The naive little fat boy finally understood what Castle meant. After thinking for a moment, driven by his loyalty and the few friends he had, he mustered the courage to say to Castle, "Uncle Rick, you know Tej is one of my few friends. Could you help keep him safe if something unexpected happens? Or can I tell them about you?"
Castle was taken aback by the little fat boy's words. "No way, kid. You absolutely cannot tell them about me. I have a deep personal vendetta with that busty, long-legged blonde, Vanessa, in their team. If she finds out I'm in Rio de Janeiro, she might jeopardize the whole mission just to come after me and put a bullet in my head..."
Castle's words were cut off by the fat boy's look of disdain and an unspoken 'you scumbag' accusation in his eyes. The kid seemed to have figured out why Uncle Rick knew about this heist. It was obvious: that woman was likely a former lover of the playboy Castle. That's why he had flown over immediately after the call and knew so much about the heist, even details the kid didn't know. Who would believe that Castle wasn't connected to that busty blonde?
Seeing the kid's unabashed disdain, Castle realized his previous explanation had caused a misunderstanding. He didn't want the kid to think he and Vanessa were ex-lovers, especially since the kid might accidentally reveal it. That could spell big trouble for Castle.
So, Castle had no choice but to explain to the little fat boy how Vanessa and her gang once staged a massive bank robbery in New York, leading to their capture with his help. The boy then remembered that he had helped Castle investigate that very case, finding Vanessa's identity and her entry photo.
Embarrassed by his misunderstanding, the little fat boy apologized. But Castle, having long given up on expecting much from the emotionally clueless kid, didn't dwell on it. Instead, he repeatedly warned the kid to steer clear of the women he was about to meet. None of them were to be trifled with.
Even if they were half as capable in reality as they were in the movie, the kid would be doomed if he got too close.
Mia Toretto, the sister of Dominic Toretto, head of the street racing gang. Before her brother's betrayal by the federal government and subsequent harsh sentencing, she appeared to be the sweet girl-next-door. Yet, she could make Brian O'Conner give up his federal agent status to break her brother, Vanessa, and others out of prison. This showed how dangerous a seemingly sweet girl could become once she turned dark.
Gisele, a former Mossad agent, was another ruthless woman who had spent significant time with the Mexican drug lord Braga. Despite her stunning long legs, if you fell for them, you were as good as dead. Her decision to betray Braga for Dominic Toretto only underscored her lethal nature. Castle could only say, "Not to be messed with, not at all!"
And then there was Vanessa, the busty, long-legged blonde Castle had tangled with in New York. She was the most dangerous of the lot. A naive kid like the fat boy would be devoured whole by someone like her if he got involved.
To ensure the kid wouldn't give him away when meeting Dominic's crew, Castle painstakingly went over all the intelligence he had on Dominic and his team. He wanted the kid to stay alert and not let his guard down, especially against Vanessa. If she found out that Castle, the one who had caused her downfall in New York, was also in Brazil, she might come after him for revenge. That would ruin Castle's chance to enjoy a real-life "Fast and Furious" show.
The kid listened intently to Castle's analysis of Dominic's crew and assured him he understood his intentions. He promised to be cautious while helping Dominic's team and to inform Castle quietly when the action was about to start, so Castle could watch the drama unfold.
The little fat boy never quite grasped Castle's mindset. He wasn't after the money; he just wanted to see beautiful women and fast cars in action. To the boy, Castle's effort of flying to Brazil, risking Vanessa's wrath, just to watch a heist was incomprehensible. He, a typical homebody, couldn't relate to Castle's thrill-seeking behavior.
After a detailed briefing on the personalities and methods of Dominic's crew, Castle felt confident the kid wouldn't blow his cover. According to the plan, the kid would likely stay behind with Tej and others at the base, avoiding direct involvement in the heist and the ensuing chase. The main danger he might face would come from Hernan Reyes' men or from Hobbs and his federal agents hunting Dominic's crew. But since the kid had no criminal record in the USA, he was just a regular guy. If captured by Hobbs' team, his safety wasn't a concern.
As long as he stayed cautious, Castle could guarantee his safety.
After meticulously reviewing their private contact methods, they parted ways. The kid planned to take advantage of the temporary calm to continue his usual activities: enjoying the beach with scantily clad ladies from various countries. Meanwhile, Castle, feeling pressured by the System, had to stay back at the hotel, using the excuse of fatigue from the long flight to rest.
Simultaneously, a massive C-17 military transport plane landed at a military airport in Rio de Janeiro. As the hatch opened, the beefy federal agent Hobbs, with an expression suggesting the world owed him money, stepped out. He loudly directed his team to unload the Knight XV armored SUV and then requested a guide from the local police force. He chose Elena, an officer from the favelas, to be their liaison, ignoring the perplexed local police official who had approached him.
"Men, our targets aren't just Dominic Toretto but also his sister, Mia Toretto, and former FBI agent Brian O'Conner," Hobbs addressed his team. "These aren't ordinary criminals. They're experts at hiding and masters of driving. We can't let them get their hands on cars, especially in a city like Rio where we're unfamiliar with the streets. Understand?"
"Yes, sir..." The team responded half-heartedly, which didn't bother Hobbs. His men were good soldiers, and discipline was not his top concern. He only cared about them following his orders precisely. After all, everyone knew about the American soldiers' discipline, right? Though his team were no longer military, they were all former servicemen who joined his task force after leaving the army.
Unfazed by their lack of enthusiasm, Hobbs continued, "Intelligence shows Dominic's group is hiding in Rio's Rocinha favela. This area is complex, and Dominic is a cunning fugitive. Plus, his brother-in-law, our former colleague Brian O'Conner, is an anti-surveillance expert. We need a reliable guide from the Brazilian side. I've picked someone. Once they're on board, we move out!"
Hobbs had rushed to Brazil after Dominic's crew hijacked several cars from the DEA on a train, during which two DEA agents were killed. This alerted Hobbs to Dominic's presence in Brazil, prompting him to assemble his team and head there immediately.
Aware of Hernan Reyes' notorious reputation and his murky connections with the Brazilian police, Hobbs insisted on personally selecting his guide. He didn't trust the police official who had approached him and made it clear he would choose his guide to ensure their mission's integrity.
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