Chapter 3 - Race or Die

Dominican Republic

1 year before

"Dom?" Were the first words that Letty spoke when she woke up the next morning and couldn't find Dominic in the bed with her.

Rubbing her eyes, she sat in up in bed, suddenly feeling worried.

"Dom!" She called for him again looking towards the bathroom door, wondering if he was in the shower but she couldn't hear the sound of running water.

Letty left the bed and walked towards to the bathroom still calling for Dom, but the bathroom was empty. She went back into the bedroom and pulled on her jeans, and flip-flops. Then she tied her long, dark hair back into a ponytail and left the room for a walk towards the empty beach outside. The morning was cloudy but the sun would be up soon.

Letty walked along the white sand, hoping to find Dom. She thought that maybe he was walking along the beach trying to put his thoughts in order but he wasn't there.

The concern inside her grew even more and she returned to their bedroom…praying that he would be there waiting for her.

"No you bastard! You didn't do this to me!" Letty said to herself as she looked in the closet. She was stunned to discover that all of Dom's clothing and personal items were gone.

"Cabrón!" (Bastard!) She yelled in Spanish. Letty, then noticed a large bundle of money sitting on top of the coffee table. There were at least three packets of stacked dollar bills that he had left for her… a lot of money but Letty didn't care about the money…she only wanted her man by her side!

It was never because of money that Letty broke the law… it was because of him! It was something that they did together and she was hoping that one day he would stop and they'd live a real life together. Finally! But that would never happen now because Dom had left her!

"Why Dom?" She screamed in a moment of fury…and despair. She angrily threw the money across the room, kicking the packs under the bed. Her whole body was shaking.

Dom had talked about the possibility of leaving her, but Letty wasn't expecting that he would actually do it…especially in the middle of the night when she was sleeping! Coward!

Now Letty had no idea where he was going and she knew that if she called him on his cell that he wouldn't answer her. Dom had made his decision and nothing would make him change his mind! Letty was smart enough to realize that.

"Oh Papi!" She lay down on the bed and cried.

Letty had never been the queen of drama for tears… but Dom leaving her had been a strong blow to her. She couldn't imagine her life without him. They'd been together since she was sixteen years old. They had had many fights and break ups over the years but they always got back together… because they belonged together! That was what Letty believed…no knew….deep down in her soul.

Still crying, Letty buried her head deep into the pillow trying to alleviate the unbearable pain that she felt in her heart. That was when she felt something cold and hard under the pillow.

Letty picked up the object and realized that it was the heavy silver necklace and cross that Dom always wore. He'd left it for her… so that she'd never forget him.

She held the necklace tightly between her fingers and started to cry again. She didn't want to leave her room that day…the last place that she felt close to Dom….not alone.

xxxxxxxxxxxxxx

Los Angeles, United States

6 weeks later

"FBI." Letty quietly read the very large silver letters set onto the side of the cold looking brick building that housed The Headquarters of the FBI in Los Angeles.

The last six weeks that Letty had remained in The Dominican Republic without Dom had been incredibly hard for her. She couldn't forgive him and was still in denial that he had actually left her. She understood his reasoning but she didn't agree. She understood that he was afraid for her safety. He loved her and didn't want anything bad to happen to her.

For Letty that only left one solution.

The only way for them to ever be together again would be if Dom was pardoned by the law.

Dom needed to be a free man…not wanted by the cops. Then Dom and Letty could be left alone and live their lives together. There was only one person whom she thought could help her. The same person that was in part responsible for Dom being a fugitive now.

"Good morning." She sweetly said to the officer sitting at the reception desk inside the building.

"Morning." The officer politely answered. He subconsciously smoothed his silk tie and smiled up at Letty. He was interrogating her body with his eyes….from the top of her head to the bottom of her toes!

Letty smiled back at him. That morning she was dressed differently… for her. She was trying to portray herself as the respectable lady. She was wearing a yellow dress with delicate white sandals.

"How can I help you, Miss?" The officer gently asked.

Letty seductively put her fingers through her loose hair and said. "I'm looking for an old friend of mine. His name is Brian O'Connor."

The man nodded when he heard the name she'd just spoken. "Well, he's not here right now. He's out of the office on business." He replied.

"Oh dear…that's too bad…" Letty said in a sad voice trying to gain some trust and empathy from the officer. "I haven't seen him in five years now and I came all the way to LA just to talk to him. It's urgent! Are you sure that you can't help me Officer…" She read the name on his badge. "…Melbourne?"

The officer smiled again, thinking to himself that maybe Letty was interested in him. Realizing her victory, Letty manipulated him a little more. "Can I call you Allan?"

"Sure." He said. "Well… maybe I can help you, Miss…?"

"Ortiz. Letícia Ortiz." She said. "But my friends call me Letty."

"Letty! Well maybe I can help you if you tell me what you want to talk to O'Connor about. He's not exactly the model cop, you know?" Melbourne stated.

"Really?" Letty said impatiently. She just wanted the silly man to take her to talk to Brian.

"Yeah. I heard that he let a dangerous criminal escape five years ago and because of that he was dismissed from the police force. I have no idea how he got his badge back but…"

Letty quickly interrupted him before he could start talking again and continue to waste her time. "Well Allan, what I have to talk to Brian about has nothing to do with the police… actually it's personal."

"Really?" He asked disappointed thinking that Letty could be Brian's ex-girlfriend.

"Yes, Brian and I...we need to talk, so…" She moved closer to him and seductively said "Maybe if you help me talk to Brian sooner, then I'll be finished sooner… then maybe we can go out for a cup of coffee Allan!"

