(Bonus Chapter Due to Power Stones, Thank You to all who support my work!)
Late that night, Dom and Vince kept a silent vigil outside the garage, their instincts sharp. Guldrin was asleep inside, and though the shop had finally quieted, neither of them could shake the tension from earlier. They'd both felt like someone had been hanging around, a presence that had stirred up enough unease to keep them on edge, after Guldrin had spotted the intruder, everyone had been on high alert. And as the night crept on, Dom's intuition proved right.
A flicker of movement by the garage caught his eye, a shadow slipping around the edges, moving with careful, practiced stealthy movements. Dom and Vince exchanged a look, both men knowing this wasn't just some passerby. Without a word, they moved together, slipping into the darkness to approach from either side. Vince holding a pump shotgun and Dom holding a massive wrench.
The intruder was crouched down, examining something by the garage when Dom stepped out of the shadows, Vince circling in from behind. The man froze, his hands stilled as he looked up, caught in the beam of Dom's cold, appraising stare. Recognition hit Dom almost immediately. It was Brian, the new guy who had been hanging around the garage, supposedly trying to integrate with the crew. But here, alone at night? His story didn't add up.
"Brian," Dom's voice cut through the quiet like a blade, laced with suspicion. "What the hell are you doing here?"
"He's a cop." Vince said flatly, and Dom looked at Brian, "You a cop?"
Brian looked up, momentarily startled, but quickly recovered. He stood slowly, raising his hands halfway in a casual gesture as he tried to play it off. "Hey, Dom. Didn't mean to startle you, man. I was just… checking out the garage. Thought I'd swing by and get a look at the setup, y'know? No, I am not a cop," His eyes dart around but never show weakness, for if you show weakness in front of a man like Dominic, that was when you lost before you tried.
Dom's eyes narrowed. "Not a cop… But you are here at three in the morning?" He didn't buy it, and he made sure Brian knew it. Vince stepped closer, shotgun laid on his shoulder, and gave Brian a hard look.
"Yeah," Vince sneered. "Seems like an odd time for a tour. What are you really doing here, Spilner?"
Brian chuckled nervously, clearly scrambling for a way out. "Look, I get it, alright? It seems shady. But I swear, I'm not up to anything. I was just… checking out the competition, alright?" He ran a hand through his hair, looking slightly sheepish, but with a clear underlying fear. "I wanted to see what I was dealing with, the kind of cars and setups you're working with. You guys are the best out here, right? Figured it wouldn't hurt to know what I'm up against. I owe you, Dom, I can't lose again."
Dom's expression didn't soften. He wasn't entirely convinced. There was something too slick, too convenient, about Brian's answer, and Dom's gut told him not to let his guard down. But Brian kept his gaze steady, exuding a calmness that almost bordered on confidence, even under their scrutiny.
"So, you're saying you're here because you want to… scope out the competition? What, are you going to scope out each big player's garages?" Dom asked slowly, his voice low and skeptical.
Brian nodded, his expression earnest. "Yeah. I'm new to the scene, Dom. I want to earn my place here, but I gotta know what I'm dealing with. Figured a late-night peek couldn't hurt. No one's around, no distractions, just me, taking a look." He flashed a disarming grin, shrugging his shoulders. "Didn't mean to step on any toes, man. Just wanted to learn from the best, understand what everyone is running."
Dom's jaw clenched as he mulled it over. Brian's answer felt too convenient, and yet, his easygoing attitude made it hard to tell if he was hiding something. The guy had saved him from the cops, so there was at least that. But sneaking around here still wasn't sitting right with him; and saying he would check each garage, something was wrong.
Vince, on the other hand, wasn't swayed. "That's bullshit, Dom, he's a cop!" he muttered, taking a step closer. "Who the hell do you think you are, sneakin' around here like that? You think Dom's gonna just let you play it off?" Vince's voice was as rough as his expression, and he looked ready to blow Brian's brains out all over the street.
