Chapter 52 Part III-The Final Mile

"Looks like Koenig's team is the crew to beat tonight, gentlemen. They came prepared. With only three teams remaining, it's up to Edward McKinley's crew from London to take them down. If your boys have any tricks up their sleeves, they better pull 'em out now. Team Koenig is two hours away from victory."


"Hobbs, does the word Nightshade mean anything to you?" Dom said into his phone after reading the anxious text from Twinkie.

"No but I'll check around with the agency," Hobbs reported back from his truck in the front of the pack. "Dom, you ever think this trip has been way too easy?"

"I've been thinking that for the past two hours. Something's off," Dom said and ended the call.

"What's wrong?" Letty asked after taking in his flustered face.

"It's too quiet," Dom whispered while looking around the area. After finally shaking the tail of city police, they managed nearly two-hours of driving with no interruptions, but that didn't ease the nervous feeling that crept into the pit of his stomach. He checked his rear-view and noticed a slew of cars coming up on his team quickly. "Guys, we have a tail."

"Dom, he's got a damn rocket launcher!" Brian's panicked voice buzzed in. Dom turned to see a man standing out the sunroof of a Mini-Cooper, raising a large weapon in their direction.

"Everyone out of the way!" Dom ordered as the explosive projectile launched through the air. Hobbs' truck swerved in time, unfortunate for the car ahead of him that was shot several feet into the air by the rocket. "Guys, help us out. We can't let that truck take any fire."

Before Dom knew it, his team was engaged in a full-on gun battle between a variety of imports doing speeds toppling a hundred miles per hour.

"Hobbs, how about a gun now?" Dom yelled into the window of Hobbs' truck. He finally stretched a shotgun over to Dom, who handed it to Letty before pulling back in formation. He lined up with the mini-Cooper and didn't need to tell Letty what to do next. She fired at the tires of the car, causing the driver to swerve uncontrollably into the opposite lane. This caused both enemy cars to lurch into oncoming traffic, both cars being taken out by an eighteen-wheeler truck.

"I got this one Dom," Brian said while ducking bullets from an Alfa Romeo Giulietta following close behind him. When the car moved to line up with him in the next lane, Brian readied his weapon. "You want some, bro?" He asked enthusiastically while smashing his Toyota into the Alfa's front end. When the cars became lodged together, Brian ducked as a richotet of bullets came through his window. He kept his head down and tried to guide the cars to the center of the highway road, but soon felt a harsh burn in his side. The pain grew more intense and Brian finally looked down to see red fluid soaking through his t-shirt.

Injured and angered, Brian looked up to a see a center barrier coming up on his left. He twisted the wheel hard, lining up the Alfa with the barrier. He screamed out in agonizing pain and floored it, smashing the Alfa into the barrier head-on.

"O'Connor, you all right?" Dom asked.

"No, I'm hit Dom," Brian pulled his hands away from the wound, "I'm hit, man."

"We'll get him, Dom," Hobbs chimed in, "Get rid of that last car."

Dom looked over to see the final car - a red '68 Chevelle - speeding up behind him. "You take the wheel," he said while snatching the shotgun from her hands. Dom crawled out the window while Letty took control of the car from the passenger seat and propped himself up. Dom trained his gun on the front of the car and fired, with no luck at hitting his target. As the Chevelle tried to speed away, Dom became focused on the muscle car and fired once more, nailing the gas tank with precise aim. The Chevelle exploded into a fiery ball that rained ash and metal debris down onto the road. Dom grinned and slid back inside, taking control of the wheel again.

"Alright Hobbs, get Brian out of that car!"

"Get me over to him Adams," Hobbs said as he tied a rope tight around his waist, and the other end to a metal bar inside his truck. He kicked the back door open and stood on the ledge. By the white-knuckle hold he had on the wheel, Hobbs knew Brian wasn't in good shape.

"Hang in there O'Connor!" he yelled, "Adams, I need closer!"

The F-150 truck was merely inches away from Brian's blue Toyota GT86, and Hobbs could now see the blood on Brian's hands and face. With a deep breath, Luke checked the grip on the rope one last time before opening the door wide and standing on the landing of the truck. He looked down as the highway passed quickly beneath his feet and decided to hurry.

