7th December- Los Angeles, United States
Toretto garage
Dom's POV
It was later in the week when Maria suddenly showed up at the garage during the day. I frowned and shared a look with Vince as my dad rushed to her side. Something was going on that much was clear. Vince had made the suggestion that they might be involved and to be honest that freaked me out. I thought of Letty as a sister but I didn't want her as an actual sister.
"Maria, what are you doing here?" My dad asked. I looked Maria over slowly; she had been crying. I stopped working on my car immediately thinking something bad had happened again with Adrian.
"Where's Letty? I need to speak with Letty Tony." She begged and I had a bad feeling as I let my eyes drift to the office where Letty had been learning how to do the books.
"She's in the office. Maria what's happened?"
"Tony I really need to speak with Letty." She said as she moved towards the office but dad stepped into her way.
"Maria you need to stop and think, tell me what's happened first."
"He's gone Tony." I froze as I heard her quiet words before she started crying again. Gone could mean a lot of things but the way she said it only had one meaning. Vince looked at me shocked while I dropped the wrench I had had in my hand looking at Dad's shocked face, mine no doubt mirroring his.
"Maria what do you mean gone?" He asked quietly as his eyes flickered to the door of the office making sure Letty wasn't there.
"He's dead Tony. It turns out after he checked himself out he tried to come back here, drove drunk and crashed. Now I need to tell Letty. Oh God Tony what do I tell her? How do I tell her he’s never coming back?" The silence surrounding us was deafening as I lowered my gaze to the floor suddenly feeling sick at the thought of what Letty was about to find out. Even if the guy was a bastard I'd never wish him dead. Letty was going to be devastated by the news.
"Are you sure now is the best time to tell her?" My dad asked her and I silently agreed with him.
"Tell me what?" My head snapped to Letty as she walked out of the office pausing when she saw our faces.
"What's going on?" She asked uneasily a few seconds later.
"Letty why don't we go back into the office and talk? Dom and Vince shut the garage down for an hour, take your lunch breaks." My dad said to us but I stayed where I was and so did Vince, still too shocked to move.
"Now boys." He ordered more forcefully and I couldn't help but flick my eyes to Letty before I turned to shut the roller doors.
"You're not actually going to leave are you? For lunch I mean?" I shook my head at Vince’s question.
"No, I want to make sure she's okay." I said quietly as we both leant against the closed doors out of sight. The office door was still open so we could hear bits and pieces of what was being said. Vince nudged me as he started to move closer and I followed silently as we sat up against the wall outside the door.
"I haven't-"
"We." My dad cut in.
"Right, we haven't been completely honest with you." Maria said quietly to the point where I needed to strain to hear her fully.
"What do you mean?" Letty's nervous voice came through loud and clear.
"I didn't have the heart to tell you but your dad left the clinic the day after Tony and the boys dropped him off. We were so sure he was heading back this way but he never showed."
"So he…"
"He broke his promise to you Letty." My dad's voice came across softly.
"So where is he?" I leant my head back and closed my eyes at her question, a sinking feeling settling in my stomach. Vince tensed next to me and shifted making me open my eyes. Briefly I turned to him as he met my gaze for a moment before looking away again.
"There's no easy way to tell you baby, I wish there was believe me.” Maria said tearfully.
“Just say it.” Letty cut in.
“He was in an accident early this morning." I don't know what I was expecting but silence wasn't one of them.
"Let say something?" Maria begged.
"But he's okay, right?" Her almost silent voice spoke up.
"No baby he's not, he didn't make it. He was drunk and crashed into another car."
"Are they okay?" She asked but her question was met by silence from Maria and I knew they had met the same fate as Adrian. I heard the small gasp and though I felt like we should leave, I found myself staying where I was. I heard a chair move and I moved my head back down as I waited.
"Letty, Letty please. Wait Letty, come back." Maria called out suddenly. I quickly stood as I heard her hurried footsteps. She came running out the door and I grabbed her quickly, stopping her running off to who knows where.
