Epilogue I
(Four months later)
Equal Justice Under The Law
Those are the words engraved at the main entrance of the Supreme Court of the United States of America building located in Washington DC.
I glance down at the briefcase Hanna has in her hand, frowning slightly. She refused to tell me what she was carrying within and begged me not to say a single word until we were out of the building again.
Slowly my gaze slides up, taking in every detail of her outfit and my brows furrow a little more. I actually don’t like that outfit too much but I understand it’s necessary, at least here and now.
Dark blue suit perfectly ironed over an immaculate white blouse, the skirt resting right below her knees. Black high heels and her hair tugged up in a simple bow.
Save for the fact that she’s wearing my mom’s earrings; I wouldn’t mind stripping her right here, where we are standing. Maybe the high heels would stay along with the earrings, but the rest would fly. However, Hanna promised me that she would get rid of those tailored suits as soon as we were done with what brought us here in first place.
“Are you sure, Hanna?” I look at her, squeezing her hand gently. In response Hanna smiles, nodding ‘yes’.
“Trust me, Dominic.”
My gaze meets hers, sending shivers up my spine. Hanna’s eyes are dark, her gaze cold. The Ice Queen is ready to strike that mortal blow and for the first time I’m with her all the way in. I trust the Ice Queen. I trust Hanna.
My lips spread in a small grin as I nod ‘yes’, sighing. “Lead the way, Hanna, baby.” I whisper, holding her gaze. In response Hanna squeezes my hand softly, her thumb tracing a slow pattern over my wrist as her lips spread in that devilish grin.
Crossing through the big doors, we enter the building heading directly to the clerk’s desk. We’re going to announce the purpose of our visit.
After several minutes we are granted access and we head directly to the office of the honorable and distinguished Judge from the Supreme Court of the United Stated of America. Mr. Patrick Ryan Worthington; Francis’ father.
His assistant receives us with extremely polite manners and offers us a cup of coffee. Hanna declines respectfully and finally we enter the federal judge’s office.
Judge Worthington looks at us, narrowing his eyes slightly as he gestures for us to take a seat without saying a single word.
We oblige and Hanna leaves her briefcase at her side, right next to her seat. Crossing her legs, she makes herself comfortable as she clears her throat.
“I’m sure you already know why we are here, judge.” Hanna says, her eyes sparkling.
“As a matter of fact, I have to say I don’t know what the purpose of your visit is, Miss…”
“Hanna.”
The judge smiles condescendingly. “Hanna.” He echoed, forcing a smile on his lips and all of a sudden I find myself fighting back the urge to wipe that smile from his fucking face.
“I’m a very busy man, Hanna. So, please, would you be so kind and tell me why you wanted to see me with such urgency?” The judge adds, his smile fading in seconds.
“Of course.” Hanna replies, picking up her briefcase and placing it on his desk. “I think you will find this Intel really interesting, judge Worthington.” She adds, pulling out two folders and a padded envelope, handing them to him. “I suggest that you take a look at that one first.” Hanna smiles sweetly, pointing to one of the folders.
The judge narrows his eyes even more as he places them in front of him, opening the one that Hanna pointed out. His blue eyes wander all over the document, reading silently, when all of sudden he tenses, frowning deeply.
Slowly he lifts his head, looking at Hanna.
“You should know that conspiracy to commit a murder is a very serious crime, Hanna.” His gaze shows a restrained anger he almost can’t hide. “William Porter is a highly respected lawyer and a close old friend of mine.”
In response, Hanna snorts.
“Antonio Toretto was also a highly respected man.” She replies coldly, causing the judge to tighten his jaw. “But, you should take a look at that other folder, maybe it will help you to make up your mind, Judge Worthington.” Hanna adds, tilting her head to one side.
The judge closes the folder and opens the other, his eyes widening in a second flat as he removed his small glasses in one fast move.
“How did this document end up in your hands?” He asks, throwing the folder to one side, disgust evident in his voice and face.
I glance at the paper, recognizing in a second flat. It’s a printed copy of one of the documents that Ricardo and I found inside of Hanna’s secret files. Actually, it’s a list with the names of each and every single fucker that are a part of the administrative council of Phoenix Ltd. The federal judge’s name appears written down in second place, right below Bilkins’ name.
“Well, you would be amazed at how many old documents are gathering dust at the FBI headquarters library, Judge Worthington, and what a bored bookworm may end up reading when there’s nothing else to do.” Hanna answers calmly, a small grin tugging at the corner of her lips.
The judge shut his eyes, shaking his head.
Hanna doesn’t need to go into details. His Honor already knows that if she found that list, then she found also all the shit that he himself along with his partners have been doing over the years since Phoenix Ltd. was established.
Every single detail about the activities of the corporation will be revealed to the world if he doesn’t cooperate with us.
I narrow my eyes, fixing my gaze on him. The all-powerful judge from the Supreme Court broke out in a cold sweat. No wonder.
I bet he just had a vision of his flawless career ending in a matter of seconds as his old bones land in a federal prison. His highly respected name dragged all through the mud, his family exposed to the public shame. Not to mention the fact that his Honor would have a nine inch black cock all the way up his republican white ass in less than a week as 200 pounds of black fellow inmate fucked him six ways from Sunday, making of the old judge his personal bitch.
Yeah, I bet the judge’s concept of his so-called penitentiary rehabilitation program will change after such an enlightening experience. A little taste of how the system really works when you’re at the other side of that electrified fence.
Yeah, motherfucker. You weren’t expecting that painful revelation for breakfast, huh? Fuck you!
The judge snaps his eyes open, gritting his teeth.
