Chapter 25
The Race
Dom wasn't surprised about the non-rules. Letty had told him everything about it when they're getting the car ready for the race at Roman's garage.
"You can still quit!"- said Campos. He usually said that to the drivers.
However, nobody gave up as he expected. Braga promised his drivers money and fame but all they would find was death in the end. Brian needed to end that. Ramon Campos had to pick him!
"That's all, folks! - Campos said after he finished explaining the race rules what was ironic considering there wasn't rules at all.
"Follow me, please."- Gisele asked leading the drivers out of the room and then out of the club. In a few minutes the race would start.
"If something happens to us…"- a drive started saying, his face showing concern when he kindly touched Gisele's arm.
Phoenix remained close to her in case the man tried something against her. -…we would receive medical care, right?"- the man added.
Gisele giggled.
"No medical care, buddy. You're on your own."
Soon they were outside getting into their cars, ready to race. Dom got in his car too. He installed the GPS provided by Campos and then he instinctively touched the silver cross pendant that was hanging in a necklace on the rear-view mirror. Letty had kept that jewelry when Dom left. Now the necklace had been returned to where it belonged.
He turned on the engine. The cars aligned beside each other waiting for the GPS to set the start. Inside each car, the device showed in its colorful screen some computer images of the race's pathway.
An electronic female voice came out of the GPS saying:
"Please, wait for the download of the directions."
On the screen, Dom could see the position which each car was in relation to him and visualize their colours.
"Follow the marked route."- the electronic voice continued. It was numbering the other racers and showing the direction to follow on the screen. A countdown started:
"10, 9...8...7..."
Brian's car was parked right beside Dom's car and he looked at his friend. Dom finally said something about his presence there.
"What the hell are you doing here, O'Conner?"- Dominic asked in a calm and low voice.
"I'm trying to save your ass."- Brian answered without looking at him. "But the game can always change anytime and I have no control over it."
"That's what you say!"- Dominic said. – But only one driver will get picked tonight."
"That's right and it is going to be me."- Brian responded full of arrogance.
"...4, 3, 2. 1!"- lots of images of women in short shorts and bikinis showed up on the GPS screen. "GO!"- colorful letters blinked indicating the race had started.
Dominic left first, forcing his car to the limit, drifting it. People vibrated. Gisele, Campos and Phoenix watched the race from a safe distance. Dom continued leading the race for a long time. His GPS were guiding him: "Curve to the right ahead. You're eight kilometers from your final destination."
The cars were going on full speed, avoiding the streets traffic, passing red lights and keeping themselves close to each other. Brian was pushed by one of the racers and his car skid in the middle of the road, soon he got stuck among four or five regular cars what delayed him a lot.
However, he was able to accelerate and get close to Dom again. When he saw Brian was getting closer, Dominic stepped on the pedal and disappeared from Brian's field of vision.
Dom got rid of all racers, one by one, confusing them and leading them to take wrong directions but Brian soon was on his tale again. When he tried to get closer one more time, Brian almost hit the back of a huge truck. His heartbeat increased but he held firm to the steer wheels.
The other racers were fighting against each other towards the leadership so they could try to pass Dom that was still racing in front of everybody. All the pushing provoked by the drivers resulted in a tragedy. One of the cars rolled over three times and hit Brian's car. He pushed the brakes and escaped of being throw out of the road. He went under the car of another driver that was still rolling in the air before the vehicle crashed on the concrete.
"Seriously!"- Brian exclaimed. He felt relieved for not being hit by that car.
Every time he had to divert took Brian out of his route. The GPS voice spoke: "Recalculating."
Brian did a fast maneuver and turned back on the road trying to go back on his route. The GPS insisted: "Recalculating."
But Brian was too far now from the others and had to take a shortcut in an alley. He ended up coming out in the middle of the pedestrians that became scared when they saw his car coming and ran to the sidewalks.
He was finally able to recover some time but the GPS said it again: "Recalculating."
"Shut up!"- Brian shouted.
"You're 7.2 kilometers from your final destination."- The GPS announced.
