Toretto's Garage – Early Morning
The sun was barely creeping over the horizon, casting a soft golden hue over the familiar landscape of Toretto's garage. The smell of gasoline and motor oil hung in the air, a scent that always felt like home to Dominic Toretto. He was busy working on a car, his focus unwavering as he tightened the bolts on the engine. But the tension from last night's encounter still lingered, gnawing at him.
The FBI agent, Pierce, had been too quiet. There was something Adrian Kade was hiding, and Dom could feel it — just like a whisper in the back of his mind. It wasn't just the way Kade had carried himself. It was the look in his eyes when the agent had arrived, like a man who had seen the end of the world and lived to tell the tale.
But Adrian wasn't the only one with secrets. Dom knew that his own past was something that would catch up with him sooner or later. They were all just living with the ghosts of their pasts, and for some reason, Adrian's ghost felt much heavier than most.
The Back Alley of Toretto's Garage
Adrian stood near the back of the garage, his eyes scanning the streets for any signs of movement. He could feel the weight of the world on his shoulders — the weight of his old identities, the pressure of the family he was trying to protect.
Even after all these years, Lucifer, Ghost, Devil, Alpha — these names haunted him like shadows that refused to fade. He had been everything to everyone: a king, a weapon, a killer, and now, for some reason, he was trying to be something else. A part of this family.
But could he really? Could he ever truly be just Adrian Kade?
His thoughts were interrupted when Mia stepped out from the garage, her voice breaking the silence.
"Adrian, we need to talk," she said, her tone serious, but her eyes filled with that same unspoken curiosity.
Adrian met her gaze, his face unreadable. "I've been trying to tell you, Mia. There's a lot you don't know. A lot I can't tell you just yet."
She crossed her arms, a determined look on her face. "Then tell me what you can. I need to know who you really are, Adrian. Not just the man who fixes cars and helps my brother."
Adrian sighed, rubbing the back of his neck. He knew this day would come, but he wasn't prepared for it. Mia wasn't just curious — she was determined, and she had a way of breaking down walls. Slowly, she was chipping away at the barrier he had so carefully built around himself.
"I can't tell you everything," Adrian said quietly, "But maybe you're right. Maybe it's time you knew some of it."
Flashback – A Darker Time
The world had once been a different place for Adrian Kade. A time when he was Lucifer, the Mercenary King, feared across continents. The mission was always the same: take down the enemy, get the money, and disappear. But there was no real victory in it, no glory. Just survival.
His team had been the best — until the betrayal.
Adrian had been set up, left for dead by the very people who had sworn to have his back. Lucifer had died that night, but something worse had taken its place. Ghost. The Assassin King.
As Ghost, Adrian became a weapon of pure destruction, known for his speed, precision, and his ability to erase anyone in his path. He had no allegiances, no attachments. But in the depths of his soul, the betrayal gnawed at him. It was something that would never go away.
And then, there was Devil — his identity as the world's best hacker. It had been his key to survival, to staying hidden from those who still sought his life. He'd broken into some of the most secure systems on the planet, leaving behind only his calling card — a digital footprint that no one could trace. But with each hack, each piece of data he stole, Adrian was losing a part of himself.
The Present – Mia and Adrian
"I wasn't always like this," Adrian finally spoke, his voice soft, his eyes distant as he glanced at Mia. "I've been... many people. Lucifer was the man who took on contracts no one else would. He was a king in a world of mercenaries, feared by every leader and criminal. And then..."
He paused, unsure of how much he should reveal. But Mia's eyes were kind, and for the first time, Adrian felt like he could trust her.
"And then," Adrian continued, "I became Ghost. The Assassin King. It was a life of darkness, and I didn't have anyone. Not until… not until I walked away."
"Walked away?" Mia asked, her brows furrowing in confusion.
Adrian nodded slowly. "After the betrayal, I walked away from it all. I became someone else — Adrian Kade. The man you see now. But that doesn't mean the past is gone."
Mia's expression softened, but there was still a hint of suspicion in her eyes. "But you're here now. You've changed."
Adrian's lips twisted into a small, rueful smile. "I don't know if you could call it change. I'm just trying to find a place where I can belong again. A place where my past won't come back to haunt me."
Mia's gaze lingered on him for a moment, and then, without warning, she stepped closer. "You don't have to be alone anymore. We're all here for you, Adrian. Whatever you need."
For the first time since he had arrived in Los Angeles, Adrian felt something stir inside him. He had spent so long running from his past, running from the man he used to be, but Mia... she had a way of making him feel like maybe, just maybe, he didn't have to keep running.
Toretto's Garage – Inside
The sound of Dom's voice cut through the tension. "You need to talk to him, Mia. Adrian's not just a friend anymore. He's a part of this family. But you've got to get him to open up."
Mia nodded. "I'm trying, Dom. But it's like there's a wall around him."
Adrian had always been good at building walls. Lucifer had needed them. Ghost had thrived behind them. But Adrian Kade, the man standing here in the garage with Mia, was trying to let the walls fall. He just didn't know if he was ready to fully break down.
Later that Night – A Dangerous Encounter
The night had barely begun when the FBI agent, Pierce, returned. He wasn't alone this time. He had backup — and their intentions were clear. The agent had been sent to investigate Adrian, to uncover the truth about his past. But what they didn't know was that Adrian Kade wasn't a man they could just capture or intimidate.
Pierce had made a mistake. And now, he was going to learn just how dangerous it was to poke at the ghosts of Adrian's past.
To Be Continued...