Melbourne was hopeful again. Looking around, he left his position at the reception desk and said to Letty. "Come with me, Miss."

xxxxxxxxxxxx

"Damn it!" Brian yelled when he arrived at the office full of agents…most of them pacing impatiently waiting for him.

He was upset about the case he'd been working on. The case involved an influential drug dealer named Arturo Braga. The FBI had been trying to capture him for over a year now and hadn't made any significant progress.

The last information that Brian had received on this ruthless drug lord was that he used race car drivers to transport his product quickly and quietly over the border from Mexico.

Brian's plan had been to infiltrate Braga's organization as a driver. Brian's superior had said that there was no way in hell that he would ever allow Brian to do this…someone else maybe…but never Brian.

Brian's boss didn't like him. That was obvious. He'd shared his opinion of Brian and why he felt Brian deserved to be kicked off the force and not allowed to return.

He told Brian that he had failed when he had infiltrated Toretto's gang all those years ago. He had allowed himself to get too close to his suspects Dom, his sister Mia and the other drivers.

In the end, Brian had lost his prime suspect, his reputation and his job from the police force.

However, Brian had been given another chance…a police mission that he had successfully solved and he had worked hard ever since earning his way into joining the FBI.

Brian wanted his boss to change his mind. If he wouldn't let Brian infiltrate Braga's organization then somebody else had to. He just needed to find a driver good enough to infiltrate the organization.

Brian thought that his plan was perfect. Braga was always recruiting drivers… so it couldn't be that difficult getting someone in there? Could it?!

He was so distracted thinking about these details that he didn't realize Letty's presence until she actually spoke to him.

"You kiss your mama with that mouth O'Connor?" Letty asked grinning. Brian heard the familiar voice coming from the corner of the room and turned to see Letty sitting in a chair with her arms folded across her chest.

Five years had come and gone and he could see the maturity in her face now, especially since she was dressed so beautifully. However, her "I don't give a damn look" that he remembered was still on her face.

"Letty?" He said, surprised to see her. "What are you doing here? It's been a long time!" He quickly walked over to her and gave her a big bear hug and they briefly embraced.

"I need your help." She quietly said as she sat down again. "It's Dom." He pulled up a chair and sat down in front her listening to what she had to say.

"Dom left. I don't know where. He just disappeared one night. He was afraid that something might happen to me if we stayed together." Letty quietly began.

"Ok. Back up." Brian said. "First, tell me where you and Dom have been hiding all of this time?"

"After you let him get away, Dom met me in Mexico. I was with Leon. We stayed there for a long time quietly living our lives. But I knew Dom wasn't comfortable with our situation. He was becoming distressed…always on guard. Then, we went to The Dominican and he left me there all by myself. I know he wants to protect me but I can't live without him Brian. This isn't right!"

Brian understood. He understood Letty completely, because he felt exactly the same way about Mia. Mia was on Dom's side and Dom was on the wrong side of the law. Brian's predicament with his colleague's on the police force was volatile after he let Dominic escape. He had to give Mia up.

"Do you have any idea where Dom could be?" Brian asked.

"No man." She solemnly said. "Do you think that if I had a clue where Dom was that I'd be here talking with you!"

"What about Mia? She's his sister she must be in contact with him?" He offered.

"I'm going to see her soon but I know she won't tell me where Dom is, Brian. Like you said they're brother and sister. They're very close…and loyal to each other." Letty explained.

"How long has it been since he left?" Brian asked.

"Six weeks. We were in The Dominican Republic. One day he just left. I contacted Vince and Leon to help me find him but we failed. When Dom doesn't want to be found…he won't be. Letty said.

"What do you want me to do Letty?" Brian asked. "I'd like to help you… but I work for The FBI…I'm under their jurisdiction… I have my hands tied. They want Dom…"

"They want Dom because of you, God Damn it! You brought the cops to our doorstep!" She got up out of the chair and gave him that angry glance that he remembered so well from five years ago.

Brian knew that Letty loved Dom and that she would likely do anything for him. And he knew, also, that Letty was an excellent racer. She was part of Dom's team stealing trucks.

Letty was a strong and courageous woman that wasn't afraid of any obstacle that got in her way. Suddenly, the arrival of Letty at The FBI seemed like such perfect timing!

"Dom needs to come home but he can't come home with the cops trying to catch his ass. He must be forgiven. He needs to deal with this mess with the law! Don't you understand O'Conner? You get dirty..then you clean up, got it?" She pointed her finger at Brian and then slumped back down into the chair. Her dark eyes were sad, begging him to help her.

Brian was thinking about what Letty was offering him. Things became clearer in his mind. If Letty cooperated with him in bringing down Braga's Cartel, then maybe he could do something for her…for Dom… to bring him home. A deal. He would make a proposal to The FBI brass and ask for a deal for Dom in exchange for Letty's help.

Then his two biggest problems would be solved. Braga would be arrested and put out of commission….and Dom could return to LA without worrying about the cops getting him.

During the time that Brian had spent with Dominic in the past, he'd learned to admire and respect him. Since then, Brian had had to live with the guilt of being the one to cause Dom to run from the police.

Mia never forgave him. Would she forgive him if he brought Dom back to her after five years?

"I think that maybe there is something that we can do Letty." Brian said.

"What do you have in mind Brian?" Letty asked intrigued.

"Would you do anything for Dom?" Brian asked.

"Of course I would! I'll do anything. That's the reason I'm here, man!" Letty said.

"Ok. I'll tell you my plan." Brian began.

To be Continued ...