Now he was driving over a bridge where he could see Dominic right under him and another car that was trying to pass him. The other racers have gotten behind. Brian needed to find a way to get down on that road.
"Go back if possible."- The GPS suggested.
"Are you kidding me?"- Brian protested.
"You're 6.7 kilometers from your final destination."
Brian took a deep breath. He just had had a crazy idea that could work.
"I'm sorry, car."- He said when he steeped on the pedal with all the strength. Suddenly, he was going down the road driving over a grass field and breaking all the safety fences. But soon he'd be down.
When Brian was finally back to the race, the GPS said with proud: "You're 1.6 kilometers of your final destination."
"Guess who's back?"- He excitedly shouted.
The other driver that was furiously racing with Dom threw his car many times against Brian's.
"Nice car, baby!"- The man said.
Dom diverted from him and soon the man was out the competition. He hit another car and rolled over on the road. Dominic speed up and kept going. Now there was only him and Brian in the competing.
Dom hit Brian's car on purpose taking the leadership again.
O'Conner yelled:
"Asshole!"
"You're 400 meters away of your final destination."- The GPS said in Dom's car.
Brian didn't give up and was able to get near Dom again, pairing his car with Dom's. They're already too close from the finish line and Dom decided to turn on the NOS and win the race. But Brian didn't bother with it.
"Too soon, Dom."- He said before he turned on his booster.
However, when Brian was about to pass him, Dominic threw his car against his with so much strenght that made his vehicle to drive in circles on the road. Brian furiously yelled:
"Noooooo!"
"You're still a beginner."- Dom commented with himself laughing a little bit before he made it to the finish line where Campos, Gisele and Phoenix were waiting for him.
"You've arrived."- The GPS said showing again a bunch of images of beautiful semi naked women.
Dom came out of the car with the arrogant attitude from before. Brian got out of his car too and walked towards him, saying:
"Now we know you can't win honestly."
"I didn't know honesty was a rule."- Dom calmly said.
Phoenix clapped for Dominic.
- Así me gusta! (That's the way I like it). You're a real driver."
"This is bullshit."- Brian protested.
"Go cry to your mama."- Phoenix said, making fun of him.
"You don't have to cry."- Gisele said. "In fact, Braga had asked us to find two drivers this time but I wasn't expecting to find two good ones tonight. You can stay.
Brian had walked a few steps to leave and then he came back. Campos shook Dom's hand.
"Now you work for Braga. Where the GPS sends you follow!"
He turned to Brian:
"Welcome to the team."
Gisele approached Dom and gave him an undeniable seductive look.
"Drivers licence, please."
"What driver's license?"
"Thumb."- She said showing him a small device to get his fingerprint.
Dom did what she asked. Brian waited for his turn.
"Now I need your cell phone number."
Dominic didn't answer. He just stared at her. Gisele explained it to him:
"The fingerprint is for Campos, the cell phone number is for me."
He slightly smiled and said:
"I'm afraid I'm not single."
"There is a party at the club for the drivers now.- Phoneix announced. "You two are invited."
"See you at the party!"- Dom said while Gisele was getting Brian's fingerprint.
xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
"Where are you taking me?"
It was the third time that Maria Tereza Muñoz questioned agent Monica Fuentes since they had left the FBI headquarters in Los Angeles. Teresa was still on custody but Monica was able to convince Penning that it would look less suspicious if the two of them leave the FBI in her car instead of using one of the patrol cars.
It was obvious that Braga knew already that the police had Teresa. That was probably why he set up the accident at the restaurant. However, once Teresa got into the witness protection program with her son, he wouldn't be able to find her.
"We're going to see your son."- Monica finally said.
Teresa became agitated.
"My son? We're going to Today's? I can't go there, if they're watching me, they'll find out where my son is!"
"Teresa, your son is not at Today's anymore."- Monica told her when she parked in front of the hospital where Teresa's child was admitted.
"What do you mean he isn't there?"
"There was an incident at Today's."- Monica started explaining to her. "An arson…"
"Oh, my God!"- Teresa exclaimed. She was very nervous. "What happened to Robbie? Is he alright?"