“If this is disclosed, it will turn into an immeasurable national scandal.” He hisses, locking eyes with Hanna. “It would end in a disaster, worse than any other. It would make of Nixon and the Watergate a kid’s prank.”
In response, Hanna chuckles coldly.
“Do I look like I give a damn, judge?” She replies, arching a brow. “Inside that envelope you will find a recorded tape with his confession as well as a sworn statement of the only witness that saw William Porter in person, rigging the engine of Mr. Antonio Toretto’s racing car. Mr. Kenny Linder.”
What?!
I blink, shocked by Hanna’s words. She has to be kidding, right?
After a long moment, he sighs hard and glancing briefly at me, he looks at Hanna.
“I can’t sign this arrest warrant.” He says, frowning deeply. “William Porter is a man with resources. If I make this move against him, he will find a way to destroy my career. Not to mention the agency will make sure I have an accident.”
“Your career is already over, Judge Worthington. So I suggest that you fulfill the obligations your placement requires before it’s too late.” Hanna replies firmly and then she pulls out another folder from inside her briefcase handing it to him. “Here are some files you should take a look at too before you present your resignation.” Hanna says firmly, not leaving room to complain. “I think a revision of those cases is in order.” She adds, standing, closing her briefcase.
I frown deeply at her last words. What’s she talking about?
“Oh, one more thing, judge.” She says, causing him to lift his head, narrowing his eyes. “I want to be the one who arrests William Porter.”
—————-
Hanna stirs a little in her restless sleep as she mumbles something, snuggling closer to me. My hand moves slowly, stroking her back up and down, soothing her as I kiss her forehead gently.
Hanna showered in record time and then she joined me in one of the motels’ twin beds, curling at my side. She fell asleep in seconds. She was exhausted after our meeting with the fucking judge, Francis’ father.
We are lodged in a motel, waiting for the phone call that will give us the head ups to arrest William even though we have no clue where that fucker is. As far as we know, he just vanished but Hanna told me that she suspects where he will be in two days. Right next to my mom’s grave. Why? Because in two days it will be my mom’s birthday and Hanna is sure that William will go to put fresh flowers on her grave.
A heavy sigh escapes my lips as I lift my right hand, closing and opening it in a fist. I broke three of my fingers beating Snake to death and even though the fractures are already cured, my hand still hurts when the weather changes.
Flexing the muscle in my thigh, I wince slightly. Just like my hand, my leg still hurts a little and I walk with the help of a walking stick. I won’t be using it much longer though. The last test showed that the tissues are slowly regenerating as was expected.
An uncontrolled shiver runs up my spine when I think about the words of that fucking doc. He said that he was going to have to amputate the leg. And if it wasn’t due to a very pissed off Ricardo storming inside the operating room, pushing his wheelchair, threatening the surgeon, I would have lost my leg.
Big dark guy’s words definitely made the surgeon change his mind in a second flat. No wonder.
“If you cut off his leg, I’ll cutoff your balls.”
Ricardo got comfortable inside the operating room, playing with a shiv in his fingers, humming as if he didn’t have a care in the world. And just like ‘Mad Doc’ did with Hanna, the surgeon gave a new meaning to the word ‘perfect’. I bet the poor fucker had never carried out that intervention under such tension.
The vision of Ricardo whispering those words with an evil smile plastered on his lips as his dark cold eyes pierced the very soul of the poor fucker caused the fucking surgeon to almost pee his pants. Even though Ricardo was in a wheelchair still convalescing from his own intervention, he looked as dangerous as always, and he wasn’t fucking around.
I glanced at Hanna’s briefcase as a small grin tugs the corner of my lips. I always knew that Hanna was a hell of a woman and I was sure that she had some aces up her sleeve, but I never expected what she found about Kenny Linder. It never occurred to me that he was there, watching what William did and much less that he would confess to the fact, even signing a sworn statement.
I figure William hadn’t seen him or he would be dead already.
I frown slightly, thinking about that fucker. I wonder if that was the reason why Linder was prowling around the garage the day I beat the shit out of him. Maybe he went there to tell me but I didn’t give him the chance to open his mouth. I just started hitting him with that wrench and I almost killed him.
I sigh hard, still looking at Hanna’s briefcase, thinking about those other cases that Hanna ‘suggested’ the judge take a look at. I didn’t even think Hanna knew about them, about Harrison, Pette and Lester. But somehow I’m not that surprised at all.
I remember that I said to myself that Hanna had thought about every single detail, and I was damn right.
Harrison will be pardoned; his sentence revoked and he will be released in a month, tops. The old man that was sentenced to life imprisonment will be able to enjoy what’s rest of his life like a free man with his wife, Leah. It was about damn time that old man can have some piece of mind after losing his only daughter. He shouldn’t have ended up in prison in the first place.
Pette’s case will be revised in a couple of months, as soon as his lawyer receives some interesting evidence that someone hid. It seems that he was telling the truth, everything was an entrapment. With a little bit of luck, he will be out before Martha, his wife, gives birth to their third kid.
Lester will have no other choice but to say where the money he swindled went. That way his lawyer can request a reduction of his sentence so that Lester can get parole. Of course, the judge in charge of his case doesn’t need to know that a small percentage of the money Reynaldo put under my name is now under Lester’s name in a new account outside of the US.
Ricardo found a way to hack into the database of the bank, transferring the amount to a new account in Switzerland. So that way Lester can have access to it as soon as he’s released.
It won’t be nearly what Lester had expected, and it sure as hell he won’t be able to keep himself in the lifestyle he had always dreamt about, but at least he will be out too and if I’m right he will move in with his girlfriend.
