21

We stand around a laptop in the warehouse. Rico and Tego are tapping into the cameras in the police parking garage. Four camera angles pop up on the screen.


"Got it. We got it!" Mia shouts.


"Yeah, we're looking at four cameras," Brian states.


"Yo, that's some high-end shit, too. Marker optics. Hundred-degree field-of-view. Ten seconds oscillation," Han tells us.


"Yeah, that's a narrow window, man," Brian says.


"Can't we just tap in and replace the image?" Gisele asks.


"Nah, it's hooked into a digital sync. They would know we were in the system," Tej explains. "The best we can do is peek."


"We're going to need some real fast cars to get through this," Rome states.


"Not just fast. You got a hard right and a hairpin. We're going to need something agile," Han says.


"You guys mock up a track," Dom states. "O'Conner. Santos. Let's go get some cars."


I smile as I wrap my arms around him.


Brian smiles. "Nice."


Brian, Dom, and I head out to a street race. Been a while since we've been to one of these.


"Home sweet home," Dom states.


Dom wraps his arm around me as we look at the cars.


"How about that?" Brian is eyeing a blue Porsche. "All motor, no tuning issues. I always wanted one of those."


A walks over towards us. "Held the record on the Avenida three years running. You got a lot of balls to bring your problems here, Toretto. Not to mention a cop."


"Yeah, we can keep that on the low," Brian tells him.


"Word on the street is a lot of people are looking for you three." He puts his hands up. "What? You didn't think we'd recognize you?"


"No, we're kind of counting on it," Dom tells him. "That little coupe may run the streets around here," He turns to point to the Charger. "but that monster has never seen a set of tail lights, ever."


"Well, she's about to," the guy states. "El auto de Dominic Toretto en mi cochera. Eso... seria un buen trofeo. (Dominic Toretto's ride in my garage. Now that... will be a nice trophy." People start to cheer. "Let's go, legend. Car for car."


"Car for car?" Dom asks.


"You want it, come and get it," the guy tells us.


Dom took it. The Porsche was no contest for Dom's car. Brian and Dom pull up into the warehouse. I can hear Rome laughing as we get out.


"Really? Where did you get that from? Papa Smurf?" Rome taunts.


We've got a track set up to try and see if we can make these turns. We've got cameras set up just like the ones in the police parking garage.


"Okay, O'Conner, give it your best shot," Dom tells him over the PA system.


Brian speeds through the course as fast as he can. He skids to a stop beside us. "How was that one?"


"Camera caught you," Han tells him.


"What?" Brian asks in disbelief.


"It still caught you," Han tells him.


"Man, I was milking the hell out of that thing, too," Brian tells Dom.


"We're going to need a faster car," Dom states.


Rico, Tej, Tego, Rome all have a chance. Everyone laughs as Rico hits the side of the car into the wall.


"That's exactly why your ass, ain't been driving," Rome taunts.


Gisele gets her turn next. She comes to stop next to us after running the course.


"That was real solid work. I think Camera 3 still caught you, though," Rome tells her.


"Let's do it again," Gisele states.


Tego and Rico haul this big ass crate into the warehouse. We all stand and watch as it's opened. Inside is a vault.


"That's the piggy bank you ordered," Tego tells Tej.


"You're kidding me," Tej remarks.


Rico smiles. "Yep."


"Where in the hell did y'all get one of these?" Tej asks.


"Well, we had a life before you met us," Han tells him.


"All right, I'll get to work on the electronic tumbler but there's still another problem. Palm scanner. Without Reyes' handprint, Houdini himself couldn't open this bitch," Tej tells us.


"How do you know it's Reyes' handprint?" Tego asks.


"You got $100 million in a safe. You going to put somebody else's handprint on it?" Tej asks.


Rico starts to complain.


"There you go with that negativity man. That shit is eating you alive," Tego tells him.


The two start to argue as always. You'd think they were the old married couple.


"How are we supposed to get Reyes' handprint?" Rome asks.


"Han. You're up," Dom tells him.


"Sure. Nothing like the easy stuff," Han remarks.


"Let's go. I'll drive," Gisele tells him.


I smile slightly at the two.


I stand with Dom. "Gisele and Han, who would have thought?"


"You told Mia we were married," Dom states.


I nod my head. "Why keep it a secret anymore? We're gonna have a little niece or nephew."


Dom smiles. "A niece or nephew."


I smile as I wrap my arms around him. "Maybe one day that'll be you and I. We could have our own little family."


Dom nods his head. "I would like that."


