‘The Streets of Dublin’

By: Victoria-Pearson.

AN: I have posted this story here before a while ago, but I've decided to restructure it, keeping parts of the orginal that I had here. Would appreciate all forms of reviews. Thanks!

Summary - In Dublin, Ireland illegal street racing takes over in the night, and in this quiet city there can only be one winner. When teams start to disappear under mysterious circumstances suspicion turns onto champion racer Ashley Baker, seen as a quiet achiever she only has one mission. To elimate her rivals.

Prologue: She looked between the two men, she had shared more than just friendship with them but she could never ever establish any other form of a relationship with them not now. It was too dangerous she would become too vulnerable to her enemies.
'Don't do this to yourself, Ash please.' his blue eyes begged her to stay but she shook her head.
'I...can't I'm sorry but nothing is ever going to come of us. Ever.'

Chapter One

Miami’s notorious hot and humid summer lived up to and excelled people’s expectations. Bikini-clad women unafraid to bare their skin sauntered through the streets while the men sported toned rippled muscles. Out on the beaches men and women choose to soak up the intense sunrays or cool off in the salty ocean spray. Flying water jet skis bounced and glided over the water effortlessly, speedboats dragged single and multiple people on rubber donut rings along the surface.

On the main streets, sleek soft-top sports cars parked on the curb and drove up and down the strip. Men and women sat together in the cars blasting music from the speakers dancing in their seats.

Seven kilometers from the city centre and nestled within a modest suburb was Tej’s garage, one of the hippest car garages in the area, There was a party on every night and activates running throughout the day and today was no exception. Smooth R’n’B music blared out from the speakers, people gathered at the pool edges shouted their delight at the games going on in the pool. Out front of the garage in the parking lot cars of various colors, sizes and models were parked, and even occupied much of the street, and one more car was just making its way into the park lot. Jimmy, the smart automatic working on the engine of a Honda Civic lifted his head at the sight of the new arrival. It was a Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution VIII, in metallic black and gold trim with tinted windows, 19” inch silver chrome rims and the vinyl pattern on the side showed red and yellow flames. Jimmy straightened up and wiped his hands on an old rag he’s stuck in his pocket; the car slowed down and he walked around to the driver’s side. The window wound down and revealed a young Asian girl about 24years of age her hair tugged back into a tight pony tail and wearing dark sunglasses, a cream-colored tank top and blue jeans. Her hands rested against the steering wheel and Jimmy leant down resting his arms against the open window.

‘Can I help you?’ He asked.

‘I hear this is the place to find the best street racers in Miami,’ she remarked; Jimmy’s face lit up into a smile.

‘You heard right. We got the best of the best the cream of the crop in street racing. Challenge them at your own risk,’ he said and straightened up.

‘There is a free space over there,’ he pointed out front a front end parking space between a Mitsubishi 3000GT and a Chevrolet Corvette.

‘Thanks.’ The Asian girl answered and Jimmy stood back as she drove the car forwards and easily parked it. She stepped from the car and locked it open Jimmy had to hold up his jaw when his gaze flicked down her body, she smiled at him knowing what would be going through his head. Lifting her sunglasses onto her head she also tucked her keys into her back pocket.

‘All right then, lead the way,’ she said.

‘First, can you tell me your name?’ he asked, she cocked her head with one eyebrow raised.

‘And why would you like to know?’ she quizzed.

‘Well if you want to be known around here you need to spread your name around and gain the attention, especially with the right people,’ Jimmy replied.

‘Ashley Baker.’ She said and held out her hand for him to shake which he accepted.

‘Jonathan Tan, but everyone just calls me Jimmy, and I’m the mechanic here,’ he answered.

‘Pleased to meet you,’ Ashley remarked.

‘Right then, follow me and I’ll show you around,’ Jimmy said. He led her back through the main garage door and to where the party raged.

‘Wow,’ Ashley said taking in the scene before her eyes.

‘Yeah man, this is how we do it out here, every day,’ Jimmy answered she nodded her head.

‘Yes I can see,’ she agreed. Drinks flowed, food was consumed, music blared and bodies grinded hard together in the intense heat. Jimmy looked around through the crowd for one of his friends and before long he spotted the familiar blonde head of Brian’s.

‘This way,’ Jimmy said Ashley followed him; a few of the skimpy dressed girls gave her a jealous glare.

‘What’s up with them?’ she muttered.

‘Yo, Bri!’ Jimmy yelled he waved his arms. The blonde haired man that Ashley also saw waved back and began walking towards them. As he came clearer into view she had to admit he was a good-looking man. His blonde haired was tousled and he had on a plain blue t-shirt, cargo shorts and sandals and fair skin.

