Los Angeles – Toretto's House – Early Evening
The sun had just begun to dip below the horizon, casting long shadows across the familiar streets of East L.A. The air still clung to the heat of the day, but there was an electric undercurrent, the kind that promised something big. Something that only people who truly understood the streets would feel.
Adrian Kade had been invited to a cookout at Toretto's house.
It wasn't the type of invite one received often.Not unless you had earned it. And as much as Adrian didn't care for the politics of the streets, even he knew that Dom didn't invite just anyone to his backyard.
And tonight? There was an unspoken challenge hanging in the air. He could feel it in the way the others looked at him.
Toretto's Backyard – The Gathering
Mia was already there, talking with Jesse and Leon by the grill, her laughter carrying on the evening breeze. She seemed more relaxed now, less guarded than when she'd first met him. Adrian noticed how she moved with ease around the family, yet her eyes would flicker back to him with curiosity and a hint of something deeper.
The scent of sizzling steaks mixed with the faint smell of gasoline and burnt rubber. A few of the crew members were sprawled on chairs, relaxing with drinks. But the tension was still palpable.
Dominic Toretto stood by his car, leaning against the hood of his black RX-7, arms crossed, eyes scanning the street. He looked like he always did — the untouchable king of this world. But tonight, there was something different. Something unresolved between him and Adrian.
Vince, on the other hand, couldn't take his eyes off Adrian. His earlier defeat was still fresh, and the way he sized Adrian up spoke volumes. Vince wasn't the type to let anything slide. If Dom was watching, Vince was waiting for a reason to make his displeasure known.
Brian, who had been quiet until now, stepped forward, offering a hand to Adrian. "Hey," he said, a hint of a grin on his face. "Good race."
Adrian shook his hand firmly. Brian was the kind of guy who lived on the edge, constantly teetering between the law and the streets, but Adrian knew his type — a guy who craved something more but wasn't sure where it would come from.
"Thanks," Adrian replied with a smirk. "Didn't think you'd be up for it."
"I'm always up for a challenge," Brian said. There was an underlying challenge in his voice too, but Adrian caught the flicker of something else — interest.
Dinner – Tension and Conversations
The cookout was casual, but the tension was thick. Adrian stayed on the edge of the group, letting the conversation swirl around him. Vince was still grumbling, talking about the race as if his Mustang had been cheated out of a win. Brian and Dom exchanged some words about future races. Jesse had his nose buried in some laptop, as usual, while Leon kept an eye on the perimeter.
Mia, however, was the only one who actively engaged with him. She moved closer as the night wore on, offering him a plate of food. "You're not much of a talker, are you?" she asked with a smile, her fingers brushing against his.
Adrian chuckled softly, glancing at her with an intensity that seemed to quiet the noise around them. "I talk when it matters."
Her smile softened, and for a moment, the two of them were lost in the quiet of each other's gaze.
"That's... mysterious," she said, clearly intrigued. "Tell me something, Adrian."
He raised an eyebrow, amused. "What do you want to know?"
"Why do you race? I mean... you're not from around here. You didn't need to show up last night. You didn't need to prove anything."
Adrian took a deep breath, eyes scanning the faces around them before meeting her gaze again. "I didn't come here for the races. I came for something else."
"And what's that?" she asked, genuinely curious.
Adrian leaned in slightly, his voice low. "To make sure my name is remembered. To make sure I'm not forgotten."
Her breath caught, and she glanced away, her mind working through the implications. There was a quiet strength in his words — purpose.
But before she could respond, Vince approached, his voice brash as ever.
"You planning on taking Mia away too, Kade?" he sneered, his eyes flashing with challenge. "You think you're the only one who can drive?"
Adrian didn't even flinch. He calmly set down his plate and met Vince's gaze. "I don't take anyone, Vince. People stick around if they want to."
Vince took a step forward, his chest puffed up, but before the situation could escalate further, Dom intervened.
"Vince," Dom's voice was low, almost a growl, but there was authority there. "You don't want to start something you can't finish."
Vince muttered under his breath, but he backed off, clearly not wanting to push Dom too far. Still, the look in his eyes told Adrian this wasn't over. Not by a long shot.
A Visit and a Choice
The evening wore on, but as the group began to wind down, Adrian received an unexpected visit.
A black SUV pulled up near the driveway, and a sharply dressed man stepped out. The moment he saw Adrian, his eyes narrowed.
"You must be Adrian Kade," the man said, his tone smooth but carrying an undercurrent of warning.
"Who's asking?" Adrian replied coolly, his posture relaxed but alert.
The man offered a brief smile, one that didn't quite reach his eyes. "Name's Agent Pierce. FBI. I'm not here to talk about your racing habits."
Adrian raised an eyebrow. The sudden change in atmosphere was palpable. The others, mostly unaware of the exchange, continued talking, but there was something about this guy that screamed danger.
"I know who you are, Adrian. And I know what you're doing here."
Adrian didn't say anything. Instead, he studied the man, assessing his every move. The last thing he wanted was to attract the attention of the law, but he couldn't shake the feeling that there was more to this visit than the agent was letting on.
Pierce continued, leaning in just enough to make Adrian's guard rise.
"We could be on the same side, Kade. Or we could be enemies. Your choice."
[System Notification]
Quest Added: Uncover Agent Pierce's Motive
Objective: Decide whether to trust or eliminate the agent
Bonus: +2 Affection with Mia (depends on outcome)
To Be Continued…