Dom shrugged off his jacket, kneeling down by the cot Katie was on before gently draping it over her sleeping form. He brushed away some of the stray hairs that had fallen into her face and released a deep sigh. He was glad that she was finally getting some rest. He knew that she had been on edge since the explosion. He heard her pacing in the middle of the night when she thought everyone else was asleep. She thought he wouldn't notice the increasing size of the bags under her eyes, but he did. Dom noticed everything when it came to her, small and big. The carrier jet jostled slightly as he stood up, scanning his eyes around before they locked on Brian who was towards the other side of the cargo compartment. He moved towards him, giving him a nod of acknowledgement.
"It was pretty wild on that mountain, huh?" Brian smirked.
Dom shook his head, leaning back against the side of the plane. "It was too close, but we got the job done."
"You know, the crazy thing is…" Brian paused, a nervous smile on his face.
Dom nodded, knowing exactly where this was heading. "You miss the bullets." Dom grinned, almost daring Brain to argue. He didn't. He just laughed nervously, mentioning how messed up that seemed. "Brian, I've seen you jump from trains, fly from planes. Hell, I saw your courage the day I met you." Dom stated. "Want to know the bravest thing I've ever seen you do? Be a good man to Mia. Being a great father to my nephew Jack. Stepping up and being a brother to Katie. Everyone is looking for their thrill, but what's real is family. Your family. Hold onto that Brian."
A silent moment passed as Brian absorbed Dom's words. The only sound being the groans of the carrier jet as it took them farther away from home. "You've been a good husband to Katie. You came into her life when I wasn't there, when she needed someone, and I don't think I've ever truly told you how grateful I am to you for that." Brian said suddenly, glancing over at his sister who was still asleep. "In a weird way you brought her back to me. I got the chance to be her brother again. Thank you, man."
The plane landed in the middle of nowhere Abu Dhabi. Sand dunes in every direction as far as you could see. The heat was intense, and the air was dry, but Katie had to admit, the cars Mr. Nobody had waiting for them were worth it. It's like he knew each person's preference and made sure to catered to them. He was good at getting people on his side. She skimmed her fingers over the deep purple dodge viper, grinning as she slipped into the driver's seat.
The ground support team that were waiting when they landed informed them that they were still about a two-hour dive outside of the city. Mr. Nobody and whatever organization he worked for decided that they didn't need the raised eyebrows and possible suspicion an unmarked, unscheduled carrier jet would bring if it landed at a designated airport.
Ramsey contacted her friend she mailed to device to, agreeing to meet him on a beach they supposedly frequented when she traveled here. He said he was coming from slightly out of town and to kill the time he insisted that they occupy his reserved beach cabana.
"It's hotter than I thought it would be." Rome commented, sitting up in his lounge chair as he stared ahead of him. They had all changed into breach friendly attire, which helped with the heat, but it was still ridiculously hot.
Tej scoffed, glancing over at Roman. "Yeah, well, we are in the desert, so it would be hot." He stated mockingly, rubbing his chin slightly.
Rome shook his head, his sight set on Ramsey as she emerged from the water. "Oh, no. I'm not talking about the weather. My, my, my…"
Tej followed Roman's gaze and nodded in agreement, rubbing his chin slightly. "Now that is a woman worth falling out a plane for." He stated, taking full advantage of the view in front of him.
Roman shook his head, ripping his eyes away from a bikini clad Ramsey. "Get out of there man. I got dibs on that. You see me looking at that."
"Did you just say 'dibs'?" Tej asked amusingly, raising his eyebrow in disbelief. He glanced around to see if anyone else hear Rome's insanity before turning back to the main himself. "What, are you in the fourth grade?"
Katie felt Dom tap her leg causing her to glance back at him. She was perched on his lap, her top half laying back on him as she watching the whole spectacle go down beside them. He nodded towards the bottled water near the edge of the cabana and she stood up, letting him stand and pass before sitting back down on his vacated seat. She rolled her eyes, pulling her legs up to her chest as Tej and Rome started in on a rock - paper - scissor battle over Ramsey.
"Are you guys for real right now?" Letty laughed, walking up between the two men and leaning over their lounge chairs. "Look at you, you guys look whipped already." The group cracked up, rolling their eyes at the conversation. "You got stalker eyes." Letty continued.