The engine of the Toyota sent black smoke through the crushed hood of Brian's car, and the smell of gasoline brought tears to his eye. He didn't want to go out this way, but he thought of his beautiful wife, his dotting daughter, and the impact he made with his friends and family, and all Brian could do was smile. Smile for the happiness they brought him, and for the life they would have after it was over. If he died, it would not be in vain.

Brian kept that smile on and unbuckled himself from the seat. He put the car on cruise-control as he felt himself losing consciousness.

"Can you get out?" Hobbs yelled over to Brian, but he didn't respond.

When flames began seeping out from under the crushed metal, Hobbs didn't hesitate to yank open Brian's door and reach in for him. He prayed the rope would hold and pulled the dead-weight from the car, screaming out in agony as the added pressure on his injured leg became too much to handle. He could hear the metal bar bending against the weight; he was running out of time to save them both. Just as he was pulling both of their bodies back inside the truck, the Toyota swerved hard right and slammed into the barrier, exploding into a smoldering ball of fire on the road. The force of the explosion sent them both falling back inside the truck. Brian landed hard on top of Hobbs as they crashed into the floor with a thud. Hobbs looked up at the bar that was barely hanging on by one end and thanked the Heavens for his wielding skills. He looked down to see Brian smiling, but breathing shallowly.

"You enjoying this, Pretty Boy?"

"Not as much as you," Brian groaned he rolled off of Hobbs flashlight. "Thanks man. I wasn't ready to go just yet," Brian smiled while flopping down in the backseat. "I do need a doc, though."

"Hobbs, how is he?" Dom asked while making his way back to the front of the pack.

"He's bleeding, gunshot wound. I'll get him to a hospital, you guys get to Munich."

Thankful that his brother was okay, Dom finally let out a sigh of relief as they coasted away from the wreckage. He decided to check in with his sister to let her know that everything was okay. He was expecting her to yell, so he spoke first.

"Mia, bella, I'm sorry we haven't called. We're on the way."

"I hope you're hurrying," the cold voice on the other end said, "Bring those cases, too."

Dom's blood turned cold when the realization hit him, "Where's Mia?"

"She's right here, holding on to her daughter for dear life. Praying that I don't pull this trigger," Elena's said grimly.

"Dom please! She has Julian!"

Letty overhead Mia's shouting in the background and turned to Dom, "Who has Julian?"

"What do you want, Elena? I swear if any hair on his head is disturbed I'll-"

"You won't do a thing, Dom. Besides, I wouldn't dare hurt our beautiful boy. We're gonna get away from all this together, and be the perfect family we planned to be, before Mia and that skank got in the way. You're going to hand over those cases to McKinley's boys and drop out of the competition. Come home to us, Dom, and everyone stays alive. Go to the Kingdom, and Mia and the other idiots are dead."

When the line went dead, Dom angrily threw the phone at the dash.

"What's goin on Dom? Who has Julian?" Letty asked slowly, trying to take in the words floating in her brain.

Dom's anger was a level that he hadn't yet experienced, and he wasn't sure how long he would be able to contain his simmering rage. His eyes burned as the emotion threatened to spill over.

"She has my sister," Dom growled, "Elena has our son."

Letty pulled out her phone and punched a few numbers before Hobbs came on.

"Where's the safehouse? she demanded.

"That's not the plan, Ortiz! Straight to the Kingdom, then to the others."

"Screw the plan! That psychotic bitch Elena has my son!" Letty screamed angrily. "She's working with one of the teams, and she's holding the others for ransom."

"For what?"

"For the cases... and Dominic," she replied while looking at him through deadly eyes. "What's the address?" she put the phone on speaker so Dom could hear.

"Dominic, I hope you know that when that clock strikes zero, words like amnesty and pardon go out with it."

"Those words went out the day we were born," Dom grumbled, "The address."

Back at the safehouse, Mia could only cry as she stared at her friends on the sofa across from her. She held Brooklyn close to her body in a vice grip as several men circled her like prey.

"Names' Edison. My are you pretty," a long-haired British man said.

"Back off," Elena growled as she entered the room with Julian in her arms, "She's not part of the deal."

"I'm just looking. No crime in that," he smiled while brushing a strand of Mia's hair from her face using his weapon. She cried harder with the dangerous tool so close to her daughter. Mia's eyes traveled to the dead bodies on the floor by the doorway and covered Brooklyn's eyes. The FBI agents never saw it coming as Elena approached from behind and shot them both point blank. Carlos and Twinkie watched in a catatonic state as Edward McKinley's crew rushed the house soon after.

