood just as Mia and Brian came through the door, laughing, hand in hand.  Mia's attention went from Brian to Taylor.
 
"Be good." Mia winked at her, jabbing Brian in the ribs as he snickered.
 
Taylor shook her head, laying a mock glare on Mia. "You know I'm good at everything I do." Her reply struck with the double meaning she intended and Mia's mouth dropped open.
 
"Taylor!"
 
"What?" She laughed along with Vince at the look of shock on Mia's face.
 
"You're rubbing off on her, Vince. I'm gonna tell Dom your corrupting her." Mia pointed a teasing finger at him, trying hard not to laugh herself.
 
"Yeah? I think he's already figured that out." Vince pulled her back into the house with him, leaving Brian and Mia to themselves.
 
They took up one of the chairs across from the TV, Taylor sitting across Vince's lap, legs thrown over the arm of the chair. As the movie scenes drew across the screen she began to feel a quickly growing hardness below her, an evil little grin on her face she wiggle in his lap and was reward with a disgruntled
hiss. His hand clamped on her thigh trying to keep her still as she tried to wiggle again. "Damn it, Taylor. Stop," he practically growled, finally deciding to lauch his own attack. His hand slipped under the hem of her cotton shirt, moving upwards. She tried to inconspicuously shove it away but it was impossible.
 
"V!" she hissed as he ran his thumb against the underside of her breast, sliding under the lace he liked so much to touch bare skin.
 
Without his hand on her thigh she began to squirm in his lap again. He, in turn, rolled her tight puckered nipple between his fingers. Their little war soon drew unwanted attention.  Dom and Letty were both staring at them like they had lost their minds.
 
"Cut that shit out," Dom barked, a ghost of a smile on his lips. That seemed to prove more interesting at the moment instead of the movie and Leon and Jesse turned from where they sat on the floor.
 
"Dawg!" Leon lent his voice, slightly more encouraging then Dom had been.
 
Taylor could feel her face burning in the shadowed room and Letty's laughter wasn't helping. She dropped her head to Vince shoulder and tried to block out everything but the movie. Below her she could still feel him hard and that seemed to be the only thing she could think about, what she began to fantasize about.
Sometime before the end of the movie she fell asleep against him, the steady rhythm of Vince's heartbeat lulling her there.  She woke later to him caressing the column of her neck.
 
"I'm going back to my place. Walk outside with me," he said, noticing her eyes open. A sleepy yawn and she sat up, finding the hardness below her hadn't abated at all. "Yeah, of course."  It was then she became aware the the wet sound of skin against skin in the room. She looked around Vince and saw Dom and Letty stuck together on the couch, their kissing so intense it looked like they were about to
devoure one another. Her eyebrows rose as she cut her eyes back to Vince. "Was he the one that told us to stop?" She whispered.
 
Outside Vince dropped his arms around her waist, leaning against his car. " I wanna take you out. Go to a resturant, maybe a movie. Just the two of us," he mumbled against her lips just before his tongue was seeking entrance to her mouth. The kiss lingered on and on until she thought it might be morning before
it ended, the thought of it ending at all bringing a surge of regret.
 
"When?" she asked, leaning back in his arms, finding a depth of feeling in his eyes that took her breath away.
 
"Tomorrow."
 

Part 4
 

It had taken him several days to track her down, endless hours of watching the college parking lot after realizing she'd abandon her apartment. The apartment his money payed for most months and now she was throwing it in his face, going to Toretto for help. Lance glared at the building across the street, knowing Taylor was inside. She refused to talk to him even after everything he'd done for her. He'd tried to talk Johnny's father out of firing her. He had lied to his uncle for her. He rubbed absently at the recently healed gash along his stomach, a reminder of what was his, a reminder of what she'd left him with. She would have to admit it soon, one way or another. He roared away down the street before someone from Toretto's team recognized the bike.
 
Inside the store Taylor had taken her turn behind the counter, trying in some small way to do her part around the Toretto household. The thick diary like book she took everywhere lay open on the counter, her hand creating intricate designs with the pencil in her hand, smiling to herself as paused looking at her handy work. She glanced up when Mia came through the door.
 
"You have any trouble?" Mia questioned, coming around the counter. Trying to get a look at the book that held so much of Taylor's attention, but the other girl snapped it shut.
 