"I tried to call dibs on Ramsey two years ago." A man stated as he walked up to them, a smile on his stubbled face. "Her knee, my balls…" The man laughed, shaking his head with a knowing expression as he touched his crouch briefly. "Trust me, you don't want to do that."
Katie spared a glance over towards Brian who wore a similarly confused expression as the rest of the team. She stood slowly and just as she was about to ask who the guy was, Ramsey waltzed over and pulled the man into a hug. "Hello Safar." She greeted.
"I see you've made some new friends." Safar said, looking around the cabana and mentally clocking each person.
Ramsey nodded. "Some short tempered new friends." She responded, to which Katie couldn't argue. "I need the speed drive I sent you." Ramsey said, getting straight to the point. "Where is it?"
"Oh, good." Safar smiled, taking off his sunglasses. "You will be pleased to know I sold it." Katie breath stilled for a moment, closing her eyes as the realization set in that their task just got a hell of a lot harder.
"You sold it?" Ramsey repeated with disbelief. "I asked you to take care of it. Why on earth would you would you sell it?" She spit, frustration and annoyance clearly in her tone.
Dom cleared his throat, moving over towards Ramsey and Safar. "We're going to need that back."
A look of confusion and nervousness passed over Safar's face as he shook his head. "Impossible."
"Safar, I stashed something inside it." Ramsey explained. "It's important."
Safar sighed, glancing up at the three tall building across the waterway from them. "Okay, good news. It is safe." He paused, pursing his lips. "Bad news; It is really, really safe." Ramsey followed his line of sight and cursed, shaking her head at whatever she just realized. Katie frowned and looked up also, eyeing the sky-rises. "I sold it to a Jordanian prince, living up there. He's a trust fund billionaire, said he wanted to use it for his super car."
Roman perked up, raising his head with a sly smile. "Now see this…this I like." He said, slowly standing from his chair. "Billionaires. Supercars…am I the only one aroused right now?"
Everyone ignored the question, caught up with their own thoughts. "What makes it so super?" Ramsey asked, tilting her head as she looked up at the buildings.
Safar shrugged off his jacket and draped his over one shoulder, looking over at Ramsey. "Two hundred and forty-two miles per hour, top speed." Safar smirked. "Oh, and it's bulletproof."
"Where does he keep it?" Katie asked.
Safar turned towards her. "In his penthouse. Tower number one."
Tej still looked confused. "Now, why in the hell would he keep his car in his penthouse?"
"He's a billionaire my friend, he can do whatever he wants." Safar scoffed, almost envious. "Now tomorrow happens to be the longest day of the year. The prince wants to celebrate it, host a party tomorrow afternoon."
"So, you can get us up there right?" Brian questioned, looking at Safar.
"Sure." Safar nodded before glancing around at the team again with a grimace. "But, not dressed like that. I have people to call, don't your worry your pretty American heads about it."
Katie walked along the row of dressed, her fingers brushing along the different fabrics. When Safar said that he had people who he could call he wasn't kidding. The next day they were transported to a downtown apartment filled with everything from dresses to jewels to thousand-dollar suits. Katie pulled out a white diamond incrusted gown from the rack in front of her and turned towards Ramsey, lowering her voice.
"What exactly does Safar do?" She asked, raising her eyebrow with a pointed look.
Ramsey paused, glancing over at Katie as she held a black silk gown against her body like this entire situation they found themselves in was normal. "He has his hands in a little bit of everything you can possible imagine." She responded with a shrug. "Both legal and illegal."
Katie huffed out a laugh and shook her head, placing the dress that must have cost more than a small city back onto the rack. Admittedly she felt uncomfortable around such elegance. Her realm included jeans, sneakers and engine grease. The last time she wore a dress was her wedding day and even then, she felt like she didn't belong.
Obviously sensing the discomfort Ramsey smiled slightly, walking over to Katie and scanning through the dresses in front of them. She stopped on a beautiful deep blue evening gown with a jeweled belt. Taking it and holding it out to Katie. "Take your hair down and match it with blue earnings and the black heels over there on the shelf."
Katie laughed, rolling her eyes. "Thank you." She said pulling her hair out of the bun she had it in and taking the dress. "This is not my thing."
"Driving off of cliffs with strangers is not my thing." Ramsey replied as Letty walked into the room donning a vibrant red dress. "I guess we're all stepping out of our comfort zones."
