A few days had passed after I left Sal's, and I was now standing in the meat locker at John B's. John B had an order of meat that was supposed to go out as soon as possible, and someone was having a wedding and ordered a massive amount. So he called me over to help cut up some cold meat with him and his son, Junior.
Luckily I spent 17 years swinging a sword and cutting through bodies. I made light work of cold cattle, but I accepted John B's offer simply because I needed a team, and old John had all of the connections.
Crack!
My blade went through of set of ribs with a crash as the blade could no longer withstand the pressure.
"So how much, boy? I know now you ain't gone take my advice. So I might as well help and keep your head on your shoulders." John B spoke.
"I don't need money, John. I need bodies. Sal and I have a deal going. But I need to pull a job first. The plan is ready, but I need two wheelmen, some guys that won't crack under pressure. But they have to be expendable. I don't mind sharing the wealth as long as it doesn't become capital to found competition in my city." I explained.
"I get it." said John B, "I just have one question."
"I may have an answer."
John B took a deep breath.
"How do you feel about heat. I mean, the guys I have in mind are ghosts. But once they get in a car, the feds will swarm, and the block will be hotter than midsummer in hell."
I way to weigh my options carefully. But the only thing that came to mind was failure. Failure to uphold my deal with Sal and take care of my people without the haul of this heist. That foreboding failure outpaced everything in my mind.
"I don't care. I just need bodies." I replied.
"Give me some time..." John B pulled off his apron and left the meat locker.
"John B!" I called after him, "Where the hell are you going!?"
John B didn't reply. Junior handed me a new knife, and we continued to work. When the last pig was butchered, John B returned to send me home. Well, I sent myself home and rode along. When we arrived, I first spotted a black-on-black 2008 Lexus LF-A. Behind was a silver 2010 Mitsubishi Eclipse and a navy blue 1970 Chevy Chevelle 454.
"Three drivers..." John B spoke calmly, "Only one is really worth his salt. The other two are part of the deal."
"Who the hell are they?" I asked.
"I'm sure you saw them all on the news lately. The Chevelle is Domonic Toretto, recently escaped from a prison transport orchestrated by the Eclipse and former FBI Agent Brian O'Conner and his girlfriend, Mia Torreto."
"Another Torreto?"
"Siblings."
"Oh, this can be interesting." I hummed, "But, why are they here. Shouldn't they be fleeing the country?"
"Race Wars. With it comes the money they need to flee. Or an opportunity like this." John B explained.
"John B... I owe you one." I spoke while parking the car in the driveway.
"Haa, get a feel for them first. If you like them, then you can thank me."
——————————-
John B walked through the front door and found the living room empty and the house quiet. Neither of us could hide our shock as we moved cautiously through the living room.
"What is happening?" I asked, making it to the kitchen threshold to see the family standing around the kitchen table.
Everyone turned around, and the group parted to show our guest at the table eating. Honestly, it was one of the weirdest fucking things I've seen.
"You must be Cain." the buffed-up bald man spoke with a thunderous voice.
"Dom, this is Cain. Cain, that's Dom. The little lady beside him is his sister, Mia, and that's Brain O'Conner." John B handled the introduction.
"The Fed..." I spoke aloud.
"But he's a fugitive now," Lip added.
"Right," I said, "How messy. Uhh, Debs, take Liam upstairs. You too, Carl."
"But want to stay here," said Carl.
"Carl, go," Fiona ordered him.
"John B says you have a job for us," Dom spoke after Carl was up the steps.
"Job for you? If anything, you're working hands. And that's if we let you in." Giovanna spoke up.
"Look, we're not here to beg. But we do need work, and we're ready," said Brian.
Giovanni and Lip took the lead and asked their questions between banter. Eventually, I drowned it out and got a beer from the fridge. I leaned on the counter and sipped as I took in the three newcomers.
Fiona eventually stepped over and grabbed me by the chin before kissing me. I then gave Domonic a look; he was watching me just as closely as I watched him. We seemed to have this silent kind of understanding before I left the kitchen and walked outside to the porch.
It was cold as hell, and half the street lights were, and the remainders flickered like the slowest strobe lights in the words. Rubbing my hands together, I warmed them just enough to pull out a joint and spark up before the door opened behind, and Dominic walked out.
"Tell me, how the hell does a sixteen-year-old kid manage to get the respect of John B?" Domonic spoke coolly as he stepped up to the rail beside me.
I released a cloud of smoke and wondered if we were talking about the same John B
"John B doesn't respect dick," I replied, causing Dominic to chuckle.
