The Quarter Mile (Fast and Furious)

.13.

Before I could execute my plan, I knew I needed to call in back up. Mia called Letty from her cell as we headed back into town. I made sure Letty was alone before explaining everything, even what I discovered about Brian.
"You expect me to not tell Dom about this?!"
"Yes, Letty. Just not yet."
"Why not?" She fired back, heated, over everything I poured out to her.
"Because I haven't decided if I want Dom to kill him yet." I witted back into the phone before rolling my eyes.
"Well I vote he hangs." Letty snapped back on the other end of the line, "I'm with her."
Mia chimed in while pointing at the phone.
"Yeah, well he'll fry soon enough. I just want to talk him first."
That was a lie. I didn't want to see him again in my life but I had to make up something to keep Letty quiet. Truth was, I know what it's like to play two sides. I was thankful Mia didn't reject me when I was honest to her so I figured Brian deserved a fighting chance. I didn't know how I'd go about confronting him but that wasn't my biggest concern right now.
I became instinctively anxious as Mia pulled up to her and Doms place. I didn't want to face Dominic. Mia and Letty both tried to persuade me that he was fine but I knew better. Letty filled me in on her conversation, to which I was grateful for.
I waited upstairs with Mia as Letty made the reluctant call to Dom. She didn't tell him she found me only that he should come home and rest. After a bit of arguing, he agreed to take a break. I wanted to keep it a secret because I didn't want Brian and everyone else knowing quite yet.
Mia and I looked at each other as the front door of the house slammed shut. Mia nodded towards the door of her room and I immediately exhaled. As we came down the steps time froze. Mia went first as I followed closely behind. As Doms gaze landed on me I felt my whole body tense. For the first time I couldn't read what he was feeling or thinking. After a few moments of tension he spoke,
"Kitchen, now." A wave of I knew it, rushed over at me as I glanced over at Letty and Mia before going into the kitchen with Dom.
"Where did you go?" He asked while hovering over the empty sink.
"A motel. East of here."
"You know better than to run off without someone knowing where you're going."
I was instantly over his condescending tone. I stood dumbfounded for a few moments before rolling my eyes, "If all this is going to be, is a lecture, then I don't have time for it." I scoffed lightly as sudden wave of irritation began to swell in side, "Funny to think I actually believe you'd change. Instead of being a selfish bastard all the time. I came here to talk Dom but all you do is cast judgements. Your not God!"
I turned around to leave but was stopped as Dom grabbed a hold of my forearm and jerked me away from the door and towards the other side of the kitchen.
"I'm selfish!"
"Yes! You always have been. Your pride rules you Dom and your completely blind to it."
"Your the one that took off. I never told you to leave!"
"I left because you made me feel like a tramp, Dom! Now I got Letty and Mia telling me shit about how you care and are ready to apologize!"
His eyes widened at the mention of Letty and Mia.
"It's fucking bullshit! You never apologize for anything because you think you're perfect. I'm sorry that I'm not." Instead of leaving I turned away from him and leaned over the counter top. With my face in my hands I resisted the urge to break down and cry right there.
"I do care." Was his response after a few moments of silence. He said it in a calmer voice but I was too fired up to give a shit. I rolled my eyes and shook my head, purposely, avoiding eye contact with him. He placed his hands on the counter next to me, waiting for my response.
"No you don't Dom." I slowly turned to walk away but he blocked me. Placing his arm out in front of me he slowly moved in front of me forcing me backwards into the counter top.
"Why do you think I had the whole team looking?"
"Because Letty talked you into doing!" I snapped back as he hovered over my face with his own.
"I didn't want you to leave Charlie."
"Then why push me huh." I shoved him in chest, "Why make me feel like shit!"
"Because I didn't want you leave!" He held both arms out wide before gesturing towards me, "I wanted to protect you!" He gripped ahold of my shoulders before shaking me lightly, "I've always protected everyone on this team! To prevent anyone from getting hurt, especially you."
"Well it's too late for that!" I snapped back as I forced myself away from the counter, moving past him but he wasn't letting me go. He quickened his pace and moved in front of me once more.
"What the hell does that mean?"
"It doesn't matter." I mumbled while shaking my head, "Don't give me that shit. You want to why I let you go because you were already on your way out with Spilner."
I bit the inside of my mouth furiously at his mention of Brian, "Nice of you to assume that I'd just up and leave everyone like that."
"What else I was supposed to think?"
"Maybe that it wouldn't work out, huh, that maybe if I tried; I'd learn my lesson." I kept my sentence short in order to hide the shaking in my voice. His eyes scanned over me analytically.
"What he do to you?"
"Nothing. It's just not going to work out." I glanced away momentarily resisting the temptation to spill everything to Dom but I couldn't.
"Does he know?"
My eyes shot up to meet his gaze,
"No. No he doesn't." I softly replied.
"You need to tell him then."
"And what the fuck would that do?" I spat back quickly.
"If you care about him then be honest with him."
"I don't care about him. That's just the thing."
"Why I asked what he did too you."
"And I said nothing. I'm not interested in discussing why Dom. I don't want fight with you."
"I don't either but it seems to be all that happens anymore."
"I was fine until you made me feel like an outcast." A tear slipped down my cheek and I could feel lip beginning to quiver as Dom took a few steps closer to me.
He exhaled and tucked a strand of hair back behind my ear, "I'm sorry Charlie."
I looked up at him skeptically not wanting to believe a word he said but my instincts told me otherwise.
"Would y'all just shut it and make up already?"
Letty's impatient voice suddenly came from the doorway of the kitchen where she stood, her arms crossed over her chest.
"I tried but she won't forgive me." I immediately punched Dom in the chest which made him laugh. He wrapped his arms around me entrapping me in a bear hug from behind
"I don't want to forgive him he's a jerk!" I pouted while crossing my arms.
He smiled and gave me a kiss on the cheek and I tried to hide the small smile that emerged on my lips. Letty gave a smile as she came over to the both of us with Mia close behind.
Letty punched in the shoulder before wrapping her arm around my shoulders, "Treat like shit again and your getting you're getting your ass beat." I laughed instantly.
"Yeah." Mia affirmed with a nod. Dom raised his hands in defense,
"Alright, I got it. I got it. Point made."
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I stayed with Mia and Dom that night instead of going home. Before I went to bed Dom tried asking me again about why I changed my mind about Brian.
"It's hard to explain and it's just what I want. I never really wanted it to begin with."
"Yeah, you did. I saw the way he looked at you."
I half rolled my eyes at his statement, "It doesn't matter about how he looked at me or what people thought and assumed was there. I don't do relationships. I just got in over my head."
He didn't say anything else,
"Why aren't you happy it's what you wanted."
He gave a light chuckle before stroking my face with the back of his hand,
"I want whatever makes you happy. Genuinely happy. I want you to be taken care of if something were to ever happen to me."
"Good thing it's not then." I forced a smile on my lips. First he hated Brian and now supports him. I've got to find a way to tell him the truth before things get out of hand.
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