Chapter 1
The outside of the building was nicer than many of the others on the streets. It was slightly grey in color. The large graffiti words on the front read out BRO'S GARAGE in bold black and green lettering.
There were a few cars outside and the back end of a few cars outside and the back end of a few others in the open garage doors. Music was blasting through them.
Dominic Toretto opted to go into the building instead of the open doors. Glancing behind him, he motioned the other two men to stay by his car and opened the door.
A small bell sounded throughout the building to let staff know that someone, possibly a customer, had walked through the door. Dom looked around. There were a few people already sitting around waiting for their cars. Some held car magazines or were messing with their phones. A few looked up, one even recognizing who he was.
But he ignored them. The sounds of the flat screen TV in the room tuned out the radio playing over speakers.
"Unless you have an appointment, you need to sit down and wait." a young voice said from the front desk, startling Dom out of his thoughts. He looked over. A boy, about fifteen years old, sat at the front, leaning over a book. He was quickly scribbling things out on paper before erasing. His hair was a dark sandy blonde that flipped up in the front. IT was a familiar look. He wore a dark green t-shirt with a black button up over it. A bracelet adorned his wrist, the boldly engraved letters reading 'fall risk'. A bracelet that looked to be hard steel. Dom could see a simple pair of baggy jeans and white/green Pumas.
"I'm here to see Brian O'Connor." he said roughly.
It startled the boy who looked up sharply. He frowned, looking Dom over as if analyzing him. For some reason, Dom felt uncomfortable with this young boy trying to figure him out.
After a few seconds, the boy pulled out a blue binder from a backpack. It seemed to be overflowing with pages. The boy began to flip through them slowly, glancing at each page critically. Every few minutes he glanced up at Dom. He had deep sapphire/aqua colored eyes, enough to pierce through anything. When he looked down again, Dom took the opportunity to look at the pages of the book. To his surprise, each page was filled with pictures of people and their names. Some were mugshots while others were what seemed like family photos. He glanced at the boy who seemed to be concentrating on each picture. AT last, he stopped on a page and paused. He took the page from the binder and held it up to Dom's face. He was comparing.
The boy nodded to himself before standing up and trotting away. Dom watched him slightly grip a hand rail that ran the length of the wall disappearing into the back.
Once he was out of sight, Dom grabbed the page of pictures and glanced it over. His picture was front and center with his name printed in clear letters underneath. Around his picture were pictures of Vince, Leon, even Mia and Letty. He frowned, not sure what was going on.
TF&TF
Cody O'Connor gripped the door leading out to the garage tightly, watching his brother and Tej Parker converse. They were deep in conversation about the dismantled Audi R8 V10 in front of them. Tej was telling Brian about how the car used 19 inch 10-spoke alloy wheels with performance tires.
"Brian." Cody said, balling his shirt in his hand and trying to almost shred the fabric. His brain wasn't thinking. He could no longer multi-task, not like he used to. Too many things just overloaded his brain, causing headaches.
Brian had not heard him. He was still chatting about the Audi's 528 horsepower.
"Brian. Brian! BRIAN!" Cody yelled.
Brian and Tej looked over sharply.
Brian put his tool down and approached his younger brother.
"Cody, what have I told you about yelling?" he asked, stopping in front of his younger family member. Cody ignored him and let go of his now wrinkled shirt.
"Someone's here for you." he said, almost mumbling. Brian nodded and crossed his arms over his chest.
"Who is it bub?" he asked with a gentleness in his voice reserved for Cody.
Cody frowned and looked every which way as if the answer would appear around him. He gently knocked a fist to the side of his head. Brian grabbed his arm to stop him and smiled sadly.
"It'll come back buddy. It'll come back." he promised.
He ruffled Cody's hair and turned back to Tej. Tej was leaning against the Audi, observing the interaction.
"Can I trust you to put some of this car back together while I'm gone?" Brian asked playfully. Tej rolled his eyes and threw a rag at the blonde. Brian laughed and caught the rag. It was then that he noticed how greasy his hands were.
"Head back up front. I'm going to wash my hands then I'll be up." he told Cody.
Cody didn't answer. Instead he walked back up front, disappearing out the door.
"Wonder who it is Bullet." Tej asked.
Brian didn't say anything and just disappeared into the back garage bathroom.
TF&TF
Cody let the wall railing slide lightly through his hands as he made his way back to the front of the shop. The big man he had seen in his book was leaning his elbows on the counter, looking at nothing.
Cody ignored him and sat back down in front of his work. He hated math. Then again, he hated having to relearn things. Stupid brain. Stupid accident. But he didn't want to think about that.
"He'll be out in a minute." he mumbled, picking up his pencil and erasing an equation. In the corner of his eye, he saw the man nod.
It was an awkward few moments before the light footsteps graced the hallway. Brian appeared from the back, an ice cold Mountain Dew in his hand. He set it down by Cody and ruffled his hair. Cody either didn't notice or care. That was when Brian looked up, his face paling.
"Dom."
TBC
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