"Oh, no. Guys, guys!" Mia shouts. "Guys, we have a problem."


"The whole team just got burnt," Brian tells us.


Mia sighs. "Now we're all wanted."


"How did this happen?" Gisele asks.


"US Diplomatic Security Service issued the warrants. Agent L. Hobbs," Mia tells her.


"Hold on one second. Hey, Dom, Toni. Is that the guy you saw in the favela?" Brian asks.


"Yeah," I tell him.


"Hobbs is the leader of the elite task force for the DSS," Brian tells us.


"So he's good," Tej states.


"When the FBI wants to find somebody, that's who they call. Because he never misses his mark. This guy is Old Testament. Blood, bullets, wrath of God. That's his style," Brian explains.


"And right now he's hunting us?" Mia asks.


Brian nods his head. "Mmhh."


"Dom, we got to move up our timeline," Han states.


"Yeah, but how?" Rome asks. "This thing's already been difficult without Wyatt Earp on our asses. If anything, we need more room to breathe."


"Roman's right," Dom agrees. "Think we need to get some fresh air."


We head back to the spot of the street race. We hangout like we're not being hunted by a huge DSS agent. In a crazy way it feels just like the old times in LA.


Hobbs and his men approach us, including the woman from the Favela. "Hey, Toretto. You're under arrest."


"Arrest?" Dom questions. "I don't feel like I'm under arrest." He doesn't look away from Hobbs. "How about you, Brian?"


"No, not a bit." Brian looks to Hobbs. "Not even a little bit."


"Oh, just give it a minute. it'll sink in," Hobbs tells him.


I look to the woman. I'm confused when I notice Dom's cross is around her neck.


"We didn't kill those feds. That was Reyes," Brian explains.


"I don't give a shit. I'm just here to bring in three assholes whose names hit my desk," Hobbs tells him.


"Yeah, that sounds like a real hero," Brian taunts.


Hobbs steps closer to him. "That's funny. From a guy who took the oath of a cop, then went against everything it stood for. Or some wannabe tough guy prick who beat a man half to death with a socket wrench. Or maybe the girl who follows them around like a lost puppy. Yeah, real tough. You turn around and put your hands behind your back."


"I don't think so," Dom tells Hobbs as he steps up to him.


"Your mistake is thinking you got a goddamn choice, boy," Hobbs tells him.


All the cops draw their guns.


"And your mistake?" Dom remarks. "Thinking you're in America. You're a long way from home." Dom holds his arms up. "This is Brazil."


Everyone of the guys at the race draws a gun and points them at Hobbs and his teams. Dom and Hobbs stand staring at one another.


One of Hobb's men comes up beside him. "Come on, boss. Another day. Come on, H, it's a lot of heat."


Hobbs finally gives in, "I'll see you soon, Toretto."


"I look forward to it, cop," Dom tells him.


I sit with Dom in his car.


"Why did she have your cross?" I ask.


"I don't know," Dom confesses.


"I'm going to get it," I tell him. "It's not hers."


Dom nods. "I know I can't talk you out of it."


I watch as the woman goes into her apartment. I wait a moment before following her inside. She goes to reach for her gun but I grab it from her. I put my hand over her mouth so she can't scream. I take my hand off her mouth and grab the cross from her neck. I look at her once more before turning to leave.


"I don't understand," Elena says. "Why come here? Why risk it all for $20 worth of silver?"


"Because it's worth it," I assure her.


"You should run, you know. Hobbs will find you," Elena warns. "You have every reason to leave. Why stay?"


"Why do you?" I counter.


"My husband was a good police officer. An honest man. We both grew up here. Two years ago he was murdered in the street right outside our door. Reyes owns this favela now. He gives things to people. But everything has a price. The people here need a new start. They need to be free." She looks at me for a moment. "You didn't kill those men in the train, did you?"


I shrug. "Now, why would you believe anything I would tell you?"


"Is he so special to you?" Elena asks.


"Yes," I tell her.


I walk into the room Dom and I have been sharing. Dom is sitting up in the bed with his back against the wall.


I hold the cross up in my hand. "I'm keeping it." Dom smiles slightly. "Maybe I won't lose it like you did."


"You know I would never lose it on purpose," Dom states.


I nod as I sit down to untie my shoes. I feel the bed move as Dom moves to sit behind me. I feel him start to kiss up my neck.


"You know I love you," Dom whispers.


"I know," I tell him.


I turn around so I can grab Dom's shoulder and pull him towards me in a kiss.

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