Katie felt Dom touch the small of her back as he led her into the elevator. She punched in the code that would take them to the penthouse and watched the doors slowly close. She smoothed down her dress and closed her eyes, taking a long deep breath. When her eyes opened a moment later she found Dom's gaze on her.
"What?" She smiled, brushing the fabric of her dress again "Something wrong?"
Dom shook his head, stepping towards her again. "There's billion things wrong." He replied. "But not in this moment."
Katie rolled her eyes and moved to adjust his collar. "You look handsome." She said, wrapping her arms around his neck and looking up at him.
"I feel awkward." He responded, causing Katie to laugh. "Seeing you dressed like this reminds me of our wedding. Happiest day of my life."
"Don't lie." Katie said as she heard the ding of the elevator, signaling that they had reached the top floor. "We all know the happiest day of your life was when your dad gave you the charger. Don't worry though, that is something I will gladly come second too." She pulled away as the elevator doors opened. "Showtime handsome."
They parted ways as they stepped out of the elevator, Dom continued down the stairs to where the party was happening while Katie came to a stop next to Letty who was standing in front of the railing overlooking the party.
"No, no, no. Listen man." Roman's voice came through Katie's ear piece. "They're telling me they party like this every day. On this level. They party. Every day. This is crazy. I might have to move out here. I think I'm going to create a new culture. Call it Blarab. Like Black-Arab."
Katie readjusted her ear piece and shared a look with Letty. "How are we looking, Tej?" Dom asked, cutting off Romans ridiculous commentary.
"We're almost in position." Tej's voice broke through. "Okay, so this is how it works. We got to move in-sync if we're going to pull this off so let's go over it to make sure everyone clearly understands their role. The Gods eye chip is hidden in a speed drive installed in the prince's car, which he keeps in a safe room vault."
"I make eight to ten plain clothed security." Brian joined in.
"Not the mention the prince and is personal body guards." Dom stated.
Letty grabbed a glass of champagne off the passing tray and downed it, clutching the glass as the team continued to talk in their ears. "Security cameras are clustered by the north wall. That's where the vault is."
"We got to get in that vault, we got to tap into the security system which can be accessed through the prices bedroom." Tej informed, letting the girls know they were up.
"Alright guys, we're heading in." Katie stated, catching Dom's eye briefly and smiling reassuringly. She and Letty switched off their ear pieces, so they wouldn't get distracted and started back towards the hallway leading to the prince's bedroom. "So, how do you want to do this?"
"I don't know, but it has to be fast."
Katie paused, pursing her lips as she thought. "I got an idea. Work with me." Katie slumped herself over Letty, letting out a loud laugh as they turned the corner and into the guard's view.
The guard held out his hand and spoke to them in Arabic harshly, but Letty kept walking forward. "Hi, excuse me. My friend is really drunk, she just needs a place to lay down."
The guard shook his head. "This room is off limits…" Before the guy could finish Katie lunged forwards, thrusting her hand into his throat and knocking the pressure point on the side of his head that Brian had showed her earlier. Letty grabbed his ID badge as he slid to the floor and held it against the sensor granting them access to the bedroom.
Katie helped Letty drag the guard into the bedroom before closing the door behind them. Letting out a breath. "Girl power." She muttered, stepping over the guard and moving further into the room.
She reached up and turned her ear piece back on, kicking off her heels as she made her way across the massive room. "Alright, Tej. We're in."
"Alright, find the phone jack. The tap always runs behind there." Katie and Letty began looking around the room, searching for the phone jack. Katie spotted it by the large bed next to the window and nodded towards it. She shifted the slit in her dress, kneeling down and grasping the knife strapped to her thigh. "There's going to be a 350-megahertz CAT5e cable. They probably got a couple back there, but this will be the bonded pair with the plenum coat."
Katie scoffed, looking up at Letty with disbelief. "English, Tej." Letty replied, shaking her head.
"It'll be the orange wire." Katie pulled out the phone jack, revealing the multiple colored wires hidden behind it. She singled out the orange one and cut it, waiting for conformation that it worked. "Alright, ladies and gentlemen, we are in the pilot seat."
"Okay, Roman. Work your magic." Katie stated, standing up and brushing off her dress. She turned towards Letty and nodded towards the door. "We get back to the party, help Roman with whatever he's doing. Give the boys some more time."
Katie followed Letty towards the door, watching as Letty pulled it open only to be met with the prince's personal security detail. "Damn it." Katie muttered, following the leaders gaze as it found the slumped over guard just behind the door. "Would you believe we knocked him out with our American charm?"