Nevertheless something tells me that Lester will get in trouble again because that’s the way that fucker is. He won’t be the exception to that fucking stat but at least he will have a new chance to start from the beginning.
Hanna even thought about the kid, Marcus. He’s already dead, but his mom will receive a more than a decent compensation that won’t cost a single dollar to the taxpayers because it will be courtesy of Phoenix Ltd. At the end, it was one of his employees that killed Marcus in prison. Of course that won’t give the woman her son back, but at least she may be able to sleep at night knowing there’s still justice in this shitty world.
My file was among the others too. Since I signed a deal with the FBI, Hanna made sure that the agency respects the terms of the agreement. I won’t live under parole and my name won’t appear listed as one of the most wanted by the FBI anymore. My criminal records will be erased just as those two fuckers said.
Dominic Alfredo Toretto will be a free man by the end of the week.
Hanna’s cell phone rings, pulling me out of my thoughts. She jumps startled, tensing every single muscle until I whisper in her ear that everything is okay, that I’m there with her.
She relaxes a little and slowly she blinks her sleep away as I hand her the cell phone. After a couple of seconds Hanna opens her eyes as she answers the phone.
I hear a male voice at the other side of the line as Hanna meets my concerned gaze. Her eyes are sparkling like stars and her lips spread in an evil smile that reminds me of Ricardo’s.
The man talking is the brand new chief in charge of the FBI office in LA. They have received an arrest warrant under the name of William Porter signed by the judge of the Supreme Court, Patrick Ryan Worthington. Along with the warrant they have received a note handwritten by the very same federal judge in which it’s requested that the FBI agent Hanna Miles carry out the arrest in person, adding that she must be provided with anything she may need to assure and achieve the arrest.
Hanna was right and the CIA is going to sacrifice William in order to keep the activities of Phoenix Ltd. as secret as they have been for years. The old fucker will be used as scapegoat so their dirty business will stay out of the public knowledge.
Too bad Hanna had other plans for Phoenix Ltd.
————-
There are at least ten undercover cars, parked all over the area surrounding around the cemetery and like thirty FBI agents covering the two entrances as well as every single place that may turn into a way out.
Hanna doesn’t want anyone entering the cemetery armed; she doesn’t want people shooting inside the sacred place.
The chief of the FBI office in LA didn’t like the idea one damn bit but after what that handwritten letter said, he just gritted his teeth and obliged.
I told Hanna that I didn’t want William getting close to my mom’s grave, that I wanted him as far as possible from my parents. In response, Hanna sighed hard and nodded in agreement. That bastard doesn’t reserve the privilege of visiting my mom’s grave. Not after what he did.
The FBI agents are nowhere to be seen but Hanna and I are in plain view; we want William spotting us as soon as he’s far enough away from the main entrance. Some snipers are posted in the building across the street just in case the old bastard decides he’s up to more games but something tells me he already realized his CIA partners left him alone to face his own fate.
The bus stops a few meters from the entrance and William gets off along with others. He’s carrying a fresh bouquet of flowers in one of his hands.
His lips spread in a defiant smirk as soon as he spots us and without hesitation he heads towards where we are standing. I bet William knows what’s about to happen but I wouldn’t be surprised if he still wants to see my mom one last time. Fuck you, old man! That does not gonna happen.
As we walks, the old fox glances around him and I’m sure that he already spotted at least fifteen of the undercover agents that are mixed in with the people. No wonder. I would be able to spot them myself even though they are wearing causal clothes and are pretending to be immersing in different daily routines.
William shakes his head a little and finally he stops a few feet from us. He gave us a fast once over, showing a condescending air of superiority and his gaze turns cold.
“You brought a bunch of civilians to arrest me, agent Miles?” He asks Hanna in a contemptuous tone of voice. “I deserved something more, blondie.” He adds, his defiant smirk in place. “I’m a veteran of the Vietnam War after all.” William whispers mockingly.
In response, Hanna snorts.
“I’m not here to arrest you for your war crimes, William.” She replies as a small grin tugs at the corner of her lips.
At Hanna’s words William frowns slightly, a shadow of concern crossing his gaze. “Are you going to hand me over to ‘El Padrino’?”
Hanna’s grin turns evil as she locks eyes with him. “So you can die like a martyr by my grandfather’s men?” She asks, mimicking his previous mocking tone of voice. “No way, William. I won’t make it that easy for you.” Hanna adds coldly, all trace of a grin gone in one second.
“Then what, blondie? Are you going to kill me yourself?” William asks, his eyes flickering to hers. “Or are you going to let Richie do that in your place?” he narrows his eyes, staring at her.
Hanna laughs coldly and then she pulls out her set of handcuffs as she nods to one of the FBI fuckers. In seconds four cars are surrounding us, the snipers making themselves visible as well as the most of the agents that were around.
William looks around, taking in each and every single one of the guys that form part of this operation and then back at me.
“At least let me put the flowers on her grave, son.” He says, tilting his head to one side. “You own me that.”
I grit my teeth, tightening the grip on the handle of my walking stick.
“I’m not your fucking son, you bastard.” I hiss in disgust. “And I don’t owe you shit. Be glad I’m not killing you myself, William, after what you did to us.”
His eyes narrow even more. “You got it all wrong, Dominic. I did it for you, for us. I wanted to give you all the things I never had…”
I cut him off.
“You killed my dad and you will spend what’s rest of your life locked in prison, William.” I whisper coldly, staring at his eyes. “Your buddies won’t come to help you because they turned their backs to you and I’ll find a way to make sure that no one touches you once you enter prison.”