"Why are you doing this?" Mia asked as she stared numbly at the bodies. "Do you really think Dom will leave Letty for you?"

"Oh sis," Elena said while rocking Julian while she walked the room, "Dom will go where Julian goes. We're gonna start a family, a real family. One with love and trust, and no trash dragging at our feet. We were happy together, and you just couldn't leave us alone. And then that lowlife Ortiz came running in to take him away. I just want what's rightfully mine."

"Julian is not yours, neither is my brother. He's always been Letty's. You were just a warm body at night that kept him company. You were never going to replace Letty."

Elena scowled at Mia's words and closed in on her, backhanding her hard across the face.

"We will see about that," Elena replied.

"Where's your boy? We have less than an hour left," one of the armed men asked impatiently.

"He'll be here. What do you know about my plane?" she asked.

"Boss has it ready to fly out whenever we have the cases in hand. Not a minute before," he replied.

"So you think that Letty will just let you hope on a plane with her son?" Mia asked again. She knew her attitude was getting to Elena, but she didn't care. She wouldn't make this easy on her.

"That's the plan," Elena said while checking the window again.

"You better hope she's dead by then because if you manage to get on a plane with her child, she will hunt you down like prey."

A look passed over Elena's face - fear or maybe regret - but the roaring sound of muscle in the distance brought a grin to her face once more.

"Let the hunt begin, then."


The Team kicked up a cloud of dust as they raced to the loft where their family was being held. Letty exited the car and stormed to the trunk for the duffel full of weapons and ammunition. Dom followed as she handed over a box of shotgun shells before grabbing a pistol of her ow. Dom watched as Letty comfortably loaded her clip into the gun without missing a beat. He hated that she had become so accustomed to a life of guns and death, but he didn't dare stand in her way now.

Instead, Dominic stood back and let Letty lead the way up to the home. He directed Leon and Red to the back of the house, while he, Letty, Sean and Erik stormed the front door. Once inside, Letty spotted the two dead agents first and immediately went on alert. She fired two shots at the first man running aggressively in her direction, both shots hitting him in the chest before dropping him to the floor. She didn't slow down as she followed the commotion to the front foyer, where two men stood between the Team and the terrifying scene in front of them. Mia, Twink, Carlos, and Rob all sat on the floor execution-style as Elena stood behind them next to a long-haired white man holding Brooklyn's puppy, Jessie. Elena held a tight grip on Julian, while Brooklyn sat in the lap of a strange man on the sofa.

It took every ounce of strength Dom had not to march over and rip the arms off the stranger holding his niece, but he didn't want to risk putting her in danger as well. Letty couldn't stop her body from trembling with anger as she watched her boy reach out for her with sad eyes. Her heart broke as his bottom lip poked out into a quiver, and he tried to push out of Elena's arms.

"Put him down," Letty ordered while pointing her gun in the men's faces in front of her.

"I think he's starting to like me," she smiled at him, "We have plenty of time for that though."

"What do you want?" Letty asked through clinched teeth.

"Simple - you have something they want, and you have something I want. And I have your family. I want to trade - your family for the cases, and him."

All eyes went to Dominic, who held a tight grip on the shotgun in his hands as he bore holes through Elena. "Let them go, then we'll talk," he growled as he spotted Red out the corner of his eye out the back window.

"I don't see the cases," one of the men said.

"They're somewhere safe, but you don't see them until my family is out of this house. You don't have long to decide."

"You're under the assumption that you're in charge, but I thought I made it perfectly clear that I'm running this show?" she replied, pointing her weapon to the back of Mia's head.

"Whoa!" Letty said, putting her hands up in surrender. "You can have the damn cases, just let them go! Let my son go!"

"Nobody's going anywhere until we get what we came for," the man next to Elena spoke.

"And who the hell are you?" Dom's deep voice snarled.

"I'm the guy who would kill your whole family, eat some pie, and never think about you again," he said, his friends erupting with laughter, "Eddie Mac. Who are you?"