Brian's smile faded as he felt the gun on the back of his head, and he held his hands up defensively. "Alright, alright, I get it. Maybe I went about it the wrong way, but it's the truth. I don't have any reason to lie, man. Look, you guys are the big dogs around here. I didn't want to come in blind, you know?" His gaze shifted from Vince to Dom, sincerity in his eyes. "I just wanted a better idea of what everyone is working with."
Dom remained silent, considering. Part of him still didn't fully trust Brian, but he knew the importance of loyalty and respect. Brian's actions felt like a rookie mistake, an amateur trying to make his mark without knowing the lay of the land. Still, the story was plausible enough to avoid any immediate confrontation.
Dom stepped closer, his gaze unyielding as he looked Brian in the eye. "You're new, so I'll let it slide. But this is your one and only warning." He leaned in slightly, his tone dropping to a low, dangerous pitch. "I don't take kindly to people sneaking around my place, especially not people who claim to be part of the crew. Not to mention…" He didn't continue, making sure not to mention that Guldrin was staying here for his safety.
Brian nodded, his face carefully neutral, but Dom could see a hint of relief. "Understood. It Won't happen again, I promise. I respect you, Dom. I really do. I just… wanted to prove myself."
Vince gave an exasperated sigh, muttering under his breath. He still didn't buy it, but Dom gave him a slight nod, signaling for him to ease off. "Fine," Vince grumbled, though his expression was anything but friendly. "But don't expect us to trust you just 'cause you got a sob story."
Brian held his hands up again, nodding. "Fair enough. I get it. I'll earn it, alright?"
Dom's gaze softened just a fraction, but his tone stayed firm. "You're on thin ice, Spilner. You pull a stunt like this again, you're out. We don't need someone in our circle who can't respect boundaries."
Brian nodded, the tension in his shoulders easing. "Understood. Thanks for giving me a chance, Dom. Won't happen again." He extended a hand, which Dom shook briefly, his grip firm and unyielding.
With that, Brian turned and left, his stride calm, though Dom could see a hint of tension in his shoulders as he walked away. When he was gone, Vince turned to Dom, his face twisted in disbelief.
"You're really letting him off that easy?" Vince asked, his voice filled with frustration. "I don't trust him, Dom. He's hiding something, I can feel it."
Dom nodded slowly, watching Brian's retreating figure until it disappeared into the night. "Maybe. But he saved my ass with those cops. And if he's lying, we'll find out soon enough." He glanced at Vince, his expression dark. "For now, we watch him. Keep him close. If he's really up to something, he won't be able to hide it forever."
Vince grunted, his jaw clenched. "Fine. But don't say I didn't warn you. That guy's trouble, Dom. With Guldrin staying here, it ain't safe to let someone who would sneak inside our place stay around."
Dom didn't reply, but Vince's words hung in the air. Watching Brian fade into the shadows, he couldn't shake the feeling that there was more to the story. If Brian really was hiding something, Dom would get to the bottom of it. No one messed with his family and got away with it.
As Brian walked away, the faint glow of the garage lights illuminated the tension on Dom's face. His instincts were still on high alert, and the image of the figure Guldrin had spotted earlier loomed in his mind after Vince's words. Something wasn't adding up, and Dom had to get to the bottom of it. He glanced over at Vince, who was still visibly skeptical, still holding the pump shotgun close to his chest.
"Hold on a second, maybe we can figure it out sooner," Dom said, his voice low and commanding. He stepped back towards the garage, moving quickly to catch up with Brian. Vince followed closely, ready to back Dom up if things went south.
Brian was almost at the edge of the driveway when Dom called out to him, his voice slicing through the night air. "Hey! Spilner!"
Brian turned, his expression shifting from casual to guarded as he faced Dom again. "What's up?" he asked, trying to maintain a calm demeanor.
Dom closed the distance between them, locking eyes with Brian. "I need you to clear something up for me."
Brian glanced back at Vince, who was lingering a few steps behind, still holding his shotgun and glaring at him. "Sure, man. What's on your mind?" His tone was light, but Dom could see the tension in his posture, the way he shifted slightly as if bracing for something.