William blinks, shocked by my words and then he looks back at Hanna.
“The only evidence you have is what? My recorded confession? That’s nothing, blondie and you know that.” He whispers, holding Hanna’s gaze. “I’m one of the best lawyers in this country.”
Hanna’s eyes sparkle with a devilish smile as she closes the distance with William, stopping right in front of him.
“You’re getting old, William, and your reflexes are not what they used to be.” Hanna whispers maliciously as she locks eyes with him. “You thought you were a hell of a Pale Horse, huh, Lieutenant? But you dropped your guard.” She pauses, grinning coldly and then she lowers the tone of her voice. “Someone saw you, William and now you’re going to rot in a federal prison like the dirty scum you are.”
William’s eyes widen completely as he looks at Hanna as if she sprouted a second head. Hanna winks at him and with that she grabs one of his wrists. William tenses and at once the four FBI agents point their guns to his head.
“You have the right to remain silent. Anything you say can and will be used against you in a court of law. You have the right to speak to an attorney, and to have an attorney present during any questioning. If you cannot afford a lawyer, one will be provided for you at government expense.” Hanna says as she closes the handcuffs. “Game over, William.” She hisses, pushing him slightly.
William tightens his jaw, staring at Hanna with a smoldering gaze flashing in his eyes.
The FBI agents grab him by his arms and they start walking in the direction of one of the cars. William turns his head, looking at me over one of the agents’ shoulder, anger visible in his eyes.
“Checkmate, motherfucker.” I say as my lips spread in a huge grin.
—————-
It seems that years have passed since the last time I crossed these doors; the doors of the cemetery where the mortal remains of my parents along with Vince and Jesse are resting in peace.
I knew it was going to hurt, but never suspected it would hurt this fucking much.
As I made my way along the paved path, heading directly to the place where my dad and my mom are buried, the invisible knot that is choking the life out of me grows a little bit more until I feel it almost strangling me. My chest feels so painfully tight that I find it difficult to breathe.
Hanna squeezes my hand gently, showing me without words her unconditional support. She knows me better than I know myself and that’s why she suspects that I’m scared, and it’s true. I’m scared shitless of facing my dad after all the things I’ve done.
Secretly I always aspired to be like him, to become a man of honor. I don’t think I will be able to measure up to the high expectations anymore though, much less after what I did. And it doesn’t matter that Antonio Toretto did some things that may be considered dishonorable. My dad’s shoes will always be too big for me to fit in them.
However, I learnt something along the way and that thing is that there are many ways to become a man of honor. Now I know I don’t need to be like my dad; I just need to be a better man, assuming my faults and facing my fears.
Finally and without averting my eyes from the green grass, my steps drove me directly to the graves. Slowly I lift my gaze, silently reading the engraved names on the twin headstones made of granite.
Isabella Lucia Toretto and Antonio Alfredo Toretto.
My lower lip quivers a little and I bite it hard as I blink my blurry vision. Their presence feels as overwhelming as always. That powerful sensation never changed over the years and my soft hair rose all at once.
Hanna releases my hand, squeezing it one last time as she moves backwards a couple of steps, giving me some privacy.
As a heavy sigh escapes my lips I close the distance until I stand right in front of my dad’s grave. I swallow hard past the lump in my throat, thinking about what to say.
“Hi, dad…it’s been a long ride, old man…” I whisper, my voice shakes a little as I sniffle softly. “I…I know you’ve been watching me all the time and…and that you don’t like one damn bit some of the things I did…but I think that deep down you understand why I did them.” I pause, clearing my throat because that invisible knot is still there. “I’ve tried to remember everything you taught me, dad, and it has been damn hard to keep going without you at my side but…but I know you will be proud of me, old man…someday, you will be proud of me…”
I blink fast through my blurry vision as I clean the silent tears that are spilling down my cheeks.
“I miss you a lot, and I would give anything to have you here with me… and I…I just wanted to tell you that I’m going to work my ass off to be a better man, dad, that man you wanted me to become.”
A sad smile spread on my lips as I close my eyes, stroking his headstone.
“Mia told me you were mad because I crashed your car but I promise you I’ll repair it again. It will take me some time because I don’t have the team anymore to help me, but I’m not alone, so I’ll do it, old man, you can count on that.” I open my eyes, wiping away the fresh tears that fell, swallowing hard once more and crouching in front of the headstone I drop the tone of my voice. “I found her, you know? I found my woman and I know she would have liked you, a lot, because she’s like mom…only thing is, Hanna doesn’t know how to cook, but hey! She orders pizza like nobody else.”
I chuckle at my own words and then I sigh hard.
“Dad, I’m gonna ask her to marry me, again, as soon as we are done with all this craziness and I’m going to do my best to make her happy, just like you did with mom.” I whisper firmly, not a trace of hesitation in my voice. Then I looked at my mom’s grave, swallowing hard.
“Mom, I gave Hanna your earrings, the ones dad gave you when he asked you to marry him; I hope you are okay with that. I know you would have liked Hanna too because you would have been able to see how much Hanna loves me. I know women can see those things just with a glance.”
Sighing hard I get to my feet, wincing lightly. I turn my head, looking at Hanna. Her eyes are sparkling and silent tears are falling down her cheeks. She meets my gaze, smiling softly and I find myself mimicking her smile. Then sighing hard I return my attention to my parents’ graves.
“This is a good bye because Mia and I are going to move to Mexico. I know you both would agree with that. It’s time for us to leave the past behind, to start again.” I swallow, clearing my throat and with that I move backwards just a step. “I will love you forever.” I whisper, smiling sadly.
