Dom's POV
The first couple of days after the incident were hard. After speaking with the lawyer Maria got for me we agreed my best chance was to plead guilty and hope for a lesser penalty. Due to the nature of the crime I was refused bail and was stuck in custody, spending the nights in a cell. I had to own up for what I did, I knew that but it didn't make the experience any easier. Maria had been amazing, I was surprised to see she hadn't taken Letty and run in the opposite direction. When I told her that she had hit me on the shoulder, given me an earful then cried, I'd never bring it up again.
The two days after that were even harder. The case was seen almost immediately and when the pictures of what I had done were put up I felt sick. Had I really done that? Maria sat behind me with everyone, though I wasn't happy about Letty, Jesse or Mia being here. I didn't want Mia and Jesse to see what I had done and Letty… well I didn't want her to relive it.
By the end of the second hearing they hand made a decision. Three years in Lompoc prison with the possibility of parole after the first two years. It was a long time but in all honesty I had been expecting more. I caught Letty's face when the decision had been read out and it had been unbearable. Mia's cries were the next thing I had heard as I stood waiting for the approaching guards to take me away.
"Stay safe okay sweetheart. Keep your head down, I'll see you first thing in the morning." Maria had said hurriedly and I nodded unable to use my voice.
That night had been one of the worst nights of my entire life, even the night of dad's death didn't compare to it. One night and I saw and heard so many things. Things I had never even thought were possible. My cell mate looked like a decent looking guy but I found out that night that was far from the case. He was a convicted rapist, women only, or so he said. It didn't make sleeping at night easier. I spent that first night listening to screams from other prisoners, some in pain and others in… well I didn't even want to go there. Someone three cells down from me hung himself in the middle of the night, another was stabbed in a fight that broke out in the exercise yard. I found out later he died and due to the amount of people involved they didn't know who was behind it. It was a scary thought.
The next morning I was in my cell by myself, David, my cell mate, was elsewhere with an officer being interviewed by the police for his next upcoming case. I looked up when I saw a guard at the cell door.
"You have visitors Toretto." I stood when he motioned me to holding my hands out in front of me as he cuffed me. It was only a short walk but it seemed to take forever. I had only been expecting Maria but Vince, Mia and Letty were with her. I tried to smile for Mia's sake but it work.
"You've got half an hour." The guard said before moving a slight distance away.
"Baby are you okay? Did you sleep? Are they treating you okay?" Maria asked quickly giving me the once over. If I could I would have smiled at her concern but I was too tired.
"I'm…okay." I ended lamely and she looked even more worried.
"Did something happen?" She asked and I flicked my eyes to Letty and Mia before shaking my head. She seemed to get the silent warning and let the matter drop instantly but the look on her face told me when we were alone she wanted to know.
"Are you okay Mia?" I asked quietly as I rested my cuffed hands on the table. I saw everyone's eyes flicker to them and quickly placed them on my lap out of eye sight. I didn't want to make them uncomfortable.
"Dad's dead and my big brother's in jail… no I'm not okay." She said tearfully and I looked down.
"I'm sorry Mia. I let you down, all of you." I whispered quietly.
"Dom it's okay, none of us are angry. What you did was wrong and you know that but we're not angry at you." Maria said softly reaching her hand out to me. I hesitated before I brought mine back up and she held my hand giving it a squeeze.
"Don't worry about the garage." Vince spoke up.
"I was going to tell you to shut it down." I said still holding Maria's hand.
"No we're going to keep it up and running same with the store. We'll manage." I nodded sending him a grateful smile. I turned my attention to Letty and she smiled weakly at me.
"Are you okay baby?" I asked and she shrugged.
"I've been better." She said quietly. Maria gave my hand one last squeeze and then let go giving me a chance to reach out for Letty. She grasped my hand instantly and held on tight. To be honest I held her hand just as tightly back. A wave of relief washed over me as we held hands. I looked up and around for the first time and caught David sitting over in the corner with a few officers. He was watching me and his eyes were on Letty. I glared angrily, I didn't like that. He sent me a grin when he caught my eye. It was almost taunting but he looked away before I could do anything else. I'd have to make sure I never mentioned too much about Maria, Mia or Letty in here. When I turned back to everyone they were looking at me curiously and then over to the guy.
"He's my cell mate." I supplied quietly.
"Is he giving you trouble?" Maria asked worriedly.
"No." I said shortly. It was half the truth, he was just leering at my girl that had me angry.
"But you glared at him." Vince voiced.