"Let stop, please." I begged as she struggled with me. She was stronger than I thought she was, but eventually I managed to wrap my arms around her completely as she stilled. She’d given up the fight as she slumped against me and cried. I loosened my grip on her a little after I was satisfied she was no longer a flight risk, but I continued to hold her not knowing what else to do.
Vince stood next to me looking on with worried looks while my dad and Maria stood at the door of the office watching with sad eyes. Maria was crying silently and my dad had his arm around her in comfort but their eyes never left Letty's figure as she clung crying to me.
"Take her home and stay with her. Vince can you go get Mia and explain to Kim what's happened." Tony said quietly looking at me and I nodded.
"Where are you going?" I asked quietly.
"I need to start making arrangements, just watch her until I get home Dom please." Maria asked pleadingly and I nodded.
"Of course."
"I want to go with mum." Letty said hoarsely from her crying. I looked down at her but she refused to meet my eyes instead she just stared blankly at my chest.
"Baby please go with Dom, I'll be home soon I promise." Maria said as she ran a hand down Letty's back soothingly.
"Fine." She whispered and she started pulling away and I let her to a point before I stopped her and kept her in place. I watched as Maria pulled her in for a hug and kissed her cheek, both of them whispering something too faint for me to hear even though they were so close.
"I'll see you at the house." Vince said quietly as he backed away and left to go get Mia. My dad nodded to me and I took the hint as I gathered up my stuff. I waited by the car with him, listening as he sighed heavily leaning against my car. Despite the new unfolding drama I decided now was as good a time as any to ask the question that had been plaguing me for days.
"Is there something between you and Maria?" I asked as carefully as I could.
"Now is not the time Dominic." He said wearily.
"I know I just, I need to know dad. Is there?" We stared at each other silently for a moment before he sighed, caving to my question.
"We have feelings for each other yes, but we agreed it would never work between us." I was relieved a little to hear that.
"I can't say I'm not happy to hear that, but can I ask why you both think that?" He gave me a small knowing smile which left me confused.
"Give it a year or two and you'll understand why it would never work between us." Is all he said before Maria and Letty came out.
"I'll see you tonight I promise okay?" Maria said kissing Letty goodbye before turning to me wrapping her arms around me as I did the same.
"Look after my baby please. I can't lose her too." She whispered quietly to me, I gave her my word before she pulled away and left with my dad. I turned my attention back to Letty and watched as she moved to get in the car but I stopped her for a moment.
"I'm sorry about your dad Letty." I said quietly and she nodded.
"Thanks Dom." She whispered. I gave her a small smile drawing her into a hug again. I noted the way she clung to me but it was her that let go first so I pulled back opening the car door for her. Once she was in I shut it behind her and jogged around to my side. Just as I was about to get in the car I heard someone call my name. Turning slightly I groaned seeing Michelle; now was definitely not the time for her to be here.
"Michelle now's not a good time." I said firmly but she just grinned at me continuing to walk closer until she stopped in front of me, placing her hands on my chest.
"Why? I don't see a problem with right now." She flirted as I resisted throwing her hands off.
"Michelle please not now, I have somewhere I need to be." I said removing her hands off me and she pouted.
"I could come with you." She offered smirking up at me. I frowned at her offer as I caught her double meaning and for once I wasn't interested.
"Look if it were any other time I'd take you up on your offer, but not today. I need to be with my family okay?" I said as I turned and got into the car leaving her standing there stunned and fuming at being turned down.
"Are you-" I started but Letty cut me off.
"Please don't ask me if I'm okay." I flicked my eyes to her as I drove and noticed the silent tears she was wiping away.
"Sorry." I said softly.
"It's fine. Just take me home and then you're free to do as you please." I shook my head while I kept my eyes on the road.
"I'm not leaving your side Letty." I said firmly leaving no room for arguments.
"Why not?" she asked staring at me clearly devastated.
"I don’t want you alone right now." I said softly meeting her gaze as we stopped at the lights.
"Maybe I want to be." She stuttered out and I shook my head.
"No you don't." I said quietly as she turned away from me knowing I was right.