Epilogue 2
Lies Epilogue 1
Epilogue I
(Four months later)
Equal Justice Under The Law
Those are the words engraved at the main entrance of the Supreme Court of the United States of America building located in Washington DC.
I glance down at the briefcase Hanna has in her hand, frowning slightly. She refused to tell me what she was carrying within and begged me not to say a single word until we were out of the building again.
Slowly my gaze slides up, taking in every detail of her outfit and my brows furrow a little more. I actually don’t like that outfit too much but I understand it’s necessary, at least here and now.
Dark blue suit perfectly ironed over an immaculate white blouse, the skirt resting right below her knees. Black high heels and her hair tugged up in a simple bow.
Save for the fact that she’s wearing my mom’s earrings; I wouldn’t mind stripping her right here, where we are standing. Maybe the high heels would stay along with the earrings, but the rest would fly. However, Hanna promised me that she would get rid of those tailored suits as soon as we were done with what brought us here in first place.
“Are you sure, Hanna?” I look at her, squeezing her hand gently. In response Hanna smiles, nodding ‘yes’.
“Trust me, Dominic.”
My gaze meets hers, sending shivers up my spine. Hanna’s eyes are dark, her gaze cold. The Ice Queen is ready to strike that mortal blow and for the first time I’m with her all the way in. I trust the Ice Queen. I trust Hanna.
My lips spread in a small grin as I nod ‘yes’, sighing. “Lead the way, Hanna, baby.” I whisper, holding her gaze. In response Hanna squeezes my hand softly, her thumb tracing a slow pattern over my wrist as her lips spread in that devilish grin.
Crossing through the big doors, we enter the building heading directly to the clerk’s desk. We’re going to announce the purpose of our visit.
After several minutes we are granted access and we head directly to the office of the honorable and distinguished Judge from the Supreme Court of the United Stated of America. Mr. Patrick Ryan Worthington; Francis’ father.
His assistant receives us with extremely polite manners and offers us a cup of coffee. Hanna declines respectfully and finally we enter the federal judge’s office.
Judge Worthington looks at us, narrowing his eyes slightly as he gestures for us to take a seat without saying a single word.
We oblige and Hanna leaves her briefcase at her side, right next to her seat. Crossing her legs, she makes herself comfortable as she clears her throat.
“I’m sure you already know why we are here, judge.” Hanna says, her eyes sparkling.
“As a matter of fact, I have to say I don’t know what the purpose of your visit is, Miss…”
“Hanna.”
The judge smiles condescendingly. “Hanna.” He echoed, forcing a smile on his lips and all of a sudden I find myself fighting back the urge to wipe that smile from his fucking face.
“I’m a very busy man, Hanna. So, please, would you be so kind and tell me why you wanted to see me with such urgency?” The judge adds, his smile fading in seconds.
“Of course.” Hanna replies, picking up her briefcase and placing it on his desk. “I think you will find this Intel really interesting, judge Worthington.” She adds, pulling out two folders and a padded envelope, handing them to him. “I suggest that you take a look at that one first.” Hanna smiles sweetly, pointing to one of the folders.
The judge narrows his eyes even more as he places them in front of him, opening the one that Hanna pointed out. His blue eyes wander all over the document, reading silently, when all of sudden he tenses, frowning deeply.
Slowly he lifts his head, looking at Hanna.
“You should know that conspiracy to commit a murder is a very serious crime, Hanna.” His gaze shows a restrained anger he almost can’t hide. “William Porter is a highly respected lawyer and a close old friend of mine.”
In response, Hanna snorts.
“Antonio Toretto was also a highly respected man.” She replies coldly, causing the judge to tighten his jaw. “But, you should take a look at that other folder, maybe it will help you to make up your mind, Judge Worthington.” Hanna adds, tilting her head to one side.
The judge closes the folder and opens the other, his eyes widening in a second flat as he removed his small glasses in one fast move.
“How did this document end up in your hands?” He asks, throwing the folder to one side, disgust evident in his voice and face.
I glance at the paper, recognizing in a second flat. It’s a printed copy of one of the documents that Ricardo and I found inside of Hanna’s secret files. Actually, it’s a list with the names of each and every single fucker that are a part of the administrative council of Phoenix Ltd. The federal judge’s name appears written down in second place, right below Bilkins’ name.
“Well, you would be amazed at how many old documents are gathering dust at the FBI headquarters library, Judge Worthington, and what a bored bookworm may end up reading when there’s nothing else to do.” Hanna answers calmly, a small grin tugging at the corner of her lips.
The judge shut his eyes, shaking his head.
Hanna doesn’t need to go into details. His Honor already knows that if she found that list, then she found also all the shit that he himself along with his partners have been doing over the years since Phoenix Ltd. was established.
Every single detail about the activities of the corporation will be revealed to the world if he doesn’t cooperate with us.
I narrow my eyes, fixing my gaze on him. The all-powerful judge from the Supreme Court broke out in a cold sweat. No wonder.
I bet he just had a vision of his flawless career ending in a matter of seconds as his old bones land in a federal prison. His highly respected name dragged all through the mud, his family exposed to the public shame. Not to mention the fact that his Honor would have a nine inch black cock all the way up his republican white ass in less than a week as 200 pounds of black fellow inmate fucked him six ways from Sunday, making of the old judge his personal bitch.
Yeah, I bet the judge’s concept of his so-called penitentiary rehabilitation program will change after such an enlightening experience. A little taste of how the system really works when you’re at the other side of that electrified fence.
Yeah, motherfucker. You weren’t expecting that painful revelation for breakfast, huh? Fuck you!
The judge snaps his eyes open, gritting his teeth.
