Despite his reservations, Dominic Toretto was a man who valued loyalty above all. After Hobbs was apprehended by the NYPD, he had, despite his injuries from Deckard Shaw's beating, fought to prove that Dominic and his crew had only ended up in a shootout in Central Park to help him. So when Hobbs came to ask for help, Dominic and his team agreed, leaving Mia behind with O'Conner's child in Los Angeles.
This time, the person being hunted by DSS Diplomatic Security was none other than Amir Barkawi—the notorious arms dealer from Yemen. Last time, his plans to buy a red mercury bomb from Dr. Bailey had failed, and his family and friends had been obliterated by U.S. military drone-fired Hellfire missiles.
Barkawi, who held a deep grudge against the United States, hadn't made it to Finland in time to intercept Bailey, who was hiding with the bomb. The British and American agents closed in on Bailey, forcing him to flee, bomb in tow, until he was finally cornered upon landing in the UK. Trapped, Dr. Bailey detonated the bomb he had created decades ago, shaking Britain to its core and shattering Barkawi's scheme to give the U.S. a "surprise" by blowing up his enemies with the bomb.
It was pure coincidence that Hobbs got wind of Barkawi's latest moves. Barkawi planned to sneak from Mexico into the U.S. and strike the West Coast, giving America a brutal "gift." Fresh out of the hospital, Hobbs had received a tip, but knowing he'd struggle to track down such a shadowy arms dealer alone, he sought Dominic and his crew's help.
To Hobbs' surprise, the idea of involving Dominic proved highly effective. Dominic's gang, with their deep ties to the LA underworld, managed to dig up clues on Barkawi's whereabouts soon after accepting the job. Their contacts hinted that Barkawi intended to hit a major target in Los Angeles or San Francisco to avenge the drone strike that had killed his family and friends.
Hobbs took this revelation seriously. Learning about Barkawi's background and his intent to exact revenge upon entering the U.S. led Hobbs to initiate a pursuit alongside Dominic's crew.
Why didn't Hobbs inform the FBI? In the world of American law enforcement, inter-agency rivalries ran deep. Every agency guarded its territory, and with budgets at stake, the Diplomatic Security Service wouldn't hand over a major case like this to the FBI without a fight. With sixteen U.S. intelligence agencies competing for resources, DSS relished a rare opportunity to score a big win.
Especially since Barkawi was near the top of America's most-wanted list. There was no way Hobbs was giving him up to the FBI, whose involvement would only complicate matters. Plus, Dominic's brother-in-law, Brian O'Conner, was a former FBI agent turned fugitive. Involving the FBI might have led Dominic's crew to back out altogether.
Dominic's crew wasn't just skilled drivers; they also had extensive underworld connections. Within days, these ties allowed them to deduce that Barkawi had crossed the border from Mexico into California. Although they didn't know all the details, they were certain Barkawi's goal was revenge, likely targeting a city on the West Coast. When Barkawi realized U.S. law enforcement was onto him, he immediately abandoned his plans in Los Angeles and headed east.
The crew kept tracking him, relying on their contacts in various U.S. cities to tail him across the country. Barkawi's inability to fly or charter a plane forced him to drive, giving the crew ample opportunity to follow. As they pursued him, they closed in on him in New York.
Barkawi, aware of his high rank on America's most-wanted list, had sneaked into the U.S. from Mexico because he couldn't board a plane. Initially, he'd believed his plan was flawless, but then a particularly dogged DSS agent got a tip, and instead of relying solely on official resources, enlisted a crew of underworld operatives. Dominic's gang, with its extensive LA contacts, had managed to dig up Barkawi's trail.
This was infuriating to Barkawi. His caution had kept him alive during U.S. military strikes, but now, after losing so much, he was driven by revenge. If he couldn't hit the West Coast, he would move to New York's East Coast and stage something in Manhattan—just like an infamous predecessor had once done.
With air travel out of the question, he'd had to drive across the country. Dominic's team, notorious for their driving skills, proved adept at staying on his trail. Tapping into their extensive networks, they kept a steady pursuit, infuriating Barkawi, who had underestimated just how deep the crew's connections ran.
Unlike his later infamous attack on London, where he commanded a force of mercenaries, Barkawi hadn't yet evolved into that mastermind. He was merely a vengeful arms dealer desperate to lash out at the nation that had destroyed his family. His plan was rough, and his emotions were clouding his judgment. As he raced toward New York, it was clear he wasn't yet the seasoned tactician who would one day shock the world.
His hasty shift east was motivated by little more than the desire to "send a message" before a new American president took office. Fueled by anger, Barkawi wanted a quick act of revenge rather than a carefully orchestrated attack.
This made his movements easier to track. His plan was erratic, unlike the chilling precision he would later exhibit in London. For now, he was merely a hotheaded avenger, not the legendary mastermind he would become.
Heading to Manhattan, though, put him right in Castle's crosshairs. With Jarvis monitoring all of New York, there was no way Castle would let this kind of threat slide.
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Fairy Tail: Igneel's Eldest Son (Chapter 256)
I Am Thalos, Odin's Older Brother (Chapter 336)
Reborn in America's Anti-Terror Unit (Chapter 542)
Solomon in Marvel (Chapter 924)
Becoming the Wealthiest Tycoon on the Planet (Chapter 1284)
Surgical Fruit in the American Comics Universe (Chapter 1289)
American Detective: From TV Rookie to Seasoned Cop (Chapter 1316)
American TV Writer (Chapter 1402)
I Am Hades, The Supreme GOD of the Underworld! (Chapter 570)
Reborn as Humanity's Emperor Across the Multiverse (Chapter 660)
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