Chapter 100 – Fast & Furious 4: The Beginning
"If getting your autograph means ending up like those two guys on the floor, I'll sign whatever you want—just please spare my poor old rear end. Trust me, it's nothing special."
"No, no, no," Ron quickly waved his hands and bent down to pick up the phone that had flown out of his pocket during the flying knee attack. The screen was completely shattered.
"Damn Samsung junk. Nothing like those old indestructible Nokias."
He dusted it off and added,
"Those two guys were just tailing me and making me uncomfortable. My little brother really is a fan of yours—especially The Flash. Half of his T-shirts have that lightning bolt on them."
"The Flash is from DC," the old man said grumpily, tapping his cane on the ground.
"Oh! Right… uh… also Superman and Batman!" Ron quickly tried to recover.
"They're also DC!" the old man snapped, clearly annoyed.
"Uhh… okay, well… the point is, my brother loves your comics. I just can't remember exactly which ones," Ron said with a shrug. "Anyway, could we exchange contact info? Maybe someday I'll bring him to meet you."
At that moment, yet another plan to freeload top-tier scientific talent was already forming in Ron's mind. Despite the awkward misstep during their comic talk, he still managed to walk away with Stan Lee's business card.
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Meanwhile, across the city...
At the home of Dominic Toretto, former king of L.A.'s underground street racing scene, the doorbell rang.
Mia opened the door—and froze for a second before breaking into a huge smile. Standing there was a woman with the sleek power of a panther.
"Letty! I missed you so much!" Mia exclaimed, wrapping her in a hug. After a warm greeting, Mia peered past her into the dim street outside.
"Where's my brother? Didn't he come back with you?"
Letty hesitated, then answered with a touch of guilt:
"No… I came back alone. There's something I need to deal with. If Dom calls, just tell him… you haven't seen me, okay?"
The truth was—Letty had returned to L.A. behind Dom's back.
But no, this wasn't some clichéd betrayal story.
She'd come back because she could sense that Dom was tired—tired of the life on the run.
Dom had always been a man who preached about "family." His biggest dream was simply to be home, with the people he loved.
But now, he was a nationally wanted man, with the FBI actively hunting him. He had no choice but to leave Mia behind in L.A. while he drifted across South America with Letty and a few loyal friends from "the life."
Letty knew he wanted to come home. She could feel it in him.
But pride kept him from picking up the phone.
What she didn't understand was why Dom—who had a brother like Ron—refused to ask him for help.
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Some things between men—Letty didn't understand, and frankly, didn't want to. But she was a good woman. She saw how badly Toretto wanted to come home, and she wanted to help him realize that dream. That's why, while he was asleep, she slipped away alone and quietly returned to Los Angeles.
"Of course," Mia said, though a flicker of hesitation crossed her face. "But… can I ask what happened between you and my brother? You know I've always seen you as family. If something's going on, maybe I can—"
"No! There's nothing wrong between us," Letty quickly interrupted. She opened her mouth to explain, but the memory of Dom's warnings stopped her cold. She clamped her lips shut.
Mia noticed the conflict in Letty's eyes and offered gently, "Come on in. Can I get you anything?"
Letty remained rooted on the doorstep, chewing her lip as she made up her mind. "Mia… do you still have a way to contact Ron? I mean, Ron Lee Cooper."
Mia's face lit up with emotion, though she quickly masked it.
"Ron? What about him? I haven't spoken to him in a while. Dom told me to keep my distance from him."
"Could you send me his number?" Letty asked.
"Of course." Mia pulled out her phone and texted Ron's number over without a second thought.
Letty thanked her—and turned to leave before even stepping inside.
"You're already here," Mia said, puzzled. "Why not come in for a bit?"
"Can't. There's something urgent I need to take care of," Letty replied, already disappearing into the shadows of the street.
Mia stood frozen at the door, something about Letty's behavior nagging at her. It wasn't until several moments later that realization struck her like a lightning bolt.
"Oh my God… Ron's in L.A.!" she gasped, excitement bursting across her face. She quickly pulled out her phone and dialed the number she hadn't dared call in so long.
But no one answered.
Her smile faded. Lowering the phone slowly, she closed the door, her heart heavy.
---
Meanwhile, not far down the street, Letty furiously redialed Ron's number over and over again. No answer. Frustration bubbled over, and a stream of expletives beginning with "F" spilled from her lips.
"Dammit! Why the hell isn't he picking up? What the hell is he even doing? Did I really come back for nothing?" she growled, yanking at her own hair in frustration.
Just then, her phone lit up. An unknown number was calling. Letty's heart skipped—she answered immediately.
"Ron? Is that you?"
"Sorry to disappoint you, Miss Letty," said a calm but unfamiliar voice on the other end. "Allow me to introduce myself. I'm Stasiak, an agent with the FBI."
The mention of the FBI made Letty instantly tense.
"I noticed you slipped into L.A. this morning through the freight terminal," he continued. "Illegally, I might add."
"What do you want?" Letty asked warily. "If you're here to arrest me, you're welcome to try."
"Relax. We're not looking to cause trouble," Stasiak said smoothly. "In fact, I'm calling to offer you an opportunity. A chance for you—and Toretto—to come home clean. A full pardon. No more running."
Letty's heart skipped a beat.
But experience had taught her: nothing in this world comes free.
"I'm guessing there's a catch," she said flatly. "What do you want me to do?"
"Just a small favor," Stasiak said lightly, as if asking for directions—not setting up a dangerous mission. "There's a new drug lord rising in L.A. Goes by the name Braga. Real ghost. Dangerous. We've already lost several undercover agents trying to get close."
He paused, letting that sink in.
"I heard he's currently recruiting drivers," he added. "Word is, your skills behind the wheel rival Dom's. That true?"
Letty's grip on her phone tightened instinctively. She didn't respond, but the implication was clear.
Sensing hesitation, Stasiak sweetened the deal.
"Help us bring down Braga, and I'll personally make sure your entire criminal record—and Toretto's—is wiped clean. You'll both walk free. What do you say?"
Letty exhaled slowly, eyes narrowing.
"I'm in."
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