Disclaimer: I do not own anything from the Fast and the Furious or the characters so on and so forth. Have a nice day!
A/N: This is my first start at fan fiction other than Lord of the Rings (Yes I am a Lord of the Rings geek who also loves cars and Paul Walker, Go Me!), so go easy on me. I'm not sure when I'll have chapter 2 out but I hope you enjoy this one.
Chapter 1
The Job
Brian O'Coner sat in a large professional office style room in an even larger warehouse just outside of Miami, Florida. In a chair on Brian's left sat his best bud Roman Pearce. Four other guys occupied the room as well in chairs that formed a circle. Everyone was sitting silently except for Roman who was complaining rather loudly about something or another. Finally, the door in the back of the room opened and in stepped one of the highest men known in car dealership and in the racing world. They were all here for one reason… Eben paid good money to have people race illegally and legally for him. You'd have to be stupid to decline an invitation to something this big.
"Good Morning gentlemen and welcome! My name is Eben Foster as I'm sure you all know. I have chosen you all personally because well, you are the best." He watched with an invisible grin each of the men sat higher in their chairs. Eben was the best at boosting someone's self-esteem, but just as easily, he could break it.
"Right then," he clapped his hands together. "And just to let you know, one person has yet to arrive to this little meeting. The other person, someone needs to get, but let's put that aside for now. I know you all know why you're here… to race for me. Now don't let me bore you with the technical things that we've all gone over personally. What I'd like to assure everyone in this room is that you are all going to have one hell of a good time. I think intro…" He was cut off as the seventh man walked into the room.
"Sorry I'm late," was all he said as he walked across the room to an open seat. Brian stared in disbelief at the man known as Dominic Toretto. Brian had betrayed Dom awhile back. He had been working as an undercover cop in L.A. and Dom had been his target. Brian's cover had been blown and now he sat in the same room with Dom, a man he knew could kick the crap out of him. The only thing to stop him from ripping Brian's head off was…nothing. Brian could feel the sweat bead at the top of his hairline when Dom glanced his way. There was nothing but pure hatred boiling in eyes.
"Introductions," Eben finished. "This is Dom, who just walked in. Then we have Tyler, Nate, Sean, Roman, and Brian. Like I said, one of you needs to get the last member of our team." He stopped and waited for a taker.
"Why can't you go get this guy? You got all us." Roman spoke out with a skeptical snort.
"That's along story, and I will tell it who ever takes the job," again nobody offered. Eben nodded slowly before he finally spoke out again, "all right. 500 dollars for who ever does it."
"I'll go." Brian stepped up, but his buddy was right behind him. Roman scowled at not being quick enough. He sat down cussing under his breath, Roman was never one to turn down 500 dollars.
"Great. Brian you stay with me and the rest of you head down stairs and someone will be there to tell you what to do next," he waited till everyone had left the room before he turned back to Brian.
"Ok Brian. Let me explain a few things before I send you out in the snake pit."
Brian pulled up the Chevy pick-up in front of an auto shop a few miles away from the warehouse. He casually glanced at all the nice cars in the full parking lot. He hopped out of the tacky truck and headed in the store. Eben's warnings and words of advice turned freshly in the back of his mind.
This person you're getting is a girl… not a guy.
He looked around the shop and spotted the only girl, she was standing in front of the glass-viewing window.
The girl has blonde hair… blue eyes… she looks young.
The girl fit the description.
She's jumpy; so don't sneak up on her.
This girl looked wired in Brian's opinion. If she wasn't clipping her nails on the glass, she was bouncing her foot on the floor. She looked to be 5'7'' and 130 pounds, almost too normal for Miami. His cop training came into play, but he shook it off. Her halter-top showed her flat stomach and her blue jeans were worn low on her hips. Her blond hair was about shoulder length and had a bit of a wave to it. She glanced back over her shoulder and Brian noticed she had the most amazing blue eyes ever. Eben wasn't wrong; she looked fresh out of high school. He finally walked over to stand next to her and looked at the car being worked on. Brian saw the 99' Honda civic, that he was supposed to pick up so as not to look suspicious in the girl's eyes. He didn't like the car, but Eben said it was a car she would see fit.
She'll run away if she thinks you have anything to do with racing. She says she got out of the racing game, but nobody leaves without a piece of themselves being lost with it. Remember that Brian.
Brian looked down at the girl.
She looks young, but I bet she's been in the business way longer than you have son.
"Is that your car?" he offhandedly asked pointing to the 95' Mitsubishi Eclipse. It was all custom. There was no doubt in his mind that said it was for street racing. Half the parts that were just being added were illegal on a public road.
"Yeah I guess. My brother said I had a birthday present waiting, so I guess this is it," she said quickly. Her voice was sharp and sweet. It was like listening to a bird with an attitude. She was getting more nervous as the car had more put into it.
"Hey, you want to get something to eat?" he asked casually. Her chest rose and fell with her large intake of breath. He shook his head before she looked back at him. Asking her out would have been something he'd do even if it weren't for Eben. In the back of his mind, he felt bad he was leading her into this trap.
Don't let her get to you. She's tricky; just get her to go to lunch with you. Don't start feeling bad either…
Eben's voice yelled in his head like a bell and his feelings shifted toward the girl. She turned to him and slanted her head and smiled. Something in him jumped when she swept over him with her eyes. He liked bold women.
