It started so simply, sitting around the table, having dinner with The Family. Almost nonchalant, without making a scene, Dom looked over to Brain and intoned "We'll race tomorrow night, at the factory." Nobody said anything, but there was a drop in the conversation before everyone started chatting again, and Brian knew that this one was different - he just didn't know why yet.
The Factory sounded special but was really just a burned out industrial park where the city had moved on and left some people behind, just a bunch of castaway buildings and pavement that used to matter. The cops never came out here and once the pavement was swept mostly clean it made a good spot to race. Not exciting enough for a big street race, but plenty of room to build up speed, and plenty of rusted out rebar and decaying concrete to drift past. You want a course, you can build it to taste out here with a few pieces of flagging tape.
Nobody had said anything last night or today, and nobody showed up to watch the race. Brian knew something was different, although Dom looked calm and collected, muscles relaxed as he leaned against the fender of his Charger, his frame mirroring the subtle lines of the classic American Muscle parked on the factory floor. He always looks like this, mused Brian, no matter what. Building could be burning to the ground around him and he'd look like it was happening on his order, on his schedule, completely in control.
Brian pulled up alongside Dom, hard and fast but under control, dropping the nose of his Skyline level with the Charger. He wanted to take back a little, show that even if Dom was calling the shots he could keep up and maintain control, but Dom just nudged an eyebrow and let the faintest hit of a smile flicker across his face. This race would have to be won out on the street, not here at the starting line.
By the third corner Brian could feel the sweat on his palms, nerves he thought he had banished from racing life finding their way out of some back corner of his mind. Dom had gotten him off the line, no surprise with the Charger, and was barely holding onto the lead as they pulled a hard left around the crumbling brick remains of a shop. Sweat or not he kept a firm grip on the shifter knob as he gripped it firmly and slide down into 4th, feeling the power transfer down through the rubber to the tarmac, and edged up closer to the Charger.
Another hard right, inches off Dom's rear end, and they pulled into the ruined husk of a building. The dark blue flagging tape used to mark the course was hard to see in the shadowy confines of the building, and had them swerving between columns, transmissions screaming up and down as they slowed and accelerated to maintain position. The Skyline was nimble and responsive but Dom held the lead with a masterful hand, never quite allowing Brian to gain control.
He's good, thought Brian, white knuckles gripping the steering wheel hard as he grit his teeth. Good, but it'll take more than good to beat me tonight.
Dom glanced in his rear view as they burst through the scraps of wood nailed across the exit from the factory floor, splinters erupting forward in a spray, and a smile crossed his face as he saw Brian still inches off his bumper. "Not bad for a cop" he rumbled to himself as he down shifted into another hard turn, sliding onto the roadway. He'd set up the course with a lot of curves, favouring the import, but couldn't resist having a little bit of straightaway to showcase the Hemi. The engine roared deep and loud as he opened it up.
Brian knew he would lose ground on the straightaway, no big deal, but found himself bested in the corners. The industrial ruin left minimal space for passing, and as the sleek cars slid through tight tunnels of concrete and brickwork he realized the course was not going to let him past. As they peeled around the final corner, cars as tight together as their friendship, Brian edged forward and kissed Dom's bumper with his own - sending the message that even if the game was rigged, he was right there on top of him.
They slammed into across the threshold and across the floor, dropping speed as aggressively as they had gained it at the start. As Dom slowed to a halt Brian couldn't resist swinging past him in a drift, an elegant dance of driving prowess leaving their doors adjacent, vehicles nose to rear.
Brain stepped out into the sudden post-race stillness. Dust in the air danced in the sunlight streaming in through the ragged, half-fallen corrugated steel roof, and the metallic ping of cooling engines sang through the air. His heart was pounding, he hadn't felt like this since he first starting racing as a teenager, without even a license to his name. How had Dom taken him so easily back to this place?
The driver side door on the Charger swung open naturally and Dom stepped out, drawing himself up to full height before flexing his shoulders and tilting his neck slightly. "Nice race" he drawled, reaching out a hand. "Not bad for a cop."
Brian reached out and clasped his hand. "Ex-cop" he replied, "and don't" - his words cut off by squealing tires and the crack of splintering lumber. Brian caught a glimpse of a pair of late model sedans, impossibly agile, crashing through a boarded up loading bay, white painted with menacing black highlights. Before he could see any more he was spun around and pressed up against the Charger, face planted against the cool steel of the door post, with Dom's muscular frame pinning him against the car.
Shots rang out, a quick burst from an automatic weapon, the crack of the explosion chased by the patter of bullets raining down on the Skyline. Engines roared and faded as the cars fled the scene as quickly as they arrived, a faint war cry of "Woop Woop!" echoing across the factory floor.
Brain felt Dom flex and twist as he scanned the area, then finally relax - but not pull back. "That wasn't meant for today" he said, his deep voice barely a whisper in Brain's ear. "But after today you're family... and you need to know about our family feud."
A moment passed and arms tightened around Brain's torso, pulling him close. "I'm sorry you found out like this", the words tumbling out of Dom's mouth like gravel pouring from a bucket. "I wish we had more time."
Brian relaxed back into the sudden embrace from behind, the tension of the day broken despite the new questions flooding into his mind. Struggles and trials loomed in the future, but for the moment, sandwiched between the unyielding embrace of Dom and the Charger, he knew he was where he needed to be.