"Let's move away from the shop," Dom suggested, his voice low and firm. He didn't want to wake Guldrin or put him in any more danger than necessary. As they stepped away, Dom's mind raced, replaying the details from earlier. The way Brian had acted during their first conversation, the look of nervousness when he had been caught, something was off.
Once they were far enough away from the house, Dom turned to face Brian squarely, narrowing his gaze. "Look, I can't shake this feeling that you're hiding something. Guldrin mentioned seeing someone sneaking around one morning, they ran when he made some noise. I need to know if it was you."
Brian's eyes widened slightly, and for a brief moment, Dom caught a flicker of something in his expression, was it surprise, or was it guilt? "Guldrin? He saw someone?" Brian asked, his voice rising slightly, feigning confusion.
"Cut the crap, Spilner," Dom snapped, his voice laced with authority. "If it was you, just own up to it. This is my family we're talking about. I won't let anyone put them at risk."
Brian's demeanor shifted, and Dom could see the gears turning in his head. "I'm not here to hurt anyone, Dom. I swear it. I was just looking around, checking out the competition, like I said. That's the truth. I didn't break in or anything. This was the first night I came over, and you caught me before I could even enter. Why would I break in when you gave me a key?"
Dom studied Brian closely, searching for any sign of deceit. He looked for the telltale signs, the twitch of an eye, a nervous fidget, anything that might suggest he was lying. But Brian held his ground, his expression steady, a slight furrow of concern etched on his brow. Since Brian had the guts to go undercover, of course, he could hold up to scrutiny, his training kicked in and nothing showed.
"You expect me to believe that?" Dom challenged, crossing his arms over his chest. "You just happen to be out here in the middle of the night? Only one day after that intruder ran? It doesn't add up."
Brian swallowed hard, and Dom caught a glimpse of unease. "Look, I get why you're suspicious. I would be too if I were in your shoes. But I'm not lying. You've got to trust me… if I wanted to steal something, I would've done it back at the garage when no one was around while I was making deliveries. But I didn't."
Dom pressed further, determined to expose any cracks in Brian's facade. "Then why not just come by during the day? Why sneak around at night? That's not how you prove yourself."
Brian hesitated, his eyes darting slightly as he tried to find the right words. "I just… I thought I could get a better look at your setup without anyone watching. I didn't want to step on anyone's toes or disrupt anything. I thought it would be less awkward that way."
Dom studied him closely, looking for the truth behind the façade. "And yet, you still went about it the wrong way. You think this is how you earn respect around here? By sneaking around and breaking trust?"
"I wasn't breaking trust!" Brian insisted, his voice rising slightly. "I thought I could find some intel without causing a scene. I didn't mean to come off like that, I swear! I just want to win!"
Dom's gaze hardened. "Trust is everything in this life, Brian. You should know that by now. You mess with it, and you're out."
Finally, Brian sighed, running a hand through his hair in frustration. "I understand. I'm sorry. It was a stupid idea. I just wanted to be a part of things, but I get it now. Just give me a chance, please."
Dom didn't respond right away, still searching for signs of deceit, but there was something in Brian's plea that resonated with him. The guy seemed genuinely remorseful, but could he really trust him? Dom decided to play it cautiously.
"Here's the deal," Dom said finally, his voice steady. "I'll let this slide for now, but you need to be straight with me moving forward. No more games, no more sneaking around. You want to be part of the crew? You do it the right way."
Brian nodded vigorously, relief flooding his features. "Absolutely. I promise. You won't regret it, Dom."
"Good," Dom replied, his voice firm. "But remember, one more slip-up, and you're done. I don't have the luxury of second chances when it comes to my family. For now, let's take a ride… You said you were going to check out each garage? Then let's check out Tran's, and see what he is running."
Brian was a tad bit shocked, but still followed Dom and Vince to their cars. The low roar of the engine forced the situation to set in for Brian, they were really going to do this, and if he refused it would be even more suspicious. However, if Tran was the one he was looking for, then this would kill two birds with one stone. With that, they loaded up and set out a few blocks from Tran's shop, where they would then continue on foot.
(Give me your POWER, Please, and Thank You! Leave reviews and comments, they motivate me to continue.)