"That's your car?" she asked pointing at the Honda Civic, "Brian nodded in response. She looked hard at it through the glass as if studying it for any hidden secrets. "I suppose," her shoulders shrugged. "I am hungry and my car won't be done for an hour or so… I think. Oh, I'm Jessica." She held out her hand.
"Brian," his face light up as he flashed her one of his glorious smiles.
The local restaurant was busy with people. Eben and the rest of the guys sat at the biggest table in the back. A frown formed on his face as he glanced at his expensive watch. It shouldn't have taken Brian that long to get Jess. Eben wished he'd hurry up. He looked around at everyone, all of which looked hungry. He caught a glimpse of Brian at the front of the restaurant. He quieted the guys.
"Here they come. No one speak when Brian brings her in," Eben instructed. Everything had to be perfect for this to work. Eben knew Jess too well. It would be her rules or no go.
"This dude is a chick?" Roman spoke out.
"Yes," was his short, quick answer. His took his place by standing as Brian led Jess to the back. The young girl in front of him had a confused expression that made Eben smile. It had been almost a year sense the last time he'd talked to her in person. He knew it had also been close to a year sense the last time she'd ever raced. This was the last place Jess would want to be.
"Nice of you to drop by Jess," Eben greeted with a smile. Pure panic flashed through her eyes as she met his. He had her cornered, and she had no way out. It's not always smart to cage a wild animal. Eben kept his guard up. She took a step back, bumping into Brian. An all too familiar anger flared in Jess' blue eyes. One of her hands clenched into a fist. Eben took a step forward but he was too late. Jess turned in one motion and punched Brian square in the jaw. He stumbled back slightly and stood hold his chin.
"You were never on to play nice with the other children," Eben chuckled half amused. Eben took another step forward as she turned back to Brian. The restaurant had gone quiet and the noise was just begging to pick up again. She leaned forward to look Brian in the eyes. Eben could clearly hear the words she hissed in his ear,
"That is exactly how I feel right now!"
"Some how I have my doubts," Brian whispered back.
"Stop that Jess! Leave him alone! The man did nothing but what I asked him. You come and sit down right now and consider what I have to say. And Roman please go help your friend," he mentioned when he noticed Brian was now bleeding.
"Leave me alone! You're the devil himself Eben! You're lucky you brought me to such a public place or else all of you would have broken noses," Jess said as she sat down uncomfortably at the table. Eben took the open seat next to her.
"Jess, I need you and that's all I'm going to say. I need eight men and you're the eighth. Ha, I can do math," he chuckled remembering the last time they talked. "Anyway, You know you want to do this."
"Hell, I know she wants to do this," a voice interrupted. Eben looked up to see Jess' brother, Brandon. He had told him to come, but he didn't even realize he had shown up. Racing was once Jess' life; Eben could see how much it hurt her to give up her passion. As fun as living life as a street racer, it was a risky business. He knew Jess gave up racing to try to live a clean life as a mechanic in her brother's garage.
"You're in on this too I suppose?" she accused her older brother.
"J," he began using the nickname he always used. "I just want to see you happy again," he scratched the back of his neck.
"B, I am happy," she began. Eben watched her closely as she took a deep breath. Not racing was destroying her inside. "Fine! I'll do it," she answered shaking with more than rage, "for you B."
She may have said it was for Brandon, but Eben knew the reason. Her soul was only free when she raced.
"Let's eat then." Eben laughed as he clapped his hands together.
"I'm not hungry anymore. How about you just give me instructions to your house you've got set up," Jess answered, taking a stand.
"How do you know I have a house set up?" Eben chuckles in amusement.
"Don't give me that shit, I know you all too well," she spat. He didn't say a word just continued smiling at the pissed off girl in front of him. Hell had no fury like Jess when she was in a pissy mood. There was no nice way of putting it Jess could be a bitch.
"You can follow me back. I'm not hungry either," Dom offered standing and making his way to the door.
"Yeah… that's not going to work. I follow no one. No offense," her shoulders shrugged slightly as she glanced up at Dom. He gave a shrug back and walked out. Jess stood up and walked to her brother looking to him for a hand.
"J, I got your car. I can ride back with you and I'll show you," he threw an arm around her shoulder and gave her a reassuring squeeze. She looked up at him with a sad smile, but a smile all the same.
"Sounds good, but I need to stop by the house to get my crap," she realized.
"All ready taken care of J," Brandon said as they left.
"I think I'll take Brian back too," Roman added. Brian now leaned against a wall with a bag of ice one of the waitress's brought out for him placed on his jaw.
"That's ok, I'm sure he won't be able to chew anything for a few hours anyway," Eben knew from experience, having once been on the same end of Jess' punches as Brian once. The two men left as well. Eben was glad to be over with the drama.
Roman scowled as he watched Jess and her Brother get in her car.
"I think this girl is all talk," Roman huffed.
"That's not what her punch says," Brian gritted his teeth but immediately regretted the action as a searing pair shot though his slightly swollen jaw. Roman pointed them to his new car that had been a gift from Eben. It was a Mitsubishi 3000GT VR4. The car's pearl, white paint gleamed in the afternoon sun. Brian got in the passenger side and Roman got in the drivers, starting the engine.
"Lets find out what this Jess has got." Roman laughed as he followed her Eclipse out of the parking lot and into the heavy traffic.
newA/N: I'm going through and revising my chapters a little… nothing big so far.
