Chapter 10: Dad, and It Doesn’t Matter If You Win By An Inch Or A Mile, COPS!

As Dom climbed out of the Charger, the roar of the crowd still echoing in his ears, he felt the familiar adrenaline rush that came with victory. The respect he had earned was palpable, the thrill of winning igniting a fire within him. He wiped his brow with the back of his hand, the night air still thick with excitement. Looking over to where his crew had gathered, his heart swelled with pride, especially as he noticed Guldrin's bright eyes filled with awe.

"Hell yeah!" Jesse shouted, still riding the high of the race. "Did you see that move? Dom just owned him!"

Mia crouched down beside Guldrin, her face lit up with joy. "You see? That's why we do this!" she exclaimed, enthusiasm spilling from her as she clapped him on the shoulder. "Nothing like the rush of speed and victory!"

Guldrin, caught up in the energy of the moment, felt a sense of belonging he had never experienced before. "Yeah! Dad's incredible!" he blurted out once again, his voice rising above the cheers of the crowd.

Suddenly, the atmosphere shifted. A hush fell over the immediate vicinity, and both Letty and Mia exchanged shocked glances, their expressions a mix of surprise and amusement.

"Did he just call Dom 'Dad'?" Letty's mouth dropped open slightly, a smirk tugging at the corners of her lips as she glanced at Mia, who was trying to suppress a laugh.

"Looks like it!" Mia responded, her eyes wide as she turned to Guldrin, a playful yet affectionate smile creeping onto her face. "Wow, someone's feeling pretty comfortable around here, huh?"

Guldrin's cheeks flushed crimson as he realized what he had said, embarrassment washing over him like a wave. He fumbled for words, his heart racing for a different reason now. "I-I didn't mean to say that! I just-"

"Hey, no worries, kid," Letty interjected with a teasing grin. "You can call him whatever you want." She winked at Dom, who was now standing just a few feet away, arms crossed and a proud smirk on his face.

Dom raised an eyebrow, the corner of his mouth twitching in amusement. "Looks like I've got a new title now," he replied, his voice steady but carrying an undercurrent of warmth. He stepped closer, placing a hand on Guldrin's shoulder, the gesture reassuring and authoritatively protective. "Just remember, it's about more than just titles, kid. It's about the family we build and the respect we earn."

Jesse chimed in, "And, cars… Cars are extremely important."

Mia chuckled, shaking her head. "Right? And just wait until he realizes that you might actually expect him to help you fix those cars for the rest of his life."

Letty laughed, adding, "And don't think for a second we're letting you off easy, Guldrin. You've got to earn your place around here, 'son.'"

Guldrin's eyes widened, and he looked between Dom and Letty, but seeing no hints of falsehoods he nodded, "Uh, thanks, I guess… Mom." Guldrin muttered, rubbing the back of his neck, feeling both embarrassed and oddly proud. The bond he felt with them was surreal, unlike anything he remembered feeling before.

As the crowd began to gather around, Dom walked over to Brian, who had parked his Eclipse nearby, his expression shifting from defeat to something almost contemplative. Dom didn't pay him any attention, collected his winnings from the race, and patted Guldrin on the shoulder before turning to Jesse, "My sister holds the money, count it." 

Jesse nodded and took the cash to Mia. Dom turned to Letty and lifted her under the arms like a prize and said, "Now I have my trophy." Guldrin giggled and Letty smiled. Seeing Brian roll up, Jesse pulled Guldrin alongside him to Dom's new car, tapping the hood, Jesse spoke in an annoyed tone, "Was that fun?" Brian didn't respond and Jesse had Guldrin help him open the hood, causing smoke to billow out, a clear indication that he truly fucked up his ride.

The crowd ooh'd and ahh'd as Dom looked at the mess of a car that he had won. Seeing Brian smile, he spoke in a condescending tone, "What are you smiling about?"

"Dude, I almost had you," Brian said, still catching his breath, a mix of amusement and frustration evident in his voice. 

Dom shrugged, a faint, almost teasing smile pulling at his lips as he raised his voice. "You almost had me? You never had me. You never had your car." He paused, letting the words sink in, then looked straight at Brian. "Granny shifting, not double clutching like ya should. Ya lucky that hundred shot of NOZ didn't blow the welds on the intake. He walked around the car and looked at the crowd which was enjoying the ribbing Brian was receiving, "You almost had me?" The crowd laughed and Dom walked back to Jesse and Guldrin, "Now me, the mad scientist, and the little tinkerer here gotta rip apart the block and replace the piston rings you fried.