"None." There was a dreamy smile on her lips that Mia had come to recognize lately.
 
"Vince came by, huh?" She tilted her head, leaning against the opposite side of the counter.
 
"Yeah, for lunch." her smile grew, lighting her whole face.
 
"Let me guess, he wanted tuna." He tried to cover her amused smile, waiting for Taylor to answer her.
 
"Yeah. How'd you know?" Confussion replaced the smile with a frown and Mia began laughing attempting to explain how she and Brian had hooked up. Soon Taylor was laughing too gripping her sides.
 
"No! Your not serious!" Taylor gasp, watching Mia nod her head wildly.
 
"On a stack." She replied seconds later, wipping at the tears the hung at the corner of her eyes.
 
The laughter finally died away and Taylor picked up her book and turned back to Mia. "I'm gonna go. I have to be at work at six." Moving around the counter she remember there was soemthing out she wanted to say to Mia. "Please tell Dom I'm sorry about dinner."
 
Mia waved her comment away. "He understands. A commitment is a commitment with him. He respects that." She smiled reassuringly at her. "Hey, I almost forgot can you run these by the garage?" Mia tossed a folder onto the counter in front of Taylor.
 
"Sure." She shrugged, feeling a bit queasy at the prospect of actually having to go to the garage. Picking up the folder she thumbed through the contents, purchase orders, parts she'd never heard of let alone seen. She turned again, intent on her errand.
 
"Hey!" Mia shouted, arms crossed, eyes narrowed. "You forgetting something?"
 
Taylor shook her head. "Don't think so."
 
"SO, you not going to tell me about that date with V?"
 
"How'd you.........." She began but Mia cut her off.
 
"Accourding to Dom that's all V's been talking about for days." She began to giggle again.
 
"Hmmm....." Taylor began, secretly thrilled Vince had been talking about her, that she had been on his mind that much. "We went to a nice little Italian place of dinner, candles, music, wine." She sighed remembering the night like she was there again. "Then we went to a movie and didn't watch any of it. Drove up to the hills and....." She trailed off.
 
"You did it in the car?" Mia's eyes widened.
 
"No!" Taylor shook her head, walking out of the store.
 
 
************
 
Taylor pulled up to the garage in Mia's car, feeling like the speed machine was apart of her, never having payed much attention to what she drove before but the car demanded respect, admiration. Stepping out she moved to the wide opening of the garage and saw Dom coming from the back.
 
"Hey!" She smiled, getting Dom's attention.
 
"Hey, yourself." He returned her smile, leaning into the engine compartment of the Mazda he was working on. "Ummmmm. Mia asked me to bring these over to you." She extended her hand with the folder clutched in it, not realizing it was a little to thick to simply be the folder . Dom motioned her into the garage, not looking up from the work that took his attention. She held her breath taking a step forward and coming to a dead stop seeing the seam that seperate the two distinct parts of the cement below her, drive from garage. Like some sort of barrier, she wouldn't cross into the garage.
 
It took Dom a few minutes to realize she was still standing outside the bay, just starring at him. "I don't bite, Taylor." He frowned, thinking it was another bout of her shyness.
 
"I know." She said, looking everywhere but at him.
 
"Then get your ass in here and bring me the folder." he barked, loosing patience with her.
 
"Can't." She sighed.
 
"Why the hell not? You ever been in a garage before?" He asked turning to lean on the car, not about to move to take the folder from her.
 
"Yeah. I've been in a garage before." She managed to get out without chocking on the words. " My daddy owned a place in Ouachita Parish, Louisiana. Little place, didn't make nothin..." She let the slow southern drawl, edged with a bit of French Acadian, settle into her voice. "I'll tell ya this, Dom. There's exactly three things I remember about that place. Hank Williams on the radio, a '57 Chrysler, and the wicked end of fan belt. Think those three things are enough, homme?" She crouched down laying the folder on the ground at her feet and walking away, tires on pavement was the only thing heard as Taylor left.
 