"I'm just some street kid who gets lucky," Dom replied. In a swift move, he took down the men standing between them, snapping one's neck with his bare hands and firing his shotgun at the other, the force throwing his body into a nearby wall. Dom hurried to Brooklyn's captor, pointing the weapon between his eyes. "See?" he smirked and turned his eyes to Brooklyn, who looked terrified as she clutched her favorite doll in her arms. Dom gave her his best smile to keep her calm and motioned for her to cover her eyes. When she did, he rammed the butt of the shotgun into her captor's face and quickly snatched her from his lap, passing her over to Sean.

"Your luck is out," Eddie pointed his weapon at the back of Carlos' head, and pulled the trigger.

Mia's screams couldn't drown out the ringing in Dom's head as she watched Carlos' body fall forward to the floor, body seeping out around his head. Everything began to move in slow motion for Dom as he watched Eddie Mac turn his weapon on Rob. Dom's eyes flicked to Red, and in an instant, she and Leon were breaching the back door. Dom took advantage of the distraction and fired a hole in his hostage's chest. He moved on Eddie, but before he could get close Eddie was taking a vicious shot to the head.

The tension was thick and all eyes were now on Elena, who looked panicked now that her co-conspirators were dead. She kept her weapon trained on Mia's head but also kept her head on a swivel for the people surrounding her. Dom watched as Leon, Red, Jerry, and Rob crowded around Carlos' body, and mourned the tragic death of their friend.

"Give it up, Elena," Letty snarled while moving toward her.

"Back off!" Elena screamed at her, waving her gun in Letty's face. "Just because they're dead doesn't mean this is over. I still want those cases, and Dom stays."

The sound of another car pulling up outside caught Elena's attention for a split second, and Letty lept on the chance to save her family. She quickly kicked the gun from Elena's hand and punched her hard in the face, dropping both Elena and Julian to the floor.

"Julian, run!" she yelled as the boy tried to get out of Elena's grip. Letty came down hard with her boot on Elena's shin several times, and the pain forced Elena to let go of the child. When Julian was safe in his father's arm, Letty crouched over Elena to finally release some rage. She pounded the pretty Brazilian's face to the point her knuckles ached, but she didn't stop. Elena used her other foot to sweep Letty's legs out from under her, and trapped her head in a vicious leglock. Letty struggled to breath as Elena's appendages tightened around her throat. She spotted the handgun just a few feet away, but any slight move made Elena's grip tighter. She reached out anyway, but Elena's fingers wrapped around the gun first and she sat up with it pointed at Letty's face.

"Let her go," Dom growled as he held his shotgun to Elena's head. He never pictured himself in this position, seconds away from killing a woman he once cared for, but Dom wouldn't lower his gun until Letty was safe. Elena's face bled from cuts to her cheek and forehead, but she didn't seem phased as she focused her weapon on Letty.

Elena looked up to Dom with a hurtful look as the pistol trembled in her hands. Her face softened, and she released her hold on Letty's head.

"Letty, get everyone out," Dom ordered as he stood over Elena.

"Answer me this Dominic," Elena said while staggering to her good leg and hobbling on the other. "Why do you keep fighting for that scum, when all she has done is hold you back?"

"I fight for my family. She's always been my family."

"I was your family at one point. You remember that? I was there for you," she screamed at him.

"You changed... I changed," Dom tried to remember the woman with whom he spent many nights talking and making love, and he wanted to have empathy for her, but he couldn't. He couldn't see past her tragic attempt at getting him back without thinking of Carlos. He couldn't see past her kidnapping his child.

"Look around us Dominic," she said while motioning to the bodies that lay motionless around them. "You caused this! You and your family create chaos anywhere you go! You killed these people," Dom looked around at the numerous bodies around them, "You haven't changed one bit."

With his body deteriorating from exhaustion and panic, Dom dropped the shotgun to the floor and turned on his heels, "I'm starting now. Stay away from me."

Dom moved toward the door, stopping a moment to look at Carlos' lifeless body before continuing toward the door.

"I can't do that," Elena said, her weapon now pointed at Dom's back. "I need you. More than she needs you, Dom. You get me. Better than anyone has. You understand what I've been through. Why can't you just love me back?!" Elena screamed at his retreating back. She pulled the trigger, her shot nailing Dom in his shoulder.

