Tiana Ortiz-Toretto

Prologue

Night swept over the sky like a dark blanket, the stars a finishing touch. Cars zoomed up and down the busy streets of Los Angeles, each car going to their designated destination.

In the heart of Echo Park, Queen of Angels Hospital sat on the street of Bellevue Avenue. The inside is a contrast to the streets, which were full of life.

Doctors were preparing to go on their break or get off to check on patients. But in room 103, a different situation was taking place.

Letty Ortiz, her body still aching from the accident and delivering her baby, pulled her red tank top over her head. She stopped mid-stomach, her fingers tracing her stitches as she stared at herself in the bathroom mirror.

Memories of the last few days played in her head - car crash, ambulance sirens, doctors talking over each other, repeat.

She wiped her brown eyes from any trace of the tears she shed earlier, wiping her hands on her blue jeans.

"Letty!" A familiar female voice called, breaking her out of her trance. "You need some help in there?" Letty glanced at the door, seeing the shadow on the other side move. "Listen..." A sigh escaped. "Dr. Barnes is willing not to press any charges on you, if you're worried about-woah!"

Letty came face to face with Natasha, her best friend and the only girl she got along with, besides Mia.

Natasha rolled her eyes, giving her best friend a playful glare. "A little warning would've been nice, I could've fell!"

Wrapping a blue jacket around her waist, Letty walked past Natasha, ignoring her comment. "I'm not worried about charges, that's the least of my worries. All I care about is my kid."

Letty found herself sitting back on the same bed. That same bed she gave birth on. Only with clean sheets, fluffed pillows, and warm blankets for the next patient.

"I see the pregnancy hormones are still intact." Natasha plopped next to her. "You're still bitchy."

"And you're still annoying." Letty spat back.

Natasha smiled, earning one from her friend. "How does it feel to be free of handcuffs?" Letty shook her head. "I had to ask!"

"Where's Khalil?"

"Somewhere with his father, asleep." Natasha answered. "I wanna see how long James can go before he needs me again. You know he can't only be left around for 30 minutes or more." Letty looked off but Natasha nudged her before she could get lost in her thoughts. "Mia and Dom are gonna be here with the doctor any minute. Everything is all a mess, hopefully we finally get some news."

A motherly instinct kicked in. "Who's got Marcos?"

"Your kids' grandfather and uncle." Natasha winked. "He's safe. Probably conning them out of something, but safe. You know those Toretto genes kick in early."

Before she could answer, a light knock on the door stopped their conversation as four figures entered the door. A 15 year old teenager with straight, brown hair entered the room in a polka dot dress with her 18 year old brother Dom. His signature Toretto jacket hugged his muscles.

Behind the Toretto siblings, Dr. Barnes made himself known. J. Barnes on his name tag pinned to his coat. The solemn look on his face didn't help Letty's worried one. And the officer next to the doctor didn't help matters either.

"I thought you said pressing charges isn't necessary?" Natasha frowned as she took sight of the officer, eyeing the doctor.

"Believe me, I'm not pressing charges on anyone." Dr. Barnes explained, looking at each one of their faces. "But do try to understand this: let this had been another doctor, a lot more known than me, you would be facing a judge and not me. Stabbing a doctor is a serious offense."