“If this is disclosed, it will turn into an immeasurable national scandal.” He hisses, locking eyes with Hanna. “It would end in a disaster, worse than any other. It would make of Nixon and the Watergate a kid’s prank.”
In response, Hanna chuckles coldly.
“Do I look like I give a damn, judge?” She replies, arching a brow. “Inside that envelope you will find a recorded tape with his confession as well as a sworn statement of the only witness that saw William Porter in person, rigging the engine of Mr. Antonio Toretto’s racing car. Mr. Kenny Linder.”
What?!
I blink, shocked by Hanna’s words. She has to be kidding, right?
After a long moment, he sighs hard and glancing briefly at me, he looks at Hanna.
“I can’t sign this arrest warrant.” He says, frowning deeply. “William Porter is a man with resources. If I make this move against him, he will find a way to destroy my career. Not to mention the agency will make sure I have an accident.”
“Your career is already over, Judge Worthington. So I suggest that you fulfill the obligations your placement requires before it’s too late.” Hanna replies firmly and then she pulls out another folder from inside her briefcase handing it to him. “Here are some files you should take a look at too before you present your resignation.” Hanna says firmly, not leaving room to complain. “I think a revision of those cases is in order.” She adds, standing, closing her briefcase.
I frown deeply at her last words. What’s she talking about?
“Oh, one more thing, judge.” She says, causing him to lift his head, narrowing his eyes. “I want to be the one who arrests William Porter.”
—————-
Hanna stirs a little in her restless sleep as she mumbles something, snuggling closer to me. My hand moves slowly, stroking her back up and down, soothing her as I kiss her forehead gently.
Hanna showered in record time and then she joined me in one of the motels’ twin beds, curling at my side. She fell asleep in seconds. She was exhausted after our meeting with the fucking judge, Francis’ father.
We are lodged in a motel, waiting for the phone call that will give us the head ups to arrest William even though we have no clue where that fucker is. As far as we know, he just vanished but Hanna told me that she suspects where he will be in two days. Right next to my mom’s grave. Why? Because in two days it will be my mom’s birthday and Hanna is sure that William will go to put fresh flowers on her grave.
A heavy sigh escapes my lips as I lift my right hand, closing and opening it in a fist. I broke three of my fingers beating Snake to death and even though the fractures are already cured, my hand still hurts when the weather changes.
Flexing the muscle in my thigh, I wince slightly. Just like my hand, my leg still hurts a little and I walk with the help of a walking stick. I won’t be using it much longer though. The last test showed that the tissues are slowly regenerating as was expected.
An uncontrolled shiver runs up my spine when I think about the words of that fucking doc. He said that he was going to have to amputate the leg. And if it wasn’t due to a very pissed off Ricardo storming inside the operating room, pushing his wheelchair, threatening the surgeon, I would have lost my leg.
Big dark guy’s words definitely made the surgeon change his mind in a second flat. No wonder.
“If you cut off his leg, I’ll cutoff your balls.”
Ricardo got comfortable inside the operating room, playing with a shiv in his fingers, humming as if he didn’t have a care in the world. And just like ‘Mad Doc’ did with Hanna, the surgeon gave a new meaning to the word ‘perfect’. I bet the poor fucker had never carried out that intervention under such tension.
The vision of Ricardo whispering those words with an evil smile plastered on his lips as his dark cold eyes pierced the very soul of the poor fucker caused the fucking surgeon to almost pee his pants. Even though Ricardo was in a wheelchair still convalescing from his own intervention, he looked as dangerous as always, and he wasn’t fucking around.
I glanced at Hanna’s briefcase as a small grin tugs the corner of my lips. I always knew that Hanna was a hell of a woman and I was sure that she had some aces up her sleeve, but I never expected what she found about Kenny Linder. It never occurred to me that he was there, watching what William did and much less that he would confess to the fact, even signing a sworn statement.
I figure William hadn’t seen him or he would be dead already.
I frown slightly, thinking about that fucker. I wonder if that was the reason why Linder was prowling around the garage the day I beat the shit out of him. Maybe he went there to tell me but I didn’t give him the chance to open his mouth. I just started hitting him with that wrench and I almost killed him.
I sigh hard, still looking at Hanna’s briefcase, thinking about those other cases that Hanna ‘suggested’ the judge take a look at. I didn’t even think Hanna knew about them, about Harrison, Pette and Lester. But somehow I’m not that surprised at all.
I remember that I said to myself that Hanna had thought about every single detail, and I was damn right.
Harrison will be pardoned; his sentence revoked and he will be released in a month, tops. The old man that was sentenced to life imprisonment will be able to enjoy what’s rest of his life like a free man with his wife, Leah. It was about damn time that old man can have some piece of mind after losing his only daughter. He shouldn’t have ended up in prison in the first place.
Pette’s case will be revised in a couple of months, as soon as his lawyer receives some interesting evidence that someone hid. It seems that he was telling the truth, everything was an entrapment. With a little bit of luck, he will be out before Martha, his wife, gives birth to their third kid.
Lester will have no other choice but to say where the money he swindled went. That way his lawyer can request a reduction of his sentence so that Lester can get parole. Of course, the judge in charge of his case doesn’t need to know that a small percentage of the money Reynaldo put under my name is now under Lester’s name in a new account outside of the US.
Ricardo found a way to hack into the database of the bank, transferring the amount to a new account in Switzerland. So that way Lester can have access to it as soon as he’s released.
It won’t be nearly what Lester had expected, and it sure as hell he won’t be able to keep himself in the lifestyle he had always dreamt about, but at least he will be out too and if I’m right he will move in with his girlfriend.
