The Heart Leads

Chapter 3

Brian shifted uncomfortably on his feet, his duffel bag suddenly feeling like it weighed a ton. His stomach was in knots, a weird mix of nerves and the constant pressure of his pregnancy making everything feel way too heavy. He could feel the heat rising in his chest, and his throat felt tight, like the words he needed to say were stuck somewhere in his chest. But there was no turning back now.

Dom, Mia, Letty, Jesse, Leon, and Vince were all standing there, their eyes locked on him, waiting for him to speak. It felt like everything around him was still, like the air was holding its breath, just waiting for him to say something. Anything. And the weight of it was too much.

"I... I don't even know where to start," Brian mumbled, his voice quieter than usual. "My dad... he's the one who got me pregnant."

The words felt like they dropped into the room, and he saw their confusion, but no one interrupted. They just waited. His hands were trembling, his palms clammy. He had never said these words out loud before-not like this. And it was scary. It was terrifying.

"He... he's the reason I'm in this mess," Brian went on, his voice cracking a little. "He's the reason I'm here, asking for help. I've been racing since I was 15. It started when I was a kid, just trying to get away, trying to survive. But instead of getting out, I just ended up running farther into this mess."

He looked down, biting his lip hard to stop himself from crying. He could feel the tears threatening to come, but he tried to hold it back. He hated feeling weak, hated feeling like everything was crashing down on him, but he couldn't keep it in anymore.

"The Skyline," he said, his voice cracking as he looked up again, eyes brimming with tears. "It was my first car. My dad gave it to me when I was 15. Told me it was a way to 'earn my keep.' He always wanted me to be tough, to be the 'man' he thought I should be, and racing was part of it."

He let out a shaky breath, wiping his eyes quickly. He didn't want to cry. Not now. Not in front of them. But it felt like everything was slipping.

"But it wasn't about the car. It wasn't about racing for fun or money. It was about survival," Brian continued, his voice shaking. "My dad pushed me into things I wasn't ready for. He always told me I wasn't enough, that I had to keep proving myself. That's how he got me to race. He'd say if I didn't keep winning, I wasn't worth anything. Like I was just a tool, just a way for him to look good."

He took a shaky step forward, one hand gripping his stomach, the other clutching his duffel bag like it was his lifeline. His whole body felt like it was on fire, the weight of the truth threatening to suffocate him.

"I was just a kid," Brian whispered, his voice so soft the others had to lean in to hear him. "I didn't know what I was doing. But he pushed me, and pushed me, until all I knew was how to drive, how to race, how to win. I thought if I could just make him proud... maybe things would be different. But they never were. It was never enough."

The silence around him felt heavy, like the words he'd said were still hanging in the air, waiting to settle. No one interrupted, no one said a word. They just stood there, taking in everything he'd said.

Brian paused, wiping his face again, before he continued, his voice barely above a whisper. "And then... I kept winning, kept racing, but it got worse. My dad..." He couldn't finish the sentence, his throat tightening as the memories rushed back. "He didn't just make me race. He... he used me for other stuff. Stuff I don't even know how to explain. And that's when I... I had to get out. I didn't know what else to do."

A tear slipped down his cheek, but he wiped it away quickly, trying to pull himself together. He couldn't show weakness. Not now. "I left. I couldn't stay there anymore. I couldn't let him control me. So I took the car, the money I'd made racing-and I ran. I found a place to stay, but... but he came after me. It's why I've been moving around, why I don't stay in one place. I can't let him find me, can't let him find the car. It's the only thing I've got left. It's the only thing that's mine."

He looked down at the duffel bag in his hand. "The money... ninety grand. It's everything I've worked for. The only thing that's kept me going. Even when everything else was falling apart."

His voice faltered again, but he quickly wiped his eyes. "I know it sounds crazy. I don't even know if I deserve your help, but I can't lose my car. I can't lose the last piece of me that's still here."

For what felt like an eternity, no one said anything. The room was still, and Brian stood there, his chest tight, his stomach aching from all the words he'd just said. Finally, Dom spoke, his voice softer than usual, but still firm.

"You're not crazy, kid," Dom said, his eyes steady and reassuring. "You've been through a lot. And you're right-it's not just a car. It's your lifeline. We get that. And you've got more fight in you than anyone I've ever known. We're not gonna leave you hanging."

Brian's breath hitched, and for the first time in a long time, he felt something he hadn't allowed himself to feel-hope. Maybe, just maybe, he wasn't as alone as he thought.