Toretto garage
Dom's POV
It was later in the week when Maria suddenly showed up at the garage during the day. I frowned and shared a look with Vince as my dad rushed to her side. Something was going on that much was clear. Vince had made the suggestion that they might be involved and to be honest that freaked me out. I thought of Letty as a sister but I didn't want her as an actual sister.
"Maria, what are you doing here?" My dad asked. I looked Maria over slowly; she had been crying. I stopped working on my car immediately thinking something bad had happened again with Adrian.
"Where's Letty? I need to speak with Letty Tony." She begged and I had a bad feeling as I let my eyes drift to the office where Letty had been learning how to do the books.
"She's in the office. Maria what's happened?"
"Tony I really need to speak with Letty." She said as she moved towards the office but dad stepped into her way.
"Maria you need to stop and think, tell me what's happened first."
"He's gone Tony." I froze as I heard her quiet words before she started crying again. Gone could mean a lot of things but the way she said it only had one meaning. Vince looked at me shocked while I dropped the wrench I had had in my hand looking at Dad's shocked face, mine no doubt mirroring his.
"Maria what do you mean gone?" He asked quietly as his eyes flickered to the door of the office making sure Letty wasn't there.
"He's dead Tony. It turns out after he checked himself out he tried to come back here, drove drunk and crashed. Now I need to tell Letty. Oh God Tony what do I tell her? How do I tell her he’s never coming back?" The silence surrounding us was deafening as I lowered my gaze to the floor suddenly feeling sick at the thought of what Letty was about to find out. Even if the guy was a bastard I'd never wish him dead. Letty was going to be devastated by the news.
"Are you sure now is the best time to tell her?" My dad asked her and I silently agreed with him.
"Tell me what?" My head snapped to Letty as she walked out of the office pausing when she saw our faces.
"What's going on?" She asked uneasily a few seconds later.
"Letty why don't we go back into the office and talk? Dom and Vince shut the garage down for an hour, take your lunch breaks." My dad said to us but I stayed where I was and so did Vince, still too shocked to move.
"Now boys." He ordered more forcefully and I couldn't help but flick my eyes to Letty before I turned to shut the roller doors.
"You're not actually going to leave are you? For lunch I mean?" I shook my head at Vince’s question.
"No, I want to make sure she's okay." I said quietly as we both leant against the closed doors out of sight. The office door was still open so we could hear bits and pieces of what was being said. Vince nudged me as he started to move closer and I followed silently as we sat up against the wall outside the door.
"I haven't-"
"We." My dad cut in.
"Right, we haven't been completely honest with you." Maria said quietly to the point where I needed to strain to hear her fully.
"What do you mean?" Letty's nervous voice came through loud and clear.
"I didn't have the heart to tell you but your dad left the clinic the day after Tony and the boys dropped him off. We were so sure he was heading back this way but he never showed."
"So he…"
"He broke his promise to you Letty." My dad's voice came across softly.
"So where is he?" I leant my head back and closed my eyes at her question, a sinking feeling settling in my stomach. Vince tensed next to me and shifted making me open my eyes. Briefly I turned to him as he met my gaze for a moment before looking away again.
"There's no easy way to tell you baby, I wish there was believe me.” Maria said tearfully.
“Just say it.” Letty cut in.
“He was in an accident early this morning." I don't know what I was expecting but silence wasn't one of them.
"Let say something?" Maria begged.
"But he's okay, right?" Her almost silent voice spoke up.
"No baby he's not, he didn't make it. He was drunk and crashed into another car."
"Are they okay?" She asked but her question was met by silence from Maria and I knew they had met the same fate as Adrian. I heard the small gasp and though I felt like we should leave, I found myself staying where I was. I heard a chair move and I moved my head back down as I waited.
"Letty, Letty please. Wait Letty, come back." Maria called out suddenly. I quickly stood as I heard her hurried footsteps. She came running out the door and I grabbed her quickly, stopping her running off to who knows where.
