Chapter 26

The races that night weren't exactly what someone would call boring. Actually, they were far from it. There was so much tension on the streets that night that you could cut it with a butter knife.

Everyone could feel that tonight was not Tran's night. Dom and his team had been huddled around each other all night as if tonight was the most important night of their lives.

"Yo, yo! Gather 'round! Gather 'round!" Hector called. Dozens of racers gathered in a huge circle, but stayed as close to their cars as possible. Some just sat on the hood of their cars to listen.

"Tonight is a very special night. My man Dominic and my homegirl Letty got engaged over this past week."

Racers from everywhere started cheering. Dom wrapped his arm around Letty's waist and slipped something into her hand as they walked to where Hector had been standing.

As Letty received a hug from Hector, she discreetly dropped the small item into his packet. He pulled away and winked at her and then gave Dom a brotherly; half-handshake, half embrace.

"GPS." Dom said quietly. Hector smiled and nodded his head.

"Okay, tonight, we have something special planned." As Hector spoke, Tran and Egypt walked to the middle of the circle and stood on the opposite side of Hector.

"Tonight, we've using GPS systems to race. The GPS will tell you where to go and most will show you a short cut, if you're lucky." Hector said. "Who's in?"

Every racer who wanted a piece of this new racing experience ran to Hector and placed their money into Hector's palm.

"Now, our friends at the local Radio Shack gave us three shipments of brand spankin' new GPS systems. They just shoved the boxes right into our hands." Hector chuckled and gave Tej a fist bump.

"So, any racers who need the GPS or the route embedded into their GPS, let me know." Hector said.

Whilst Hector was keeping the crows busy, Brian, Leon, Jesse, Vince and Mia were all embedding the route of the race into the cars of Johnny, Tran, Egypt, Lance and a few others.

When they'd finished, they embedded the route onto the GPS of every other racer who needed it.

Dom and Letty slowly and discreetly walked away from the crowd with the unused and unnecessary GPS devices.

"Lemme get that for you, pretty lady." Hector said, taking the large cardboard box from Letty.

She smiled and handed the box off to Hector. Mia walked up beside her and crossed her arms. Vince walked up to the other side of Letty and put his hands in his pockets. Letty put her hands on her hips and they all glared at Tran.

So far their plan was working down to the smallest detail. As they glared at Tran and his team, Tran and his team glared back.

Letty flipped Egypt off with her left hand so Egypt could see her engagement ring. Egypt tried to go after Letty but Lance held her back. Letty laughed and turned to walk away with Vince and Mia right behind her.

Hector and Dom walked back to the circle of racers and stood in the middle.

"All right, let's go!" Hector yelled.

Racers flocked to their cars and started their engines. No street in L.A. would be safe tonight. There were racers who wanted their names known and tonight was the perfect night. Dominic Toretto and Johnny Tran were racing so everyone wanted a piece of the action.

For lesser cars on the road, Letty sat in Dom's passenger seat and Mia sat in Brian's.

Dom looked over at Letty and she looked at him. At the same time, they leaned over and kissed each other's lips.

"Tonight's our night baby." Dom told her.

"You bet your ass papa." Letty said, smirking. Without explanation, that had become her signature quote.

"Everybody press the "navigate" button on the touch screen of the GPS systems." Hector yelled. Once completed, every racer began revving their engines.

"Ladies?" Hector said. Two gorgeous and rather busty twin brunettes in matching shorts and tank tops stood on either side of the start line. Hector pointed the first twin.

"Ready." She said.

Hector pointed to the second twin.

"Set."

Hector put his hands in the air and yelled "Go!" as he pointed to the racers.

Twelve to fifteen muscle cars sped furiously away towards their destination.

As they raced against time and other determined speed demons, Dom picked up his walkie-talkie.

"O'Connor, talk to me, bro! Make it or break it!" Dom yelled into the walkie-talkie.

"We're set, bro! Stay on the right of Tran and we'll stay on the left. Keep him straight." Brian's voice yelled back.

Dom nodded as if Brian could see him and dropped the walkie-talkie into his lap.