"He's not a normal criminal." I supplied and he looked confused but Maria looked between David and back to his line of sight a couple of times before she understood. He was looking at Letty again.
"I'll speak with the lawyer we might be able to do something." She said softly but you could tell she shared my anger. After that settled down leaving Mia, Vince and Letty still confused we moved on to just quiet mindless talking. Before I knew it though my time was up and I had to say my goodbyes.
"I'll be back soon okay? I'll try for tomorrow, if not it will be Friday." Maria promised and I nodded. Vince sent me a small smile and I tried to smile back. Mia sent me a sad smile as she wiped her eyes.
"Love you Mia, we'll talk soon okay?" I promised.
"Maria got the address so when I don't visit I'll write to you." I smiled at my little sister.
"I'll look forward to it." I said quickly seeing the look the guard was giving us. Maria stepped away with Vince and Mia leaving Letty and I alone for a moment.
"I'll be back." She said softly. I gave her a small smile.
"I'm so sorry Let." I whispered.
"Dom… just stay safe please. For me?"
"I'll try. I love you Let, you stay safe for me okay?" I said blinking back my own tears. Her hand was still in mine and she held it tightly as I did the same.
"I love you too papa. I will." She whispered quietly.
"Time's up." I saw the panicked look that crossed her face but I gave her hand one last squeeze and sent her a smile before I dropped her hand and stood.
I looked over my shoulder as I was led away and my heart broke seeing Mia cry into Vince and Letty silently standing next to Maria crying.
As I laid awake that night trying not to cry I realized this was not a place I wanted Jesse, Mia or Letty to be near. It was that night I made my decision to not let them see me, it was going to break Mia's heart and Letty would probably get angry. Vince and Maria could handle it, at least I hoped, even Leon who was Letty's age but I didn't want the others to see me like this. This was not how I wanted my sister and my girlfriend to remember me and it wouldn't do Jesse any good to look up to a convicted criminal.
Letty… god I loved her but seeing her cry because of me was heart breaking. Two years, possible three was a long time. Too long… too long to ask her to wait, it wasn't fair on her. I would have to end things and hope for the best when or if I got out. Hopefully she would see and understand my reasoning. I'd write to her and Mia but I'd refuse to see them. This was no place for them.
The first couple of days after the incident were hard. After speaking with the lawyer Maria got for me we agreed my best chance was to plead guilty and hope for a lesser penalty. Due to the nature of the crime I was refused bail and was stuck in custody, spending the nights in a cell. I had to own up for what I did, I knew that but it didn't make the experience any easier. Maria had been amazing, I was surprised to see she hadn't taken Letty and run in the opposite direction. When I told her that she had hit me on the shoulder, given me an earful then cried, I'd never bring it up again.
The two days after that were even harder. The case was seen almost immediately and when the pictures of what I had done were put up I felt sick. Had I really done that? Maria sat behind me with everyone, though I wasn't happy about Letty, Jesse or Mia being here. I didn't want Mia and Jesse to see what I had done and Letty… well I didn't want her to relive it.
By the end of the second hearing they hand made a decision. Three years in Lompoc prison with the possibility of parole after the first two years. It was a long time but in all honesty I had been expecting more. I caught Letty's face when the decision had been read out and it had been unbearable. Mia's cries were the next thing I had heard as I stood waiting for the approaching guards to take me away.
"Stay safe okay sweetheart. Keep your head down, I'll see you first thing in the morning." Maria had said hurriedly and I nodded unable to use my voice.
That night had been one of the worst nights of my entire life, even the night of dad's death didn't compare to it. One night and I saw and heard so many things. Things I had never even thought were possible. My cell mate looked like a decent looking guy but I found out that night that was far from the case. He was a convicted rapist, women only, or so he said. It didn't make sleeping at night easier. I spent that first night listening to screams from other prisoners, some in pain and others in… well I didn't even want to go there. Someone three cells down from me hung himself in the middle of the night, another was stabbed in a fight that broke out in the exercise yard. I found out later he died and due to the amount of people involved they didn't know who was behind it. It was a scary thought.
The next morning I was in my cell by myself, David, my cell mate, was elsewhere with an officer being interviewed by the police for his next upcoming case. I looked up when I saw a guard at the cell door.
"You have visitors Toretto." I stood when he motioned me to holding my hands out in front of me as he cuffed me. It was only a short walk but it seemed to take forever. I had only been expecting Maria but Vince, Mia and Letty were with her. I tried to smile for Mia's sake but it work.