Nevertheless something tells me that Lester will get in trouble again because that’s the way that fucker is. He won’t be the exception to that fucking stat but at least he will have a new chance to start from the beginning.
Hanna even thought about the kid, Marcus. He’s already dead, but his mom will receive a more than a decent compensation that won’t cost a single dollar to the taxpayers because it will be courtesy of Phoenix Ltd. At the end, it was one of his employees that killed Marcus in prison. Of course that won’t give the woman her son back, but at least she may be able to sleep at night knowing there’s still justice in this shitty world.
My file was among the others too. Since I signed a deal with the FBI, Hanna made sure that the agency respects the terms of the agreement. I won’t live under parole and my name won’t appear listed as one of the most wanted by the FBI anymore. My criminal records will be erased just as those two fuckers said.
Dominic Alfredo Toretto will be a free man by the end of the week.
Hanna’s cell phone rings, pulling me out of my thoughts. She jumps startled, tensing every single muscle until I whisper in her ear that everything is okay, that I’m there with her.
She relaxes a little and slowly she blinks her sleep away as I hand her the cell phone. After a couple of seconds Hanna opens her eyes as she answers the phone.
I hear a male voice at the other side of the line as Hanna meets my concerned gaze. Her eyes are sparkling like stars and her lips spread in an evil smile that reminds me of Ricardo’s.
The man talking is the brand new chief in charge of the FBI office in LA. They have received an arrest warrant under the name of William Porter signed by the judge of the Supreme Court, Patrick Ryan Worthington. Along with the warrant they have received a note handwritten by the very same federal judge in which it’s requested that the FBI agent Hanna Miles carry out the arrest in person, adding that she must be provided with anything she may need to assure and achieve the arrest.
Hanna was right and the CIA is going to sacrifice William in order to keep the activities of Phoenix Ltd. as secret as they have been for years. The old fucker will be used as scapegoat so their dirty business will stay out of the public knowledge.
Too bad Hanna had other plans for Phoenix Ltd.
————-
There are at least ten undercover cars, parked all over the area surrounding around the cemetery and like thirty FBI agents covering the two entrances as well as every single place that may turn into a way out.
Hanna doesn’t want anyone entering the cemetery armed; she doesn’t want people shooting inside the sacred place.
The chief of the FBI office in LA didn’t like the idea one damn bit but after what that handwritten letter said, he just gritted his teeth and obliged.
I told Hanna that I didn’t want William getting close to my mom’s grave, that I wanted him as far as possible from my parents. In response, Hanna sighed hard and nodded in agreement. That bastard doesn’t reserve the privilege of visiting my mom’s grave. Not after what he did.
The FBI agents are nowhere to be seen but Hanna and I are in plain view; we want William spotting us as soon as he’s far enough away from the main entrance. Some snipers are posted in the building across the street just in case the old bastard decides he’s up to more games but something tells me he already realized his CIA partners left him alone to face his own fate.
The bus stops a few meters from the entrance and William gets off along with others. He’s carrying a fresh bouquet of flowers in one of his hands.
His lips spread in a defiant smirk as soon as he spots us and without hesitation he heads towards where we are standing. I bet William knows what’s about to happen but I wouldn’t be surprised if he still wants to see my mom one last time. Fuck you, old man! That does not gonna happen.
As we walks, the old fox glances around him and I’m sure that he already spotted at least fifteen of the undercover agents that are mixed in with the people. No wonder. I would be able to spot them myself even though they are wearing causal clothes and are pretending to be immersing in different daily routines.
William shakes his head a little and finally he stops a few feet from us. He gave us a fast once over, showing a condescending air of superiority and his gaze turns cold.
“You brought a bunch of civilians to arrest me, agent Miles?” He asks Hanna in a contemptuous tone of voice. “I deserved something more, blondie.” He adds, his defiant smirk in place. “I’m a veteran of the Vietnam War after all.” William whispers mockingly.
In response, Hanna snorts.
“I’m not here to arrest you for your war crimes, William.” She replies as a small grin tugs at the corner of her lips.
At Hanna’s words William frowns slightly, a shadow of concern crossing his gaze. “Are you going to hand me over to ‘El Padrino’?”
Hanna’s grin turns evil as she locks eyes with him. “So you can die like a martyr by my grandfather’s men?” She asks, mimicking his previous mocking tone of voice. “No way, William. I won’t make it that easy for you.” Hanna adds coldly, all trace of a grin gone in one second.
“Then what, blondie? Are you going to kill me yourself?” William asks, his eyes flickering to hers. “Or are you going to let Richie do that in your place?” he narrows his eyes, staring at her.
Hanna laughs coldly and then she pulls out her set of handcuffs as she nods to one of the FBI fuckers. In seconds four cars are surrounding us, the snipers making themselves visible as well as the most of the agents that were around.
William looks around, taking in each and every single one of the guys that form part of this operation and then back at me.
“At least let me put the flowers on her grave, son.” He says, tilting his head to one side. “You own me that.”
I grit my teeth, tightening the grip on the handle of my walking stick.
“I’m not your fucking son, you bastard.” I hiss in disgust. “And I don’t owe you shit. Be glad I’m not killing you myself, William, after what you did to us.”
His eyes narrow even more. “You got it all wrong, Dominic. I did it for you, for us. I wanted to give you all the things I never had…”
I cut him off.
“You killed my dad and you will spend what’s rest of your life locked in prison, William.” I whisper coldly, staring at his eyes. “Your buddies won’t come to help you because they turned their backs to you and I’ll find a way to make sure that no one touches you once you enter prison.”