"Put it down, or I'll put you down," Hobbs' gravely voice warned as he approached Elena from behind. She smiled at Dom one last time before turning on Hobbs, who used two shots to drop her. He kicked the gun from her hands and looked around at the carnage in the room. "Koenig's team is trying to create a Nightshade device; with all components together it can cause a devastating blackout to entire regions. The death toll would be unimaginable. They're after a computer chip in one of the cases, the other weapons are just an aversion. The other components of the nightshade are also missing. Koenig's up to something big."

"All this for a computer chip?"

"One worth billions? Yeah, all this," Hobbs could see weariness in Dom's eyes and his eyes landed on Dom's bleeding shoulder. "You okay?"

Dom touched his hand to the exit wound on his shoulder, and turned to Hobbs, "I just wanna go home."


"Where's Brian?!" Mia was finally able to ask as they headed toward the Kingdom in Hobbs' Gurkha.

"He's in the hospital Mi," Letty said solemnly as she held on tight to Julian in the back of the truck. She could see the sheer panic on Mia's face and wanted to reassure her, "He's fine. Buster just got roughed up a bit."

"Letty, I'm so sorry I let her do this," Mia said when she realized how defeated Letty looked. Hell, they all looked like they had been through the ringer, especially Jerry and Rob, who were comforting each other after their tragic loss.

"Don't apologize, Mi. It was nothing you could've done. Let's just focus on getting home," Letty said with a sigh as she sat back with her eyes closed.

"Fellas, we will have your friend shipped wherever you want, so you guys can give him a proper burial," Hobbs said sadly from the front of the truck. Jerry and Rob looked up at him with grateful nods. Hobbs picked up his radio, "Alright Toretto, let's get this finished."

Dom floored it in his Daytona toward the Kingdom, ready for the last step in the competition. He was more nervous about standing in a room full of legendary murderers, druglords, and psychopaths than he was stealing from the Military. What made him nervous was his fidgety passenger, Erik. He hadn't forgotten Erik's betrayal and he knew the kid was on a strict schedule - get rid of Dom and return the chip before time was out. There was only fifteen minutes left on the clock, and Erik's time was running out.

"Cool it kid," Dom warned as his skittish movements started to wear on Dom's nerve.

"Sorry. Just nervous," he said, though his tone wasn't believable. He leaned down to the floorboard, and Dom's edginess forced him to slam on the brakes. Erik's head bounced off the dash, but he sat up quickly with his weapon pointed at Dom's head.

Dom stared down the barrel of his weapon, "What is this?"

"Keep driving, you pathetic piece of shit," Erik mumbled with his fingers wrapped tightly around the metal, "You're gonna take me to the Kingdom, I'm gonna get those to my grandfather, and he and I are going to take over this business the right way. Not like my moronic uncle."

"What about Leon? Luke? Those guys risked everything for you," Dom reminded as he drove ahead of Leon and Sean in the Mustang.

"Screw them. It's never been about them. It's away been about this," Erik said while lifting the largest case onto his lap and popping it open, revealing a small piece of plastic protected by soft cushioning. "This little chip is the key to wealth and stability in my family. My grandfather and I have to take back our land from pathetic men like you who feel you can take anything you want without repercussions. That's what got Leon into this mess in the first place, taking something that didn't belong to him. Now, each one of you will die because of his stupidity."

"Didn't your grandfather tell you never to threaten a man's family?" Dom asked with a small curl of the lips as he hurriedly unlatched Erik's seatbelt and slammed on the brakes, smashing into a truck ahead of him. Erik was ejected through the front windshield headfirst into the back of the semi. The boy's neck snapped and left a bloody trail down the door of the truck.

Dom and the boys sped to the Kingdom, which looked like an abandoned building during the day. Dom and and the boys carried their cases inside, and was met with two bouncers at the door.

"We got the cases. Move," Dom ordered to the men while holding up the heavy cases. When they turned around, Dom and Leon wrapped ropes around their necks, holding them tight as the men struggled against them. "Alright Hobbs, it's clear."

A SWAT Team rushed the room behind Agent Fuentes and Agent Hobbs as they approached Dom and the others at the door.

"Go in, identify the five men we're looking for, and get out. When we hit, we're gonna hit them hard," Hobbs said to them.