*OHHHH*

The crowd was loving this, even Mia was chuckling. Finally, they closed the hood and Jesse was grilling Guldrin, asking if he remembered how to do the work that needs done to make this car usable again. Dom on the other hand, wasn't done with Brian, "Ask any real racer…" He raised his voice, allowing it to carry to the whole crowd, "It don't matter if you win by an inch or a mile. Winning's winning."

*Yeah! Whooo, That's right!* 

The crowd agreed and Dom spread his arms wide, then to put an end to the fun, Guldrin heard from the lookout car's scanner, "Attention all units, we have reported street racing along Hawthorn," Then the lookout screamed on the radio, "Oh shit, we got cops, cops, COPS, GOOO!" And with that everyone scattered, Guldrin was bumped and slammed into by the stampeding crowd as everyone ran to their cars.

The crowd scattered in every direction, the frantic movement turning the lot into a frenzy of flashing lights and revving engines as everyone raced to their cars. Guldrin stumbled, his heart pounding with the thrill and panic of the moment, only to feel Dom's strong grip on his shoulder, steadying him.

"Stick close to me!" Dom shouted over the noise. He motioned toward the Charger, its powerful engine rumbling, ready to bolt.

Letty, already in her car, gave Dom a nod and shot Guldrin a quick grin. "Get in, rookie! You're about to see how we really drive." She paused and looked Dom in the eyes, "Keep our 'Son' safe." Dom nodded with a chuckle and Letty peeled off, tires squealing as she disappeared into the night, tail lights blazing a path ahead.

Dom grabbed Guldrin's arm, practically dragging him into the passenger seat of the Charger. "Hold on tight!" he warned, and without waiting for a reply, Dom slammed his foot on the gas. The Charger roared forward, lifting off the ground, Guldrin was forced to brace himself as the sheer force pushed him back into his seat.

They sped down the street, weaving between cars and cutting through side streets, the sound of sirens wailing close behind them. In the seat beside him, Guldrin couldn't hold back a grin. Despite the danger, the thrill of the chase was exhilarating. The smell of burnt rubber, the roaring of the engine, everything felt surreal. One thing was for sure, this experience has changed Guldrin for good. While not as impactful as good food, this was certainly a close second.

Dom glanced over at him, catching his expression. "Enjoying yourself?" he shouted over the roar of the engine and the chaos outside. Guldrin nodded, gripping the door for dear life, his eyes wide with excitement. Dom chuckled and drifted around a corner, watching out of the corner of his eye to see the fearful smile plastered on Guldrin's face.

Jesse's voice crackled through the radio mounted on the dashboard. "Dom! Take the underpass, two squad cars are coming from the east. I can buy you a few seconds!" The radio was an addition Guldrin and Jesse came up with when they were working on the car and Guldrin asked, 'if the cell reception is bad, how do you meet up with everyone?' This spurred Jesse to make sure everyone could get in contact at a moment's notice.

"Copy that," Dom replied, cutting the wheel and veering sharply onto a side road that led toward the underpass. The Charger surged forward, its tires screeching as it hit the turn, and Guldrin couldn't help but laugh in disbelief at Dom's sheer confidence in handling the car. Where it should have tipped under the control of a less experienced driver, Dom kept all wheels on the ground and accelerated into the turn.

They hit the underpass, and for a moment, the sirens faded, leaving only the sound of the engine echoing off the walls. Dom eased up slightly, his gaze still intense as he focused on the road ahead.

"Damn," Guldrin muttered, breathless. "This… this is what you all do every night?"

Dom chuckled, his eyes never leaving the road as he smacked him lightly on the back of the head. "Only on the good nights. But don't go cursing like that."

A voice came through the radio again, this time Mia's. "You two clear?"

Dom glanced at Guldrin before answering, a look of pride flashing in his eyes. "Yeah, we're clear, Mia. Looks like we lost them."

As they emerged from the underpass and onto a quieter street, Dom slowed down, finally easing the Charger to a crawl. The street was dark, and for the moment, silent. Dom shifted into park, exhaling as he leaned back against the seat, his head resting against the steering wheel. Guldrin watched him, feeling the intensity of the moment slowly ebb away. They had made it.

"That was incredible," Guldrin breathed, his voice tinged with awe. "I didn't know cars could even do that."