‘Sup Jimmy,’ Brian replied.

‘How’s the work coming with the Honda?’ he asked.

‘Man, complicated especially with the new engine I put in last week, but a few more tweaks and it should be fine,’ Jimmy answered. Brian nodded his eyes moved over the girl standing aside of Jimmy, she smiled softly and stepped forwards.

‘Hi I’m Ashley,’ she said.

‘Brian,’ Brian answered with a nod.

‘New racer and looking for a challenge,’ Jimmy added a light smile crossed Brian’s face.

‘Is that so?’ he asked Ashley nodded.

‘Yes. I have heard plenty about street racers here in the States, but especially in Miami, so I thought I’d come along and see it for myself and if I could cash in on the action,’ she remarked. Brian rubbed his chin, full of thought but Jimmy recognized the look on his friend’s face.

‘What’s your track record?’ he asked.

‘All you need to know is, back where I reside, I own the streets,’ she answered.

‘Ah a cocky one that’s what we like to see,’ Brian said he and Jimmy exchanged smiles.

‘Tej will love this,’ Jimmy remarked.

‘Yeah he will, as a matter of fact, Jimmy go and get him,’ Brian added he looked at Ashley.

‘If you are as good as you suggest then how about we have a race, just you and me?’ he suggested; she chewed on the idea only for half a second.

‘You’re on.’ She replied.

‘Good,’ Brian grinned, Jimmy dashed away to find Tej and announce to the crowd if anyone was listening about the one on one race.

‘So what do you drive?’ Ashley asked as she and Brian made their way back through the garage and to the front parking lot.

‘Come and take a look,’ he said, they took a left turn and walked around the corner of the garage, and there parked under the shade of a tree stood his gleaming silver metallic Skyline GT-R34 with blue stripes along the top and sides.

‘Nice,’ she said.

‘I have a Skyline, myself back home and it’s a beauty. Racked up plenty of wins with it over the years,’ she added.

‘Oh, yeah? What’s your ride for this race?’ Brian asked. A little smirk came across her lips she indicated for him to follow her he did so, though he trailed a short distance behind to take in her figure. He licked his lips. Ashley stopped in front of her car and slowly turned around, Brian cast his eyes away from her and to the car behind he tried not to show any surprise at the sight of the Evo.

‘That’s a good choice,’ he answered and cleared his throat she smirked.

‘Are you afraid?’ she asked he scoffed.

‘Not at all as a matter of fact, I used to own one a couple of years ago. Worked a treat for me,’ he said.

‘Well,’ she said.

‘That is good to know. Now, take a very good at it because this is as close as you’ll get,’ she said.

‘Well confident aren’t you? Let’s put the bets in,’ he said. Ashley unlocked her car and opened the glove box, rummaged in there for a minute and emerged with a stack of money bills in hand.

‘What’s your wager?’ she asked. Brian reached into his back pocket bringing out his own stack of bills he thumbed through the lot grabbed a fist full.

‘How is $10, 00 for you?’

‘Fine by me,’ she agreed removing her stack.

‘I’ll take those,’ Tej chirped as he appeared from behind Brian, he accepted the two stacks of money bills.

‘I’ll keep it safe don’t you worry,’ he said, a gleaming smile spread on his face. Ashley found this man an interesting one. He wore a white sleeves shirt with a matching pair of loose pants, he had a gold bracelet hanging off his left wrist and a silver chain around his neck, dark skin and a white bucket style hat covering his long black and brown braided hair.

‘I’m Tej Parker,’ he said.

‘Ashley Baker,’ Ashley replied, out the corner of her eye she saw the car park now beginning to fill with people, they climbed into their cars, engines roared and grunted.

‘All right, listen up! This race is going to take place just down the road, on Schell Street,’ Tej said.

‘It’s the only street in this area that stretches 1 kilometer straight. I hope you can take a drag race,’ Brian said a sly smirk crossed his lips and once again his eyes glanced over her body Ashley chuckled, she slid up to him and touched his cheek.

‘Now, now don’t get too ahead of yourself. Play your cards right and you might never know what happens next,’ she replied with a teasing wink. Brian sighed heavily as she walked away from him and got into her car. The engine purred to life Brian stepped off to side and watched in silence as the car reversed and screeched its tyres on the asphalt burning a little rubber and zipping off into the distance. He shook his head the smile returned to his face.

‘It will only be a matter of time,’ he said and headed to his car and jumped in.