Dom nodded and opened the door, the three men heading downstairs to the basement where their fate awaited. As they hit the bottom steps, Dom looked around at the party atmosphere that surrounded him. A small crowd standing near a jumbo screen began cheering as they finally took notice of Dom and his men in the room.

"And there you have it gentlemen - Team Koenig is the winner. I don't know how they did it, but they did it. Congratulations guys!" Brandon Slythe said as he appeared at the table. Alvaro Koenig stood from the table and moved to stand toe-to-toe with Dominic, Leon, and Sean.

"Well well. You men sure do go far for your family," he whispered to them with a sleazy smile. "I'll take those."

As he reached for the cases, Dom pushed him away, "I want my money first."

"You ever touch me again, I'll cut your filthy hands off," Koenig warned before turning to one of his men, snapping his fingers. The man carried over two large bags, before going back for two more bags and dropping them at his feet.

Dom nodded to Sean and Leon, and they gathered the bags before heading back upstairs. Koenig's henchmen gathered the four cases, but Dom kept hold of the fifth, most important one.

"One of my men died today because of this shit, so I took a life very precious to you," Dom whispered as Koenig's fingers locked on the case. Koenig gave him a look of confusion, "Erik's dead... and you will be to if you ever come after my family again. Enjoy your Nightshade," Dom grinned and turned for the stairs, taking them two at a a time as he headed for freedom.

Alvaro snarled, brushing off the news of his nephew rather coldly as he was more interested in his precious cargo. He popped the case - a moment he had been waiting for for over three years - but was shocked to find a small, grenade-like device in the center.

Dom opened the door, just as a loud explosion was heard from the basement. He was shoved out of the way as SWAT rushed the stairs, leaving him alone with Monica and Hobbs. He gave a tired smile before leading them out of the club.

"Go to the hospital, Toretto, while we finish up here. That's an order. Gotta leave the car though," he said, "Evidence."

Dom nodded and said his final goodbye to the Daytona as he headed over to Leon, who was watching Sean and Twinkie in action.

"What's the knuckleheads up to now?" he asked while heading over to the passenger side of the Jetta.

"Boys being boys," Leon smiled as he watched Sean chat up the FBI agents while Twink rummaged through the back of their truck. Twink stuffed his backpack before nonchalantly walking back to the Jetta.

"Get in!" he rushed while quickly sliding into the backseat. He whistled out the window to Sean, who jogged over to the car. Leon sped off and Twink dumped the contents out of his backpack, fresh green bills falling into the floor. Dom looked down at the bundles of money, and smiled at Tyler.

"It's our money. We should get some of it," he shrugged easily.

Dom and the boys met up with everyone else at the hospital, where they were all piled in Brian's room. Dom was thankful to see those piercing blue eyes staring back at him once he entered the room, and he was grateful that his family was now safe. Even though they looked happy, there was a dark cloud of sadness that hung over the group.

Dom flopped down in an empty chair and pulled Letty down on his lap, pulling her close and resting against her side. He let out a deep sigh and closed his eyes, allowing her fragrance lull him into a comfortable rest.

"Nice to see you too, Dom," Brian teased as he watched the two cuddle in the small chair.

"Love you, Brother," Dom said without raising his head, "I love all of you. I don't say it enough."

"He gets a little emotional after a win," Letty teased, though she knew what Dominic was feeling. Relief, maybe guilt, but definitely love. She looked at Julian, who had fallen asleep along with Brooklyn curled up next to Brian, and she was finally able to close her eyes and know her family was safe.

"Guys, I'm gonna get checked out," Leon said and tossed a wave as he and Red left the room.

Wrapping her arms around his neck, Letty looked down at Dom and finally noticing the blood seeping through his t-shirt.

"Shit, Dom," she tried stirring him but he was out cold, "Get a doctor!"


Dom's POV

I stirred awake after what felt like the best sleep of my life to a nauseating, sterile smell. I immediately shut my eyes after being blinded by bright lights above me. On my second try, I was yet again blinded by the stark-white walls and remembered that I was in the hospital, only this time with less people crowding the room. The scratchy bandage wrapped around my shoulder also reminded me that I was shot by Elena.

"Tell someone next time you get shot, please," Letty scolded as soon as she realized that I was awake.

I smiled, "Will do. Where is everyone?"

Letty sat down on the edge of the bed, "Mia is in with Brian. Sean and Twink took the kids down to the cafeteria for drinks. Jerry and Rob are making arrangements for Carlos."

