Drive [h.f-t. & j.l.] (COMPLETED)

Chapter 5 - Capsule

capsule - turin brakes
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josephine's pov

"What's going on?" Hero asks, looking at his friend, who looked like he was about to pull out every single hair on his head, pacing back and forth.

"Your boy here's crying foul because he wagered his truck on a race and lost." A guy says and I look at him, taking in his frame. He was at least 6'5 with huge arms, covered in colorful tattoos that reached up to his neck. He had a bald head and an almost amused look on his face.

"Antwon.. you bet your truck against Gianchi?" Hero asks and Antwon looks at him, a desperate look on his face, nodding. Hero shakes his head, his face twisted in a mixture of confusion and anger. "Are you fucking crazy?!" He shouts and Antwon keeps nodding.

"I'm fucked, man! That thing was my livelihood! I'm so fucking stupid." The deep rumble of Gianchi's laughter fills the space and several of what looked like Gianchi's goons join in, laughing at Antwon as a crowd gathers around us, curious about the whole thing. The men next Gianchi look just as intimidating, tattoos on display, covering their arms as they all wore sleeveless shirts.

"Only thing you'll be supporting now is dust, burger-flipper!" One of them laughs and I take a step towards Antwon, placing a hand on his arm. He looks at me with wild eyes, clearly frustrated.

"Ignore them, Antwon. The truck belongs to you. They can't hold you to a dumb bet." I try to comfort him and that Gianchi guy laughs again, making me turn towards him with brows furrowed.

"Says who, princess? You? I won fair and square, in the street. And what the street says goes." He says and several people around us nod. Antwon keeps cursing next to me and I look at Hero for support. His eyes were fixed on the ground, fists clenching as he seemed to think about something. Finally, he looks up, straightening his back and walking over to Gianchi until he was standing right in front of the taller man.

"Yeah? Then let's take this back on the street. Both of us enter the next race. If I finish ahead of you, I win back Antwon's truck." He says and I was about to interject, stepping forward but Hero lifts a hand without looking at me, making me stop in my tracks. Normally, I wouldn't let him tell me what to do but I had the feeling this was something he needed no help with. This is his world, after all.

"And what if I bet you? What do I win? Your Devore GT? Ha! I've got three of 'em." Gianchi laughs but Hero doesn't back down, a smirk on his face as he shakes his head.

"That ain't what I'm racing in tonight." I watch in horror as Hero holds something aloft in his unclenched fist. A few people around us gasp and start whispering and even Gianchi looks startled. Antwon starts quietly chanting the word No beside me, his hands once again finding the roots of his hair.

"That's.. that's Eriko Tanaka's car!" Gianchi exclaims and everyone looks over at the polished green classic parked nearby. "A 1957 AC Ace Bristol Roadster."

„Worth ten times your pathetic life, Gi." Hero says, a sharp tone in his voice.

"Hero, no-" Antwon finally speaks up but Gianchi already started smirking, crossing his arms over his chest.

"You're on, kid. I've already got too many cars to drive home, so one more won't hurt." Gianchi and his goons start to head over to the starting line and I step up to Hero, finally getting him to look at me. Antwon comes rushing over too, shaking his head.

"I can't let you do this, Hero." He says and Hero goes on to take off his jacket, pushing it into his friend's arms. I couldn't see anything from the guy I just danced with in him now. His face was hard, his muscles tense and his gaze determined. "You can't stop me either. So relax and enjoy the fireworks." He starts to walk off but I grab his arm.