The O'Conner Code

Chapter 7

Brian O'Conner stepped out of his truck, the low growl of the engine still humming in his ears as he made his way toward the Toretto garage. Sammy was back home, only three weeks old, and the sound of his son’s cries still echoed in Brian’s mind. Every minute felt like it was slipping through his fingers, too fast, too soon. But today wasn’t about fatherhood—it was about business, and this was a deal he couldn’t avoid.

The tension in the air hung heavy as he approached the garage. The stakes had never been higher, and Brian knew the game he was in now wasn’t the same. It was deeper, darker—dangerous. The Hellcat was close to finished, just a few last adjustments, but that wasn’t why he was here. The real reason was to make the call. The kind of call that would set everything in motion.

As he stepped inside the garage, the familiar scent of oil and gasoline hit him. It was chaos, but it was home. Mia, Letty, Dom, Jesse, and Leon were all scattered across the space, each wrapped up in their own world of engines and torque wrenches. But Brian wasn’t here for any of them—he was here for Vince. Vince was the one who could get it done. The one who never hesitated when things got real.

"Vince," Brian’s voice cut through the noise, low and steady, with a weight that demanded attention.

Vince looked up, wiping his hands on a rag, his eyes narrowing as he saw the intensity in Brian’s face. "What’s up, Bri?" he asked, his voice flat but serious.

"I’ve got a job for you," Brian said, his words sharp, businesslike. "A big one. A million-dollar race. Underground. Big names. High stakes."

Vince raised an eyebrow, his interest piqued but his skepticism clear. "You talkin’ real money or just a lot of smoke and mirrors, Bri?"

Brian didn’t flinch. "Real money. And real danger. This isn’t just a race—it’s personal. I’ve been keeping a second Hellcat under wraps. It’s ready to go. But this race? It’s not about the prize. It’s about survival."

The room quieted. Even Dom stepped forward, arms crossed, his expression a mix of disbelief and suspicion. "A second Hellcat? You been hiding that from us?" His voice was laced with something more than surprise—there was a hint of betrayal.

Brian didn’t back down. "Yeah. I’ve been playing it close to the chest. But now... it’s time. And I need someone who knows what it means to be in the real game. Someone who knows the weight of what’s on the line."

The silence stretched as everyone in the room tried to digest the information. A million-dollar race. A hidden car. And Brian O’Conner, who had always walked the line between loyalty and danger, now standing there, asking them to dive into the kind of mess that only a few could handle.

Vince was the first to speak, his voice low. "Who are we racing against?" His eyes bored into Brian, wanting more than just the surface details. "And why is this race so goddamn important?"

Brian’s gaze hardened, his voice quiet but cutting. "The guy I’m racing... he wants me dead. This isn’t just for the prize money. If I lose, they’ll come after my family—my crew. You, Vince, you’re not just racing for cash. You’re racing for survival. This is it."

Vince absorbed that, the weight of it settling on his shoulders. This wasn’t just about speed anymore—it was about keeping the people they cared about alive. About making sure they didn’t lose everything.

"And you want me to risk my neck for this?" Vince asked, the loyalty in his voice threading through the tension. "You sure about this? Because this isn’t just some street race. You’re talking about the real deal."

Brian nodded, his eyes burning with purpose. "I wouldn’t trust anyone else. You’re the best. You’ve been in the game long enough to know how this goes down. And I’ll be right there, backing you up. We’re doing this together. No one’s getting left behind."

Vince looked around the room, locking eyes with each member of the crew. Then, he turned back to Brian. "Alright. I’m in. But if we’re doing this, we do it right. I’m not walking into that mess without protection for the crew. We need backup."

Brian’s lips twitched into a thin smile. "Already handled. I’ve got full protection. You’ll have what you need to make sure the whole crew stays safe."

Dom stepped forward, his gaze locking with Brian’s. "This ain’t just about a race anymore, is it?" he asked, the unspoken question clear between them.

Brian didn’t hesitate. "No. It’s personal now. I’m done playing it safe. This is about my family. My people. I’ll do whatever it takes to keep them safe. And if anyone’s standing in the way, they’re going down."

The air was thick with the gravity of Brian’s words. There was no turning back now. This race wasn’t about proving who was the fastest—it was about proving they could survive. And with everything on the line, they were going to give it everything they had.

"Three days," Brian said, his voice cold and focused. "I’ll have the Hellcat delivered. It’s on the east side. Get ready."

Vince nodded, his eyes hard. "We’re good. Let’s handle it."

As the crew dispersed, preparing for what was coming, Brian stood for a moment, hand resting on the doorframe, his mind already racing through the next steps. The stakes were high. The risks were real. But for his family, for his crew, he’d do whatever it took. He’d race, fight, and protect them all—no matter the cost.