My happiness dwindled at the reminder of our fallen comrade, Carlos Ortega. I hated that the young man had fallen victim to another one of my mishaps, but I would make sure to honor him like I did the others.

"Hey, don't. We lost Ortega, but we saved everyone else. And this is almost over. It's all right," Letty reassured me, and it surprisingly lifted some of the guilt from my shoulders.

There was a knock at the door that soon opened and Hobbs appeared inside.

"Can't bite the bullet yet, sweetheart," Hobbs smirked as he entered, "We're not done dancing yet, Nancy."

"Haven't you heard? Toretto's don't die," I smiled proudly, "You get your men?"

"Yes sir, all five plus two more because I love cherries on top. But we do have some problems. We haven't found the chip, and nearly $58,000 was missing of the money."

I smiled at his suspicious tone and reached into my pocket, pulling out the small, plastic chip, "So this is worth billions?"

Hobbs folded his arms behind his back, "Name your price, Toretto."

I thought about the millions we could potentially be swimming in, and all I could think about was one number.

"1327."


Over in Leon's room, he was being hooked up to an IV to help replenish his energy before being released. He was treated for a concussion, and after fighting tooth and nail with the doctors about staying overnight, he agreed to at least rest for a few hours.

Leon's eyes traveled to the clock and he realized it was closing in on four PM.

"You totally missed your flight," he joked to Red, who stood out of the way.

"Maybe I never had intentions of making my flight," she replied, moving to stand on his free side.

"You know I only have a few hours left and then I'm off to rehab for God knows how long," he said grudgingly. It wasn't that he didn't want to go, but he didn't want to leave Red now that she was finally his.

"You're going to need a lot of support," Red said while running her hand over his hair. "And I have a ton of vacation days to use. We're gonna beat this thing together."

"Thank you," was all he could say as he pulled her down to kiss her lips.

"Thank you... for loving me," he looked up at her, "Because I do love you, too."

Leon grinned as his pain and anguish suddenly diminished with a smile from her.


Letty's POV

The next day...

With Julian in my arms, I stepped off the private jet with a harsh burn in my stomach as the bright L.A sun hit my face. Nerves riddled me like bullets as I breathed in the California air for the first time in nearly a decade. I never dreamed of being back in our hometown, but somehow we made it happen.

"All right Jules. We're finally home, baby," I said to him while dropping my sunglasses over my eyes.

"Let's go home," Dom whispered in my ear from behind me, and I looked back at him with a wide smile.

Once on the ground, we looked over at the two minivans that were waiting for us nearby, and I nearly puked.

"Is that what he gave us?" I asked in disgust.

"Asshole," Dom muttered with a grin as he approached the vans. He pulled a note from the window and read it aloud.

"Enjoy America. Love, Hobbs."

With a few groans and protests (mostly from myself), we loaded up in the vans and headed to our childhood territory. The burn intensified as we closed in on Echo Park, the neighborhood in which we grew up.

"You ready?" Dom asked.

I nodded, though I wasn't sure how true it was. As we arrived at the two-story home, I noticed a slew of colorful sports cars parked outside, including my Nissan Silva and Dom's Challenger. Even with the beautiful rides outside, I couldn't take my eyes off the house that raised me.

It had felt like ages since I seen the rundown home, but it was still as welcoming as even. Though overgrown bushes lined the yard and the grass hadn't been cut in years, I couldn't wait to be back on familiar ground.

"Holy shit Dom!" Brian said happily from near the new cars, "They're from Hobbs, too. Maybe he ain't so bad."

"Maybe not," Dom murmured as he watched his sister head up to the door. He seemed nervous as he stood frozen on the sidewalk, almost unsure if he wanted to go any further. I grabbed his hand with a reassuring smile and lead him up to the home, sitting Julian down as we stopped at the door. We stood in a comfortable silence on the porch and watched as the once empty home filled with life again. "Any of this feel familiar?" he asked.

"With all these new faces, no. But it still feels like home," I replied while watching Julian happily running through the foyer.

Nearly five hours of scrubbing and cleaning later, we were setting up the backyard for one of our infamous Toretto barbecues. With Mia taking care of the cooking and her injured husband, Sean and the boys setting the table, myself looking after the kids, and Dominic manning the grill, things felt like they were on track to being normal again.