"Roberto is ok."- Monica answered. "There was an explosion followed by a fire at Today's and your son escaped with just a few scratches. He is a very tough boy. He hid himself very well."
"What about Suzy?"- Teresa asked concerned for her friend that was taking care of her son.
Monica took a deep breath. That was one thing she hated about her job, to tell people about their loved one's death.
"Unfortunately, your friend Susana Larson was the only fatal victim of the incident. I had planned to go get your son and your friend and take them to safety but there wasn't time. I'm so sorry for your loss."
Tears fell all over Teresa's face. She asked herself why life didn't stop punishing her. She had lost so much already. But there was still Roberto and she wouldn't let anybody to take him away from her.
"I want to see my kid!"- She demanded to Monica.
"That's why I brought you here."- the agent said.
A few minutes later they were walking through the children's aisle from the Hospital. Roberto Muñoz was in a room with three other kids. Monica opened the door slowly. It was late and she didn't want to wake up the children.
Roberto was sleeping on a bed near the window. A nurse was reading a few medical records beside his bed. Monica showed her the badge and the woman nodded. She already knew why they were there.
Teresa came closer to her son and took a sit on a chair beside his bed. The boy was a little pale and had a few scratches on his face, neck and arms plus a few wounds in his knees that she couldn't see because the child was covered by a white blanket.
"I have been a terrible mother to him."- Teresa whispered. "I've promised Robbie that we were going home in Guadalajara and that Diogo and I would make him a tree house."
"You can still fulfill your promise."- Monica said getting a foldable chair that was placed beside the bathroom and sat beside Teresa. "Maria Teresa, I heard after I interrogated you that you are still denying to testify against Arturo Braga and the man responsible for putting you in this situation. Why?"
Teresa turned to her. There was hate and frustration in her eyes.
"Do you still ask me why? Suzy is dead and my son almost got killed because of this Braga. I'm in prison! How worse this situation could be? I want a better future for my son and I won't allow this to continue. My brother is missing…"
"Your brother is dead, Teresa."- Monica revealed.
"What?"- the woman increased her voice and Monica made a gesture for her to calm down and not to wake up the children.
Teresa regained control.
"How do you know about it? Was his body found?"
Monica shook her head.
"No, we haven't found his body but I met a person that was there the day he got killed."
"Who is it?"- Teresa asked. She felt a knot forming in her throat.
"I can't tell you the name for safety reasons but this person was also one of Braga's drivers. They were in the same mission but the person was able to escape."
"How did my brother die?"
"According to my source all the drivers were taken to the desert transporting drugs in their trucks for Braga's cartel. Once the shipment was in a safe place at the border, the organization got the drivers killed one by one. The same thing happened to Diogo."
"Oh, God!"- Teresa whispered low. She started sobbing.
"Now to testify against the cartel is your choice, Maria Teresa."- Monica said. "But you should know that you'll be charged for attacking Mia Toretto and for your involvement with Braga's cartel. You will serve at least five years in prison and Roberto is going to a foster home. So, I ask you now, is that what you want? Is that the future you want to give to your son?"
Teresa put her head down and cried. She didn't have a choice. If she was arrested, she could lose her son's custody but if she witnessed against Braga there was a possibility to be released on parole after a few months in jail. After that she could continue living in Los Angeles with Robbie and give him a better future.
When she finally raised her head again, she faced agent Monica Fuentes. Her eyes were showing anger, sadness but also resignation.
"I'll do it. I'll testify against Braga. But the FBI will have to give to me and Roberto full protection until this man is in custody, otherwise he'll kill us just like he did to my brother and Suzy."
"You have my word that we'll keep you safe until Braga is behind bars."
Teresa nodded.
Monica felt victorious because she finally got Teresa to testify. She left her alone with her son and went to wait at the hallway. She sat in a chair beside the room and sent a text message to Brian's cell phone, saying:
"I made it! Maria Tereza Muñoz will testify! What about you? Did you win the race?"
To be continued...