Chapter Sixty-Eight

**

“You gonna stick by me?”

“Maybe….”

**

Letty was asleep by the time we got to Thomas‘s office. I left her in the car while I went in to take care of the details - just a few things I needed to sign. I think I practically skipped into the building, I was so happy… I couldn’t keep the grin off my face. Everything was finally settled, and our lives could get back to normal.

My good mood lasted through all the bureaucracy, signing my name a million different times as Thomas watched to make sure it was all right. Finally, after what seemed like hours, I was done.

“Thanks, Thomas,” I said, shaking his hand. “I really appreciate your help…don’t know what I would’ve done without you.”

“Eh, it was no problem, Dom,” he replied, grinning at me. “If you ever need a lawyer again, you just let me know. It’s good to be able to help regular people for a change, instead of giant corporations… I enjoyed it.”

“Yeah, well, if your car ever needs working on…” I laughed, turning to walk out the door.

I accidentally bumped into someone as I was walking through the lobby, turned to apologize, and my good mood crashed.

It was Julie.

“Hey,” I said slowly. “How’re you doing, Julie?”

“Fine,” she snapped, “no thanks to you.”

I nodded, and went to walk past her, but she reached out and grabbed my arm.

“Dom…please…” she said softly, “why couldn’t you just do this one thing for me? If you ever cared anything for me at all… There’s still time!”

“Julie…” I tried to stop her, but she just kept talking.

“We could…we could tell them it was all a mistake… That they messed up at the hospital, with the specimens… My baby girl needs a daddy, Dom…”

“You’re right, Jules,” I sighed. “She does. But I’m not it. I just got done signing all the papers…it’s over.”

“You fucking asshole…” she hissed, swinging her fists at me.

“Julie…” I said, grabbing her arms, trying to get her to stop. “Jules…calm down!”

“Toretto!” someone yelled.

It was Johnny, walking into the lobby.

“What the fuck do you think you’re doing with my sister?” he said, walking up to us. “Take your fucking hands off of her…”

I dropped my hands, stepped back from Julie, not wanting to aggravate Johnny any more.

“I don’t believe you…” Johnny growled, getting right up in my face. “First you fuck her, knock her up, then you humiliate her, get someone to fake the paternity tests… Leave her alone! And don’t ever expect to see your daughter…I’ll get a restraining order against you if I have to.”

I couldn’t help it, I just started laughing. I couldn’t believe that Johnny still thought the kid was mine.

“What the fuck is your problem?” Johnny screamed.

I got serious then…it looked like he was just barely hanging onto his control.

“You all are my problem, Johnny,” I said lowly. “You know…it’s funny. I haven’t touched your sister in years, let alone fucked her… Even at the races, when she was begging me to. See, I have a girl…a girl I love. A girl I’m gonna be with for the rest of my life. There’s no reason I would go anywhere near Julie. Not voluntarily. And yet…”

“What!”

“Well…it’s just a little strange, don’t you think?” I asked. “I mean…your family never liked me, right? You all hate me…hated that Julie and me were together back in high school… Cubans are only good for making cigars, right? Not for fucking your sister…”

“Would you get to the fucking point already!” Johnny demanded.

“Think about it…” I said slowly. “You all hate me, and Julie knows that. But she keeps insisting I’m her baby’s daddy, even when she knows it’s not true…even when medical tests have proven I’m not. So…what’s she hiding? Why in the world would she say it’s my kid? Who could your family possibly think was worse than me?”

Johnny just stood there for a minute, thinking. Then he turned on Julie.

“He’s right! Who the fuck is the father, Julie?” he screamed at her.

“I…I…” she stuttered.

“I’ve had enough of your bullshit, Jules! You are going to tell me, and you’re going to tell me now.”

“I…” she started, tears rolling down her face, streaking her mascara. “I don’t know…”

“What!” Johnny said, his voice filled with disbelief. “What the fuck is that supposed to mean? You were there, weren’t you? How could you not know?”

“It was…” she whispered, “it was at a party. A frat party. I got drunk, and well…I think maybe someone put something in my drink. I just went upstairs with any guy who showed any interest. I don’t even know who all of them were…”

“You fucking whore…” Johnny sneered, before slapping her across the face.

“Johnny…” I warned. I didn’t want to get involved…wanted to get myself as far away from Julie as possible. But I wasn’t just going to stand there and watch him smack her around, either.

“So…” he said, turning back to me. “We’re done, huh, Toretto?”

“Looks that way,” I answered, turning to leave.

“One thing, though…” he said slowly, stepping in front of me. “My sister’s been humiliated enough…don’t you think? This doesn‘t need to get out. We’ll deal with the disrespect she’s brought onto the family name ourselves…”

“Long as she stops telling people the kid is mine…” I said, “I don’t see why I’d ever mention any of this again.”

“Good,” Johnny nodded. “We have an understanding then. Right?”

“Right,” I nodded back. “But Johnny…” I continued, “if you should happen to change your mind about this little discussion…mistakenly decide that things went down differently than what’s actually happened here… If you even think about taking this further…if I hear even a rumor that you or Lance or anyone else is coming after Letty, or Mia, or anyone else on my team… Well, it wouldn’t be good for your health.”

“Hey, Toretto, I hear you…” Johnny said, laughing a little to himself. “We stay away, you stay away, everyone’s happy.”

“Exactly,” I said. And with that, I walked outside and back to Letty.