This family could use a little normal.

I scooped up my Corona and left the kids to their toys as I headed over to Dominic, standing next to him as we watched Julian chase Jessie in the yard. Our son finally looked happy, and for me, that made the past twenty-four hours worth it.

"So now what, Toretto?"

"Whatever you want," he looked at me with those dreamy eyes and dazzling smile.

"Peace and quiet. No more cops," I replied, but was cut off by a roaring engine heading our way. The newly-restored Daytona pulled into the driveway first, followed by Hobbs' Gurkha truck. "Nevermind," I added.

Hobbs and Red stepped out of the pick-up and headed in our direction.

"Thought you said she was evidence," Dom smiled happily at the sight of the maroon beast.

"She's just gonna sit up in an impound lot. Figured she'd be happier here with you," Hobbs returned the smile. "You're officially a free man," he said while handing over papers to Dom, "All of you."

The boys cheered and Mia and I shared a grateful hug at the news. A great weight had finally been lifted from my shoulders an I couldn't have been happier.

"We're taking care of Carlos. He and Rob are being flown out to Colombia in the morning. Leon's also in-route to the treatment facility Luke is located. Here's the address," Red handed over a slip to me with a smile. Though we had a rocky start, I had a newfound respect for the bright-haired cop. Her eyes didn't have that spark, and I wondered it if had to do with Leon's absence.

"You know you're welcome to stay with us. You're family now," I said sincerely. If Leon wanted her around, I'd be welcome to having her with us.

"I appreciate that, but I got a lot of work to wrap up back in Virginia, then I'm gonna head up and see Leon. Maybe I can come visit though."

"Anytime, Audgie," Dom mumbled and she gave a watery smile.

"Thank you," Hobbs said genuinely, "Thank you all."

"Thank you," Dom returned, "Not bad for a cop."

"Never thought I'd trust a criminal," he gave us a smile before turning away, "Til next time, Toretto."

"Til next time," Dom replied to his back.

"All right, let's eat!" Mia announced and everyone rushed to the table, except Dom, who had been called over to Hobbs' truck. I settled Julian at the table and watched as Dom returned, two hanging from his hands.

"What's in the bags?" Mia asked as Dom dropped them at his feet. He unzipped them both and lifted handfuls of cash into the air.

"Fuentes decided we deserved the cash. She's taking it out of evidence, too," Dom's grin grew wider as he turned to me. I ran to him and jumped into his arms, grateful for the new financial security. "We never have to mess this up again," he whispered gravelly into my ear. "Come to the shed. I have something to show you."

With a confused look, I followed Dom into the wooden shed that still held hundreds of memories of our childhood, Dino Toretto, and the numerous hot rods built inside. It still had a faint scent of motor oil, but I couldn't get enough of it. I walked the room and looked at the newspaper clippings of Dino's past victories, his rise and demise in the stock-car circuit, and I even found an area of clippings of our own heists, and felt a tug at my heart.

That life was in the past now, and all I had were those thrilling memories.

"What did you want to-" I turned to Dom and was shocked to see him down on one knee with a bright ring shining between his fingers. My heart felt as if it were trying to tear from my chest as I looked at him through watery eyes. "What're you doing, Dominic?"

"Showing you that I want to be here, forever," he said while staring into my soul. I moved closer cautiously, as if the shining object would attack. "This is what I want. I need to know if it's something you want. Letty, will you please be my wife?"

Hearing the words spill from his mouth, I was left speechless staring at the ring between his fingers. It was simple, but brilliant, and I wasn't convinced that I wasn't dreaming.

"Forever?" I finally forced out, "You're ready for forever? No adrenaline rush, no cops in the rearview. Just you, Julian and I in this tiny little home, being normal. That kind of forever?"

"I'm more than ready, if you are," his brown eyes were pleading for an answer, and I hated to see him look so panicked, "I love you. I'm here for you, and my son."

I rushed Dom and threw my arms around his neck, nearly knocking us both over.

"Is that a yes?"

I nodded feverishly as I pulled his face in for a passionate kiss. He pulled away to slip the cool metal on my finger before pulling me back close against his chest. A thousand things ran through my mind of what to say to him, but only one phrase dare leave my lips.

"I love you, Dominic Toretto."