The Toretto Family had just come off a mission dealing with the cartel, and their success was still fresh in their minds. But Adrian knew this victory was only temporary. The peace was always fleeting, and the world he had lived in for so long — filled with deception, secrets, and shadowy deals — was never truly far behind.
Adrian's Tension:
That night, as the crew gathered in the garage to unwind, Adrian's thoughts were elsewhere. He didn't look at Mia the same way anymore. She had become more than just someone he was protecting. Their past, as Ghost, lingered in his mind, and his heart — despite his attempts to suppress it — was beginning to feel something for her again. But the weight of his past identity as Ghost, the cold assassin, was too much to ignore.
When Mia approached him, there was a flicker of something in her eyes. Adrian tried to focus on the team's next steps, but his mind kept drifting to her.
"Adrian..." Her voice was soft, drawing his attention away from the world outside.
He turned to her, masking the turmoil he felt. "What's up?"
She hesitated, a hint of concern crossing her features. "You've been different lately. You seem... distant. You know, you don't have to carry all this weight on your own."
Adrian's gaze softened, but there was a coldness behind his eyes. He had lived in the shadows for so long that it felt unnatural to share the burden. "I'm fine, Mia. Don't worry about me."
But Mia wasn't convinced. There was something in the way he spoke — as if he was still holding a part of himself back. His past was always lurking behind his eyes, hidden behind layers of walls he'd carefully constructed. The Ghost he had been was someone she couldn't truly know. But Mia wanted to.
She walked closer, her voice a whisper. "You know, you don't have to hide everything from me."
Adrian's jaw tightened, and he took a breath, sensing the pull between them. "You don't know who I was, Mia. You don't want to."
Her eyes widened slightly, but she didn't step back. "Try me."
Brian's Growing Suspicion:
Meanwhile, Brian had begun to notice the shift in the group. Adrian wasn't like the others — and he was starting to realize that. While everyone else was focused on the task at hand, Brian kept an eye on Adrian, sensing something off about him. His charm, his calm demeanor, it was all a mask. There was a depth to him that Brian couldn't quite place.
At first, he thought Adrian was just another guy with a dark past, someone who had come to terms with it. But now, Brian was starting to suspect that Adrian's "past" wasn't just a simple history. There was a danger in his eyes, a weight to his presence that was unlike anything he'd ever felt before.
Brian walked up to Dom, who was checking over the engines. "Dom," he started, his voice low. "Have you noticed anything weird about Adrian?"
Dom looked at him for a moment, his gaze flickering toward Adrian, who was speaking with Mia near the door. "What do you mean?"
Brian glanced at Adrian again, then back to Dom. "I don't know... It's like he's hiding something. Something big."
Dom nodded, his face hardening. "I know. We've all got our demons, but I trust Adrian. He's with us now. If something happens, we handle it together."
Brian wasn't so sure, but he respected Dom's loyalty. Still, the nagging feeling in his gut wouldn't go away. Adrian was dangerous — in ways that didn't make sense.
Mia's Reflection:
Later that night, as the house grew quieter, Mia lay in bed, staring at the ceiling. Adrian had been distant, pushing her away with every word he spoke. Yet, despite his coldness, there was a part of her that couldn't stop thinking about him. She knew there was a side of him he wasn't showing — a side that was connected to the dangerous world he had left behind. Mia had heard rumors, but she never asked him directly about it.
But tonight was different. She was no longer content with the walls Adrian had built between them. She needed to know more — especially if their relationship was going to move forward.
To be continued. ...