"You've got half an hour." The guard said before moving a slight distance away.
"Baby are you okay? Did you sleep? Are they treating you okay?" Maria asked quickly giving me the once over. If I could I would have smiled at her concern but I was too tired.
"I'm…okay." I ended lamely and she looked even more worried.
"Did something happen?" She asked and I flicked my eyes to Letty and Mia before shaking my head. She seemed to get the silent warning and let the matter drop instantly but the look on her face told me when we were alone she wanted to know.
"Are you okay Mia?" I asked quietly as I rested my cuffed hands on the table. I saw everyone's eyes flicker to them and quickly placed them on my lap out of eye sight. I didn't want to make them uncomfortable.
"Dad's dead and my big brother's in jail… no I'm not okay." She said tearfully and I looked down.
"I'm sorry Mia. I let you down, all of you." I whispered quietly.
"Dom it's okay, none of us are angry. What you did was wrong and you know that but we're not angry at you." Maria said softly reaching her hand out to me. I hesitated before I brought mine back up and she held my hand giving it a squeeze.
"Don't worry about the garage." Vince spoke up.
"I was going to tell you to shut it down." I said still holding Maria's hand.
"No we're going to keep it up and running same with the store. We'll manage." I nodded sending him a grateful smile. I turned my attention to Letty and she smiled weakly at me.
"Are you okay baby?" I asked and she shrugged.
"I've been better." She said quietly. Maria gave my hand one last squeeze and then let go giving me a chance to reach out for Letty. She grasped my hand instantly and held on tight. To be honest I held her hand just as tightly back. A wave of relief washed over me as we held hands. I looked up and around for the first time and caught David sitting over in the corner with a few officers. He was watching me and his eyes were on Letty. I glared angrily, I didn't like that. He sent me a grin when he caught my eye. It was almost taunting but he looked away before I could do anything else. I'd have to make sure I never mentioned too much about Maria, Mia or Letty in here. When I turned back to everyone they were looking at me curiously and then over to the guy.
"He's my cell mate." I supplied quietly.
"Is he giving you trouble?" Maria asked worriedly.
"No." I said shortly. It was half the truth, he was just leering at my girl that had me angry.
"But you glared at him." Vince voiced.
"He's not a normal criminal." I supplied and he looked confused but Maria looked between David and back to his line of sight a couple of times before she understood. He was looking at Letty again.
"I'll speak with the lawyer we might be able to do something." She said softly but you could tell she shared my anger. After that settled down leaving Mia, Vince and Letty still confused we moved on to just quiet mindless talking. Before I knew it though my time was up and I had to say my goodbyes.
"I'll be back soon okay? I'll try for tomorrow, if not it will be Friday." Maria promised and I nodded. Vince sent me a small smile and I tried to smile back. Mia sent me a sad smile as she wiped her eyes.
"Love you Mia, we'll talk soon okay?" I promised.
"Maria got the address so when I don't visit I'll write to you." I smiled at my little sister.
"I'll look forward to it." I said quickly seeing the look the guard was giving us. Maria stepped away with Vince and Mia leaving Letty and I alone for a moment.
"I'll be back." She said softly. I gave her a small smile.
"I'm so sorry Let." I whispered.
"Dom… just stay safe please. For me?"
"I'll try. I love you Let, you stay safe for me okay?" I said blinking back my own tears. Her hand was still in mine and she held it tightly as I did the same.
"I love you too papa. I will." She whispered quietly.
"Time's up." I saw the panicked look that crossed her face but I gave her hand one last squeeze and sent her a smile before I dropped her hand and stood.
I looked over my shoulder as I was led away and my heart broke seeing Mia cry into Vince and Letty silently standing next to Maria crying.
As I laid awake that night trying not to cry I realized this was not a place I wanted Jesse, Mia or Letty to be near. It was that night I made my decision to not let them see me, it was going to break Mia's heart and Letty would probably get angry. Vince and Maria could handle it, at least I hoped, even Leon who was Letty's age but I didn't want the others to see me like this. This was not how I wanted my sister and my girlfriend to remember me and it wouldn't do Jesse any good to look up to a convicted criminal.
Letty… god I loved her but seeing her cry because of me was heart breaking. Two years, possible three was a long time. Too long… too long to ask her to wait, it wasn't fair on her. I would have to end things and hope for the best when or if I got out. Hopefully she would see and understand my reasoning. I'd write to her and Mia but I'd refuse to see them. This was no place for them.