************
 
Dom couldn't seem to shake what Taylor had said, something was wrong there, he felt it. The fan belt comment alone was enough to make him inwardly cringe, knowing the pain it could inflict. Was she really hit with something like that? He kept turning the question over in his mind he figured she probably had been, wasn't much reason to lie about that. He walked over and picked up the folder, dropping the book below it back to the ground. He look at it for a sec and scooped it up. Vince and Leon pulled into the drive and he glanced up from the book.
 
"That Taylor?" Vince asked, walking up to Dom, rubbing at the back of his neck trying to appear like it didn't matter.
 
"Yeah." Dom shoved the book at him. "Give that back to her. She left it." He said, stalking back into the garage.
 
Vince looked at the girly cover of the book, pink and purple swirls fancy curling intials in the bottom corner. It smelled like Taylor, the same tropical scent that made him think of white sand and salt water. He followed Dom and Leon inside, vaguely aware of them talking about the Mazda Dom was working on. He moved around the two towards the office.
 
"Vince." Dom called. Leaving Leon to look over the car's engine and turning he attention to the other man. "How much you know about Taylor?"
 
Vince shrugged. "What'd ya mean?"
 
"I know almost every minute of Letty's life since she was sixteen, Vince. What'd you know about Taylor's life? Where she grew up? What her life was like? Looks like your getting pretty fuckin serious. Don't ya think it's time you get to know her, man?" Dom clapped Vince on the shoulder. He stood there wondering why he hadn't thought of that himself. He had the sudden urge to call her, getting pissed that he didn't even know where she was. He made a mental not to get her a cell phone.
 
Dom could see he'd given Vince a lot to think about and turned to finish the work on the Mazda.
 
"Thanks, brother." Vince called to his retreating back, seeing the other man lift his hand in acknowledgement.
 
Inside the office he lay Taylor's book on the desk, picked up the phone and dialed Dom's number, hoping she'd be there. The phone rang over and over on the other end and he finally he just gave up, sitting at the desk scratching at his bearded jaw and starring at the book near his arm. He almost managed to leave it closed but the temptation to see what was inside was to big. Opening it he flipped through poem after poem, sketches, stuff he just glanced at until he came to the page with a big V at the top. His jaw went slack as he carefully took in what was there. More poems all right but, they surrounded maticulious sketches of his tattoos. He read each word of the poems.
 
There's another skin inside my skin
that gathers to your touch, a lake to the light;
that looses its memory, its lost language
into your tongue,
erasing me into newness.
 
He rubbed his hand absesntly over the his bicep, where the tattoos took up skin,  his chest feeling tight at the rush of feeling, and  he continued to read.
 
I feel the breath
Of desire
Sudden interruption
From the rain on the sill
The sign is on the wall
But he's reading me instead
I don't know what I say
But I know I am sighing
 
"Anything interesting in there?" The voice whispered into his ear from behind him. He nearly broke his neck whipping it around to find Letty grinning at him, knowing she had caught him at something. He shrugged, trying to close the book when Letty's hand slammed down on it. Shoving his hand away and shaking her head at what was on the page she then flipped to the next one to see a sketch of her and Dom kissing. Her hands framing Dom's head, mouths slanted against one another.
 
"Girl's pretty good." Letty starred appriciatively of the dipiction of her and Dom, slowly her attention focused back on Vince. "She's got you right here." She extended her pinky, teasing and then she grew serious. "She's good for you, V."
 
"Just hope I can hang onto her." He stood book in hand, leaving the office, leaving the garage. Knowing Mia would know where Taylor was.
 
Sitting in his car outside the store Vince realized Taylor would probably notice the page from the book missing but that didn't stop him from tearing it carefully from the book, folding it, and tucking it into the pocket of his jeans, keeping part of her with him all the time.

Part 5
 

 
Taylor watched the only customers she's had in the last half hour amble out of the store clutching a stack of slasher fics, freshmen she guessed, trying to avoid studying. Looking at the clock she sighed, only 8, another 4 hours until closing. Gathering an armful of videos she headed for the new release aisle at the back of the store. Replacing the videos she didn't pay much attention when the chime of the door sounded. Finally done she turned back up the isle and to the counter. Then she remembered the customer that had come in. Leaning against the counter up on her tip toes she tried to see where they might be. Across the store she saw the top of a dark head belonging to someone tall, male.
 