William blinks, shocked by my words and then he looks back at Hanna.
“The only evidence you have is what? My recorded confession? That’s nothing, blondie and you know that.” He whispers, holding Hanna’s gaze. “I’m one of the best lawyers in this country.”
Hanna’s eyes sparkle with a devilish smile as she closes the distance with William, stopping right in front of him.
“You’re getting old, William, and your reflexes are not what they used to be.” Hanna whispers maliciously as she locks eyes with him. “You thought you were a hell of a Pale Horse, huh, Lieutenant? But you dropped your guard.” She pauses, grinning coldly and then she lowers the tone of her voice. “Someone saw you, William and now you’re going to rot in a federal prison like the dirty scum you are.”
William’s eyes widen completely as he looks at Hanna as if she sprouted a second head. Hanna winks at him and with that she grabs one of his wrists. William tenses and at once the four FBI agents point their guns to his head.
“You have the right to remain silent. Anything you say can and will be used against you in a court of law. You have the right to speak to an attorney, and to have an attorney present during any questioning. If you cannot afford a lawyer, one will be provided for you at government expense.” Hanna says as she closes the handcuffs. “Game over, William.” She hisses, pushing him slightly.
William tightens his jaw, staring at Hanna with a smoldering gaze flashing in his eyes.
The FBI agents grab him by his arms and they start walking in the direction of one of the cars. William turns his head, looking at me over one of the agents’ shoulder, anger visible in his eyes.
“Checkmate, motherfucker.” I say as my lips spread in a huge grin.
—————-
It seems that years have passed since the last time I crossed these doors; the doors of the cemetery where the mortal remains of my parents along with Vince and Jesse are resting in peace.
I knew it was going to hurt, but never suspected it would hurt this fucking much.
As I made my way along the paved path, heading directly to the place where my dad and my mom are buried, the invisible knot that is choking the life out of me grows a little bit more until I feel it almost strangling me. My chest feels so painfully tight that I find it difficult to breathe.
Hanna squeezes my hand gently, showing me without words her unconditional support. She knows me better than I know myself and that’s why she suspects that I’m scared, and it’s true. I’m scared shitless of facing my dad after all the things I’ve done.
Secretly I always aspired to be like him, to become a man of honor. I don’t think I will be able to measure up to the high expectations anymore though, much less after what I did. And it doesn’t matter that Antonio Toretto did some things that may be considered dishonorable. My dad’s shoes will always be too big for me to fit in them.
However, I learnt something along the way and that thing is that there are many ways to become a man of honor. Now I know I don’t need to be like my dad; I just need to be a better man, assuming my faults and facing my fears.
Finally and without averting my eyes from the green grass, my steps drove me directly to the graves. Slowly I lift my gaze, silently reading the engraved names on the twin headstones made of granite.
Isabella Lucia Toretto and Antonio Alfredo Toretto.
My lower lip quivers a little and I bite it hard as I blink my blurry vision. Their presence feels as overwhelming as always. That powerful sensation never changed over the years and my soft hair rose all at once.
Hanna releases my hand, squeezing it one last time as she moves backwards a couple of steps, giving me some privacy.
As a heavy sigh escapes my lips I close the distance until I stand right in front of my dad’s grave. I swallow hard past the lump in my throat, thinking about what to say.
“Hi, dad…it’s been a long ride, old man…” I whisper, my voice shakes a little as I sniffle softly. “I…I know you’ve been watching me all the time and…and that you don’t like one damn bit some of the things I did…but I think that deep down you understand why I did them.” I pause, clearing my throat because that invisible knot is still there. “I’ve tried to remember everything you taught me, dad, and it has been damn hard to keep going without you at my side but…but I know you will be proud of me, old man…someday, you will be proud of me…”
I blink fast through my blurry vision as I clean the silent tears that are spilling down my cheeks.
“I miss you a lot, and I would give anything to have you here with me… and I…I just wanted to tell you that I’m going to work my ass off to be a better man, dad, that man you wanted me to become.”
A sad smile spread on my lips as I close my eyes, stroking his headstone.
“Mia told me you were mad because I crashed your car but I promise you I’ll repair it again. It will take me some time because I don’t have the team anymore to help me, but I’m not alone, so I’ll do it, old man, you can count on that.” I open my eyes, wiping away the fresh tears that fell, swallowing hard once more and crouching in front of the headstone I drop the tone of my voice. “I found her, you know? I found my woman and I know she would have liked you, a lot, because she’s like mom…only thing is, Hanna doesn’t know how to cook, but hey! She orders pizza like nobody else.”
I chuckle at my own words and then I sigh hard.
“Dad, I’m gonna ask her to marry me, again, as soon as we are done with all this craziness and I’m going to do my best to make her happy, just like you did with mom.” I whisper firmly, not a trace of hesitation in my voice. Then I looked at my mom’s grave, swallowing hard.
“Mom, I gave Hanna your earrings, the ones dad gave you when he asked you to marry him; I hope you are okay with that. I know you would have liked Hanna too because you would have been able to see how much Hanna loves me. I know women can see those things just with a glance.”
Sighing hard I get to my feet, wincing lightly. I turn my head, looking at Hanna. Her eyes are sparkling and silent tears are falling down her cheeks. She meets my gaze, smiling softly and I find myself mimicking her smile. Then sighing hard I return my attention to my parents’ graves.
“This is a good bye because Mia and I are going to move to Mexico. I know you both would agree with that. It’s time for us to leave the past behind, to start again.” I swallow, clearing my throat and with that I move backwards just a step. “I will love you forever.” I whisper, smiling sadly.
Epilogue 2