"You aren't that charming, bitch." The leader responded with a snarl.
Katie blow out a breath, sneaking a glance at Letty. "Well, pleasantries are out the window." As soon the words left Katie's mouth the group of highly trained women attacked.
Letty tried to slam the door before they could enter, but she was just a moment too late. The soldiers dove in, fists flying and legs kicking. Katie and Letty dodged as much as possible, separating to try and divide and conquer.
Katie blocked another kick, losing her footing and tumbling over the couch almost connecting with the coffee table. Without so much as a moment to regain her breath the guard was on her again. She got an opening and thrust her fist into the guard's face, knocking her off balance and giving her the chance she needed to get the upper hand. She grabbed the guard by the hair and slammed her face down onto the coffee table twice before nailing her with a knee to the face rendering her unconscious.
Chest heaving Katie saw that Letty was still up against two of the guards. She started towards her but felt a blow to the back of the head before she made it there. Knocked to the floor, she quickly rolled onto her back, gaining her vision back and meeting the eyes of the head guard. "Thank God, you showed up." The woman spoke, a smirk on her lips. "These parties bore me to death."
Katie got back to her feet, throwing her hands up to block the woman's fist as it flew towards her. Unfortunately, it hit its target, thrusting Katie back and before she had a chance to recover the woman picked her up, throwing her into the marble wall behind them. Katie blinked the black dots out of her vision and stood up, successfully blocking the next couple punches. She ducked and landed a couple of her own, catching the woman off guard. Katie used this to her advantage, tackling her to the ground. They two wrestled, each trying their best to gain the upper hand. The guard was able to pin Katie, climbing on top of her and raining down punches to anywhere they could reach.
Katie was able to reach out, grasping a flower vase that had fell to the ground. She raised it up, slamming it against the woman head. The moment the woman hesitated Katie rolled them over, allowing her to be on top. She repeated the woman's actions, landing blows anywhere she could. The woman's legs came up, wrapping around Katie's neck and bringing her down, pinning her against her body. Katie then felt an elbow slam into her skull and knew she needed to get out of the situation as soon as possible. She reached down and retrieved the blade that was still strapped to her thigh and stabbed it into the woman's leg causing a scream to follow.
This gave Katie the time to stand, but the woman wasn't far behind. It's like she was inhuman. What kind of person got stabbed and just stood back up like it was a pin prick. The knife was knocked from Katie hand and the woman grabbed for her, pushing them down the hallway towards the elevator and main room. The two continued throwing punches and kicks as they neared the railing that over looked the party. Katie heard Letty yell out for her, but it was too late. The last punch Katie landed knocked the woman completely off balance, causing her fall over the side of the railing. Her grip was still tight on Katie's body, the momentum bringing them both tumbling over the edge of the railing.
The landed with a resounding crash on the DJ table below. Katie coughed harshly, rolling onto her side, desperately trying to get air back into her lungs. Everything hurt as she moved her body, but her head was worse. Opening her eyes, she saw Romans concern filled face above her. "Katie. Katie, talk you me. Are you okay?" He grabbed her face and tried to get her to focus on him, but her head was spinning.
Letty appeared next to him, bruised and bloody, but alone. They helped her stand as the super car crashed through the vault door and into the main room. Screams erupted as the party attendees panicked, running away from the car. Before anyone had a chance to process what was going on the elevator doors opened, reveling Deckard with an automatic machine gun. Roman knew it was time to get out. He reached down, picking Katie up off the ground and holding her close to his body as he and Letty made for the stairs along with everyone else.
Katie, still disoriented, tried to protest. "We can't leave them."
"They're going to be fine." Letty responded, pushing past people who were a little too slow for her liking. "They always are."
Katie shook her head, responding quietly and they main room disappeared from her view. "They are until they're not."
Hello Everyone! I hope you enjoyed this chapter. I still really struggle with writing action, which is why it took me so long to actually write this chapter. Please let me know what you thought and what your predictions are! Also, I'm in the middle of deciding if I am actually going to write Furious 8 and beyond or just end the series after this installment. It's not that I didn't like Furious 8, it's just i don't know how I would fit Katie into it. Please let me know how you feel about it and if you have any ideas or anything you would like to see coming up. Thank you for reading :)
~Hanna