She shrugged turning to her back pack on the floor and fishing around inside it. "Shit!" A low hiss came from her as her fingers didn't find the familiar textured cover of her book, opening the back pack enough to see inside she realized the pink and purple book was definitely missing. Twisting the leather with her fist in frustration she tossed it to the floor, giving it a hard kick for good measure. She sighed looking back to the floor of the store and then searching for the customer again. He hadn't moved, still standing in the action/adventure section. She pasted a helpful smile on her face and rounded the counter strolling down the rows of videos she came to a corner of the aisle where he should of been but it was empty. She shrugged and turned retracing her steps to the aisle behind her, she caught a movement, a blur rounding the corner opposite her. Goose bumps suddenly rose on her skin and she glanced around suddenly realizing just how alone she was. Her feet began caring her backwards towards the desk, keeping her eyes on the rows of video around her, eyes scanning in quick sweeps.
 
"Oh shit!" She tried to take in the whole store at once, her eyes darting around her, looking for the phantom customer. She backed along the main aisle towards the counter, wanting only to get to the phone beside the register. Her heart pumped blood in a roar through her viens, echoing in her ears, images of Lance filling her mind. That was a moment in her life she wouldn't let be repeated no matter what she had to do.
 
Just as she was turning to sprint the rest of they way towards the register she made contact with a wall of flesh and bone, hard muscle. Yelping in terror Taylor stumbled backwards just has hands landed on her hips, pulling her forward.
 
"Easy, baby." Can the familiar voice as she collapsed against the chest in front of her. Gasping she slowly pulled away slapping at Vince's shoulder. "You scared the hell outta me, V!"
 
"Good. Teach you to pay more attention when your here by yourself." He told her, pushing his face near hers, pulling her lips against his to slip his tongue inside.
 
"Ummm...." She moaned against his lips, trying to push more fully against him, feeling like she couldn't get close enough. Then a thought accured to her regretfully she pulled away. "I thought you were racin tonight."
 
"Early night." He supplied, pulling her back to him, trying to forget he'd made excuses to the team, had made them to Dom. He knew Dom was pissed, knew he'd give him all kinds of shit tomorrow but he had tonight with Taylor and he wasn't gonna ruin it thinking about the others.
 
"Win anything?" She smiled, wiggling against him.
 
"Nah." He lowered her mouth to her neck, biting and sucking until there was a circle of purple that would be there for the next couple of days. "But got ya something." He said, fishing the pink and purple swirl from the front pocket of his jeans. A cell phone.
 
"What this for?" She smiled up at him, taking it from his hand. "V, I can't."
 
"Yeah. You can." He grinned as she tilted her head giving him better access to her neck. "Sometime I wanna pick up the phone and just hear your voice, Taylor. With this..." he wrapped his hand around hers holding the phone. "I can hear it whenever I want."
 
She turned her head and molding her lips to his, kissing until neither could remember where they were. The buzz from the front door of the store brought them back to the present. With a groan of disappointment she pulled away, the sentiment echoed in Vince.
 
"I gotta look busy..." She leaned in and gave him a parting lick across his lips. "Get a video and bring it up to the counter. I'll get rid of them as quick as I can."
 
Turning she watched the giggling group of girls passing around videos, one shouting for Vin Diesel, another sighing over Hugh Jackman. Taylor shook her head and walked back to the counter, cutting her eyes to a smiling Vince.
 
Half an hour later the group shuffled out of the store and Taylor sank to the floor behind the register where Vince sat. "Thought they would never leave." He grinned, pulling her across his lap. Reaching over his head she drug the phone down the them and order a pizza from the place two doors down.
 
"Get a video?" He asked, whispering into his ear, taking her turn at sucking the warm saltiness of his neck.
 
"Yeah." he mumble, turning her so that she straddled his hips.
 
"Hand it over then." She lifted her head, teasing, with a slow roll of her hips.
 
"Goddamn!" he hissed, clasping her hips between his hands. "Keep it up and it's gonna be right here, right now."
 
"Threats." She laughed, rolling her eyes and taking the video he handed her. Popping the video into the VCR she stilled against him eyes going to the TV mounted above the counter.  The soft loud moans accompanied the sight of a blonde spread across a desk and well muscled man positioned between her thighs pumping into her came through the screen at her.
 