"I thought so too. Then he called me on my way out of Chicago and vouched for this amazing kid that he believed was some type of criminal savant. I've never heard John B deal for anyone except Junior and my dad."
"John B damn near raised me." I told him, "I mean, the entire fucking south raised me. My dad died ages ago, and the bitch he knocked up abandoned me. But John B was the biggest part of my growth."
"So you grew up boosting cars?" Domonic asked.
"Boosting cars, lifting anything worth anything." I replied, "But John B kept me in school."
"Get the fuck outta here." Domonic was shocked, "He used to talk shit about my father. My dad used to help my sister in school. But he had to stay up every night to read the next lesson. He was good like that."
"Must have been nice." I returned my joint the night returned to silence, if only for a moment.
"Beggars can't be choosers...."
I cut Domonic off.
"Why were you heading out of Chicago. John B said you're here for race wars."
"I'm not allowed. The last job we pulled made me a lot of enemies. Too many of them will be there, and Sal doesn't want trouble. Not to mention the FBI."
"Mmm," I felt for the guy.
"Why are you here?" I asked after a sudden thought.
"We need money to run," said Dom.
"No, why are you here? I asked again, "It's not deep."
"Why do you think I'm here?" he asked me.
I put out my joint and looked up at this massive guy, brimming with intensity. And I said, "Because of your family. Those two in there risked everything to save you. Career, money, simplicity of a quiet life. Nothing matters more than loyalty to you. Those people there are my family, and they mean everything to me. If you want to do this job, we have to become family because I expect you to treat each of us like Mia and Brian. No one left behind."
"You know this job is insane."
"You're in or out?" I asked.
"I see it now..." Domonic chuckled, "I'm in. "
Dom and I hashed out the details for the next hour before going back into the house to find everyone piled around the tv, watching in silence. Dom looked at me, and I simply shrugged.
"The Gallaghers are good like that. The house is pretty full, but the two love birds can stay next door."
"What about me?"
"You seem like a man that works through the night."
"Haha, we're going shopping?"
"That's right," I told him, "You want a beer?"
Like that, two families briefly came together. We never really talked business. O'Conner and the Torretos just lived peacefully. Sometimes Dom and I went out for a few things to prep for the job. Everything in between was barbeques and car life.
It was Saturday afternoon. I was sitting down with Brian, having a few drinks while Dom manned the grill. I wouldn't say we're a perfect melded family; that would be bullshit. But I could tell that they were just as ensnared by the Gallagher charm as I was.
And as for Mia, she clung to Giovanna. Dom said she reminded them of a young version of his old girlfriend, who had passed away a few years before. I had a good feeling about the job. But I couldn't shake the system's challenge 'discovery of a witch'. I felt vulnerable. She was watching, and having these fugitives with us put us at a particular disadvantage.
"Hey," Fiona called out
I turned around to see curly-haired beauty dressed in a black and red dress.
"Yeah. She's fucking hot." said Giovana, "What about me?"
"Haha, fucking amazing," I told her, "What are you two up to?"
"Nothing, It's just nice to have you around." Said Fiona. I rolled my eyes and scuffed.
"But..." said Giovanna, "We should start talking about the job."
"Yeah. Doesn't have to be done by Race Wars," said Brian.
"What is the job?" Mia asked.
"You don't know?" Giovanna was shocked.
"Know what!" Lip suddenly called out as he walked out of the house with Karen, his latest fling.
"Where are you going?" Fiona asked.
"Karen and I are going to the park for the New Year. Somebody's having a thing," said Lip.
"You two seem like a thing lately." I could hide my dislike. Lip was fucking smart. Too smart for Karen Jackson.
"Yeah, dude. We can talk shop later." Lip's tone told me to fuck off.
I shrugged my shoulders, and the two left the yard.
"So?" Mia asked.
"The Precious Metal Exchange. Tomorrow night."
"Tomorrow night!?" everyone exclaimed.
Dom chuckled and raise his beer.
"I think he's fucking lost it," said Fiona.
"Weren't you the one talking all that shit about trusting him and not asking questions." said Giovanna, "Him and Dom look like they have it under control."
Giovanna was absolutely right. We had it completely under control. I down my beer, and Dom said, "We're going after the billions. Not only do we have to be fast, but we also need to be strong. Cain and I have that covered. The hard part is getting to it."
"The hardest part is getting out," I added.
A hard-fought chapter. I am trying to get back into the swing of things. Be patient with me.
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