Dom smirked, catching his breath as he looked over at Guldrin. "It's not just the car, kid. It's what you make it do," he said, reaching to pat the Charger's dashboard. "But the key is to keep a level head, even when things get crazy."

Guldrin was still riding the high of the chase, his eyes practically sparkling with admiration for Dom's skills and the rush of the night. They sat in silence for a few moments, the sound of their breathing filling the car, feeling like they'd pulled off something monumental.

After a moment, Dom nodded, gesturing to a nearby parking garage where they would park the car and leave it for the night as the heat wore off. "We'll lay low here for a bit, let things cool down. Cops will be scouring the main roads for a while," he muttered, pulling into the garage and parking in a shadowed corner. They climbed out of the car, Dom locking the Charger, and started walking across the garage, both of them relaxing in the quiet.

"Dad, that was-" Guldrin began, only for his words to be cut off by the sight of flashing red and blue lights reflecting off the garage walls. A police car had spotted them, its spotlight swinging in their direction.

"Hey! You there! Stop!" the cop's voice boomed, amplified by the car's loudspeaker.

Dom's expression shifted instantly, his calm demeanor replaced by steely determination. He shot a look at Guldrin. "Run. Now."

Without another word, they broke into a sprint, the sound of their footsteps echoing through the nearly empty parking garage. They darted between rows of parked cars, trying to put as much distance as possible between them and the police car. Dom glanced back, calculating their escape route, his mind racing as fast as their feet. He was going to pick up Guldrin to help him run, but to his utter surprise, Guldrin was able to keep up with him.

The police car turned into the alleyway they were running down after they jumped from the parking garage, its spotlight falling on them again. Guldrin's heart pounded as he pushed himself to keep up with Dom, his mind racing with adrenaline and fear. Just as the cop's engine sounded closer behind them, another engine roared into the alleyway, tires screeching as a familiar green Eclipse sped toward them.

It was Brian.

"Get in!" Brian shouted, slowing just enough for Dom and Guldrin to dive into the side seat. The cop car's lights flared up as they tried to follow, but Brian's foot was already down on the gas, the Eclipse roaring out of the alley and onto the empty streets.

Dom twisted around in the seat, watching the cop car fall behind as Brian expertly weaved through back alleys and side streets, the city lights flashing past in a blur. His lips curved into a smile of approval as Brian maneuvered the car like a pro, keeping them out of sight.

"Not bad, Spilner," Dom muttered, the tension easing from his shoulders. "Didn't think you'd show up… You are the last person I expected to show..."

Brian shrugged, his grip tight on the wheel as he glanced in the rearview mirror. "Didn't think I'd let you end up in cuffs, either. Plus, I thought if I got in your good graces, you might let me keep my car. "

"You are in my good graces, but you ain't keeping your car. You drive like you've done this before, what, are you a wheelman?" Brian seemed unconcerned and responded, "Nah," Dom continued, "You boost cars?" Brian shifted slightly, "Nah, never."

"Ever done time?"

"Couple of overnighters, no big deal."

Dom nodded exaggeratedly, "What about the two years in Juvie for boosting cars? Tu San right? Yeah, I had Jesse run a background check on you… Brian L Spilner… He'll find anything on the web, anything about anybody. So why bullshit?" 

Brian didn't answer and changed the topic, making Guldrin narrow his eyes, "So what about you?" He turned the topic to Dom. "Two years in Lompoc, I'll die before I go back."

Feeling the tension, Guldrin wanted to change the topic, wedged in the backseat or lack thereof, finally spoke up, breaking the silence. "So… this is the life, huh? High-speed chases, dodging cops, and racing under the city lights?"

Brian chuckled. "That's just a piece of it, kid. You'd be surprised how much more there is."

Dom turned in his seat, glancing back at Guldrin. "It's a lot more than what you saw tonight. It's about loyalty, family, knowing who has your back and who doesn't." His voice was low and serious, each word carrying weight. "And it's about respect. Out there, on the street, it doesn't matter who you are, just how you drive and if you can earn the right to roll with the best."

Guldrin listened intently while stroking Emily's fur who had been digging her claws into Guldrin this entire time, his admiration for Dom, or Dad as he is calling him now, growing. He hadn't known what to expect when he'd come along with them, but he hadn't imagined the intensity or the rush. For a moment, he felt like he was part of something important, something bigger than himself.