"VINCE!" Her jaw dropped. "Did I forget to say get something not so adult?"
 
"Didn't mention that part, baby." He smiled, trying to keep her hands from the VCR, laughing along with her.
 
"Stop! If someone comes in I'm screwed!" She gasp trying to put a stop to the playful wrestling match.
 
"Take the chance." He challenged. "Get fired again and I'll take care of you."
 
Taylor instantly sobered. "Don't say that, V! Just don't."
 
"What? That I'll take care of you."
 
"Yes. That." She shook her head, pushing off his lap. "I don't need you taking care of me, Vince. Don't need you resenting me down the road cause I became this...this..."
 
"Hey, that ain't gonna happen. I wanna finish putting you through school. Can't think of anything better to do with the money." He reached for her, only to have his hand slapped away.
 
"I don't need someone to tell me how to live my life, V. I don't wanna be in love with you and feel like I owe you. That's a fucked up way to start a relationship." She jerked the video out of the VCR.
 
"You want me to say your on your own? That you ain't getting a fuckin dime from me? What do you want, Taylor?" He rested his elbows on his knees, hands shoved into his hair. "I don't understand what the hells goin on with you. All I wanna so is make it easier on you and you throw it back in my face." He shoved away from the counter, standing.
 
"Vince......" She whispered, feeling tears at the corner of her eyes. Knowing she shouldn't judge everyone, every man by the same standards, the same messed up memories that were never far from the surface. "I'm sorry. I didn't mean to....Can we just.....just talk about it." She practically begged.
 
"What's there to talk about? I think I got the message." He leaned against the counter, knowing he should just leave but finding it harder than he thought to do it.
 
"V...." She grabbed his hand, tugging him back down beside her. "Say it again."
 
With a frustrated sigh he pinned to the counter, his face so close she could feel his warm breath against her cheek. "I wanna take care of you, Taylor."
 
She nodded her head smiling, pulling him even closer. "I don't wanna leave Mia and Dom's. I keep my job. You teach me about street racin. Oh, and get more videos like this." She smiled, bitting nervously into her lower lip.
 
"Think I can manage that." It was hard to admit to even himself but he had been afraid he'd lost her, pushed to fast, to far.
 
"I bet you can," she shook her head, reaching into the return bin and began pulling at the videos inside. "So, we can either watch.......Hummm......The Little Mermaid......" Taylor burst into laughter at the horrified look on Vince's face."Or, we could watch Die Hard?"
 
"You have to ask?" He growled, snatching the movie from her hand and shoving it into the VCR. In less than 10 minutes the pizza was delivered and they sat with the box between them, pulling apart the pieces. Paying attention to Vince eating Taylor strung hot cheese down her chin. A sharp gasp shot from her mouth and Vince's fingers were there before she had time to even drop the slice back to the box.
 
"Careful, baby." He leaned across to her gently working his lips against hers, tasting the tang of the pizza sauce.
 
"Taylor?" The deep nasal voice rang out through the store.
 
"Shit!" Taylor hissed, shoving away from Vince wondering how her boss had come into the store without her hearing him. Then she remembered the office door had a broken lock that he mentioned he was coming by to replace.
 
"Yeah?" She shot to her feet, eyes colliding with the middle aged man that owened the store.
 
"What were you........" He asked as she held up a tape she'd quickly snagged from below the counter.
 
"Dropped a tape?" She smiled sweetly.
 
"Oh." He glanced around the store. And below the counter Vince had decided to turn up the heat a notch. His hands slowly slid up Taylor's thigh, moving higher and higher.
 
"Done much business tonight?" Leaning on the counter near the register he waited for her to answer, noting the flushed tint of her skin.
 
"Yeah. About average." She replied, her voice a bit breathless as Vince made contact with the with the more sensitive areas between her legs.
 
"Are you ok, Miss. Boudreau?" Concern filling his eyes.
 
Below her Vince's hand stilled, realizing he'd never heard her last name before. He let it roll around inside his head for a moment, deciding he liked it.
 
"Just fine. Thank you, for asking." Her smiled remained pasted in place.
 
She clenched her eyes closed and bit into her lips as Vince's hand went back to teasing her, rubbing roughly at her juncture of her thighs.
 