"Let stop, please." I begged as she struggled with me. She was stronger than I thought she was, but eventually I managed to wrap my arms around her completely as she stilled. She’d given up the fight as she slumped against me and cried. I loosened my grip on her a little after I was satisfied she was no longer a flight risk, but I continued to hold her not knowing what else to do.
Vince stood next to me looking on with worried looks while my dad and Maria stood at the door of the office watching with sad eyes. Maria was crying silently and my dad had his arm around her in comfort but their eyes never left Letty's figure as she clung crying to me.
"Take her home and stay with her. Vince can you go get Mia and explain to Kim what's happened." Tony said quietly looking at me and I nodded.
"Where are you going?" I asked quietly.
"I need to start making arrangements, just watch her until I get home Dom please." Maria asked pleadingly and I nodded.
"Of course."
"I want to go with mum." Letty said hoarsely from her crying. I looked down at her but she refused to meet my eyes instead she just stared blankly at my chest.
"Baby please go with Dom, I'll be home soon I promise." Maria said as she ran a hand down Letty's back soothingly.
"Fine." She whispered and she started pulling away and I let her to a point before I stopped her and kept her in place. I watched as Maria pulled her in for a hug and kissed her cheek, both of them whispering something too faint for me to hear even though they were so close.
"I'll see you at the house." Vince said quietly as he backed away and left to go get Mia. My dad nodded to me and I took the hint as I gathered up my stuff. I waited by the car with him, listening as he sighed heavily leaning against my car. Despite the new unfolding drama I decided now was as good a time as any to ask the question that had been plaguing me for days.
"Is there something between you and Maria?" I asked as carefully as I could.
"Now is not the time Dominic." He said wearily.
"I know I just, I need to know dad. Is there?" We stared at each other silently for a moment before he sighed, caving to my question.
"We have feelings for each other yes, but we agreed it would never work between us." I was relieved a little to hear that.
"I can't say I'm not happy to hear that, but can I ask why you both think that?" He gave me a small knowing smile which left me confused.
"Give it a year or two and you'll understand why it would never work between us." Is all he said before Maria and Letty came out.
"I'll see you tonight I promise okay?" Maria said kissing Letty goodbye before turning to me wrapping her arms around me as I did the same.
"Look after my baby please. I can't lose her too." She whispered quietly to me, I gave her my word before she pulled away and left with my dad. I turned my attention back to Letty and watched as she moved to get in the car but I stopped her for a moment.
"I'm sorry about your dad Letty." I said quietly and she nodded.
"Thanks Dom." She whispered. I gave her a small smile drawing her into a hug again. I noted the way she clung to me but it was her that let go first so I pulled back opening the car door for her. Once she was in I shut it behind her and jogged around to my side. Just as I was about to get in the car I heard someone call my name. Turning slightly I groaned seeing Michelle; now was definitely not the time for her to be here.
"Michelle now's not a good time." I said firmly but she just grinned at me continuing to walk closer until she stopped in front of me, placing her hands on my chest.
"Why? I don't see a problem with right now." She flirted as I resisted throwing her hands off.
"Michelle please not now, I have somewhere I need to be." I said removing her hands off me and she pouted.
"I could come with you." She offered smirking up at me. I frowned at her offer as I caught her double meaning and for once I wasn't interested.
"Look if it were any other time I'd take you up on your offer, but not today. I need to be with my family okay?" I said as I turned and got into the car leaving her standing there stunned and fuming at being turned down.
"Are you-" I started but Letty cut me off.
"Please don't ask me if I'm okay." I flicked my eyes to her as I drove and noticed the silent tears she was wiping away.
"Sorry." I said softly.
"It's fine. Just take me home and then you're free to do as you please." I shook my head while I kept my eyes on the road.
"I'm not leaving your side Letty." I said firmly leaving no room for arguments.
"Why not?" she asked staring at me clearly devastated.
"I don’t want you alone right now." I said softly meeting her gaze as we stopped at the lights.
"Maybe I want to be." She stuttered out and I shook my head.
"No you don't." I said quietly as she turned away from me knowing I was right.