Page 27 of Blind Spot
He sighed and dragged his hand over his face. “It was a rough one. Two kids, no more than sixteen and seventeen years old, caught in the midst of their father’s rage. Apparently, the wife had been experiencing domestic violence for years. The kids couldn’t take any more. The last time their father beat their mother, she almost didn’t survive. They finally convinced her to leave him, and they found a new place for just the three of them. He showed up and shot and killed both kids, the mother, and himself.”
“Fuck!”
“Yeah. Same thing I said. Stupid bastard. I don’t know why he didn’t just take himself out and leave them alone. The world would’ve been better without him.”
“I’m sorry that you had such a horrible day, Dom. I know that this won’t make up for it, but I hope you can enjoy a good meal and conversation.”
He looked up from the plate that I had set before him and eyed me curiously. “What are you up to?”
I giggled and replied, “Nothing. I told you.”
“So what conversation are you trying to have?”
“You know how I went to school and got my journalism degree?”
“Yeah.”
“And I applied and interviewed at Bolton Media and didn’t get the job? I was passed over for the PR specialist position at my last job, and I grew bored with the social media manager position. You know that I love flexibility and creativity, and I get that bartending.”
“Yeah, but you don’t make that much bartending.”
“I know, which is why I’ve been wanting to race with the team.”
“That shit ain’t no steady income, Char.”
I sighed. “You don’t think I know that? But between the two, it will give me what I need to invest in other things.”
“Other things like what?” he asked and bit into his chicken.
That man was so deep into his food, I wondered if he really was paying attention to the conversation.
“Like me wanting to start doing documentaries on the street and drag racing industries.”
“Word?” he asked, licking gravy from his lips and turning his gaze to me.
I knew I had his attention now. “Yeah. But I need to be inside, Dom. Not like just attending the races like I do now, but I want to capture it from all angles, including what it’s like to be on a team, and the only girl on the team. There aren’t that many girls racing.”
“Have you ever thought about forming a team with just you ladies?”
“I have, but five of the girls are already on teams, and the other three don’t want to be attached to anything. I’m not like that. I want to be on a team, and more specifically, I want to be on your team.”
“Why?”
“Because.” I stared deeply into his eyes as he dropped his gaze to my lips and back up again. “You’re my brother, my best friend, and my inspiration. I never want to compete against you.”
“You don’t have to take any races against me.”
“It would only be a matter of time.”
“So, what do you want to do?”
“I want you to talk to Chopper and convince him that I’m a good fit for the team, the best fit, in fact. I know that I have a temper, but I can curb that shit. You know this.”
He lifted an eyebrow. “Do I?”
“Are you saying you don’t believe in me?”
“I’m saying it sounds like you might say anything to have your way right now. I’ve never seen you show restraint when something or someone pisses you off.”