"You know, I don't think it would hurt to lock up half an hour early."He said, starring curiously at her, thinking she might pass out any minute.
 
"Sure. I....Ummmm....I'll lock up and go home." Her eyes went wide, hands curled into fists on the counter top.
 
"I'll stay and help if you......." He began, not at all sure he should leave the young woman alone.
 
"NO!" She practically yelled."I can manage just fine."
 
He nodded is head and turned heading for the back of the store. "Call early tomorrow if your sick." He called over his shoulder.
 
"Urrrr!" She turned on Vince once she know they were alone again."Don't EVER do that again!"
 
"Ok." He pulled his hand away, testing her resolve, shoving to his feet.
 
"What I mean is, not while my boss is around." Her conspiratorial smile made his heart speed up, and he moved close to her leaning on the counter, meeting her eyes as she glanced around them. "And I don't see my boss."
 
"What'd ya have in mind?"
 
She shrugged, glancing over her shoulder as she stepped away from him, moving out into the aisle. "Could start by turning off the lights." Her finger pointed the way to the light switched near the office.
 
Taylor turned the key in the lock of the front door when all but the back lights of the store went out, the dim light filling her with a sense peace, of calm. Moving to the floor to ceiling windows she began lowering the blinds when she felt it, slight at first and them more insistent. Vince was behind her, his breath warm across her neck a fraction of an inch from skin touching skin.
 
"I been thinking about this all night." He peppered the back of her neck with light kisses, tongue slipping out to run across the vertebrae just below the skin. When she would have turned he pushed her roughly against the glass, her hands splayed across the cool surface.
 
"Yeah? This is why you came to see me?" She tilted her head to the side, feeling the wet trail along her neck to her ear.
 
"No. I missed ya. Started thinking about this after that first kiss." He breathed against her ear. His arms wrapping around, careful not to actually lay a hand on her back, caressing fingers moving upwards to the lace of her bra. Pushing the delicate material up and over her high tits. His hands kneaded the firm globe, rolling the stiff peak of her nipples between his fingers. He groaned pressing his face into her neck, his hips grinding slowly against the firm denim encased ass.
 
"Vince?"
 
"Yeah?"
 
"I love this." She whispered, drawing out each word.
 
The hand that rested against her waisted began a quick migration south, his fingers popped open the button to her jeans without the slightest bit of trouble. His hand slipped past the elastic band of her satin panties, and lower to the downy curls that were damp with her response to him. Parting her feminine lips he slipped first one finger and then another inside her tight tunnel.
 
Outside, fat drops of rain began splattering against the window, chilling the air, turning the night into a silvery kaleidoscope of shapes through the panes of glass. Taylor's pants of excitement filled the silent store, creating an opaque condensation where her mouth neared the glass.
 
The slick tightness the closed around his fingers with each thrust into her had Vince slamming his aching groin against her in tandom with the rhythm of his fingers. He buryed his fingers as deep as possible as she arched against the glass slamming her ass hard against him, tightening, rippling around his digits.
 
"Vince!" She whimpered, as her orgasm tore through her. Dropping her hand from the glass she slid it inside her jeans covering his hand, pinning it in place.
 
*************
 
He sat watching the erotic shadows yards away, eyes narrowing to small slits. Lance's hands clentched the wheel in front of him until the blood drained from his knuckles. As the two figures moved away from the window he cut his eyes to the only other car in the parking lot, one of Toretto's team, Vince. Twisting the key in the ignition the car purred to life and the headlights flipped from the front. For a moment the two forms were illuminated inside the store and he saw Taylor perfectly. That was the first time he had wanted, needed revenge instead of her willing body.

Part 6:

**********

On the front porch of the Toretto house Vince and
Taylor stood, kissing, breaking apart for seconds at a
time to whisper erotic things to spur the other on. It
was becoming an odd sort of contest between them, who
could make the other moan with just a word. Taylor won
the latest round with the mention of fellatio, what
she wanted to do with her tongue, how she thought he
would taste. Vince leaned into her using his weight to
back her against the front door, shaking with the need
to get inside her one way or another.

"Your room?" he whispered as his tongue darted out to
lick at the corner of her lips.

"Ummm.....Yeah....I just....Yeah..." she replied,
trying to curtail her nervous tongue, thinking of the
questions that would come fast and hard once there,
the explaining she would have to do.

Vince pulled away a few inches and starred down at
her. "Hey, if you're not ready...If you don't
want...."

"NO! I do...I just....It's been a long time....And I'm
afraid I'm not what your...."

"Shut up!" he growled just before his lips settled
over hers again. Reaching behind her back, he turned
the knob and grabbed her, palming the cheek of her
ass, to keep her from falling inside.

Across the room Dom looked up from where he was
perched on the arm of the recliner, Letty laughing
beside him, his smile fading.

"Vince!" he barked, eyes narrowing.

Lifting his head from hers, Vince turned his attention
to Dom. "Yeah, man?" His smile was a bit lopsided as
he wrapped his arms more securely around her waist,
pulling her tightly against his hard chest. She
glanced at Dom and smiled, seeing the hint of one
returned.

"What the hell did you blow me off tonight for?" Dom
asked, now shouting above the roar of MTV that Jesse
insisted on turning up several times.

Vince shrugged, not really having a good answer to the
question. He cut his eyes back to Taylor and smiled,
hoping she would understand as well as Dom that he
needed to be with her that night and not out with the
team.

"Sorry, Dom, I think I'm a bad influence." She turned
another, more apologetic smile on the man.

Letty laughed beside Dom. "You makin' him work for
it?" she shouted, referring to her earlier advice.

"Always," Taylor laughed.

Dom ran a hand over his smooth head, trying to keep
his own laughter inside. "Just don't make it a fuckin
habit."

"Sorry, brother. It won't be." Then Vince realized
what he'd said and what position that put him in as
Taylor leaned away, brows drawn together over her
sparking eyes. "That so?"

"Damn!" he spat, knowing he'd fallen on a double edged
sword.

"Give it up, Vince, there's no way of getting outta
that one." Dom gave in and laughed at the situation V
now found himself in.

"Yeah, and he would know." Letty elbowed Dom in the
ribs.

"Come on....." Taylor shook her head, amused to the
point of forgiveness at the look in Vinces's face. He
looked for a split second like a lost little boy. She
turned about to mount the stairs but Dom's voice
stopped her.

"Taylor, come 'ere," he called, waving her over. She
glanced over her shoulder at Vince and then stepped
away from the stairs with Vince following.

"Yeah, Dom."

He leaned forward on the arm of the chair, pinning her
to the spot with the serious glint in his eyes. "I
wanna ask you something."

"Go ahead." She wondered what could have him so
serious so quickly.

"You got someone keeping an eye on you, you know
that?"

"N...No.." she stammered, her eyes going wide.

"Johnny Tran gave me a little warning tonight. Says
you're trouble and I should dump your ass on the
nearest street corner. Got any idea why he'd say
that?" Dom questioned, his eyes watching every change
in her features, the panicked look in her eyes.

"I got a pretty good idea........" She cut her eyes to
the kitchen doorway as Mia appeared. The other woman
stopped in her tracks hearing her brother's question,
her mouth forming a perfect O.

"Dom.....Damn, it's my fault...I told her not to...."
Mia rushed forward sloshing the iced tea in her hand
as she moved.

"No, Mia, it's okay." Taylor smiled, reassuringly at
her friend, then began to address Dom, trying to
explain. "Mia did tell me maybe we should hold off
telling you but then I could have always said
something to you before now. Truth is, I was kinda
afraid how you would react." Sighing, she glanced once
more at Vince before forging ahead. "I used to work
for the Trans. They fired me for something that wasn't
my fault. Well, Johnny thought it was my fault and
convinced his father of it too."

"What'd you do?" Dom prompted, cutting his eyes
between Mia and Taylor.

"I......" she began but Mia cut her off.

"I'll explain it later, Dom," Mia told him, glaring at
him.

"Taylor can tell...."

"No, Dom. We'll talk about it later," she practially
yelled at him just as Jesse turned and issued a loud
shhhh to the room.

"Fine," he growled, frustrated that he would have to
wait for answers. What he hadn't told them was the
threats that Tran had made. Most of which didn't make
any sense to him but he'd bet the take from his next
race that Taylor would know exactly what they meant.
 

 
 
TBC