Because I received some lovely reviews for this story and I was rereading them, y'all get an early update :)

Chapter Quote:
"Man it's so hot and humid out here I can't wear no drawers."
~Roman Pearce, 2 Fast 2 Furious
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Chapter 12

Ember

I ended up winning the Gallardo. Jace won a Porsche. Brandon won a Ferrari. The Lamborghini was the most expensive car I'd ever been in besides my dad's Porsche, and let me be honest here, I felt like hot shit in that car (pardon my French).

The next day my mom, Letty, Roman, Gina, and Tej arrived. My mom gave me a huge hug, demanding to know if I was okay. I told her I was, then proceeded to laugh at the look Brandon had on his face from the suffocating hug his mother was giving him.

"Where'd the cars come from?" Letty asked, nodding at our new rides.

"The kids won them," Dom said, sounding rather proud.

"What's the next step in the plan?" Mom inquired.

"That's where I come in," Hobbs intervened. "I have two of the people I trust most working with me on this. After that mole incident, I'm not risking another mishap. They're currently scouting the city via security cameras all over the city, running facial recognition on all known associates of him. If any of his friends are here, we'll find them. As for all of you, don't go out alone, and bring a gun when you do go out. Until we can figure out where they are, we sit here and wait. Understood?"

We all nodded. The adults dispersed. Letty, mom, and Gina went to the computer. I had no idea what they were doing but I had a feeling mom was going to do a search of her own for Lynch's men. Roman and Tej sat on the couch watching TV, bickering about something as usual. Dom and Hobbes stood in the corner, quietly having a conversation. I wanted to know what they were discussing but didn't want to impose myself on them. Besides, I was getting restless. Just because we had fans all over the building didn't mean it was necessarily cool. I was desperate for a place with actual AC. I convinced Jace and Brandon to leave with me again to go get something to eat. We could all tell the adults were not okay with us going but conceded nonetheless. They knew we could handle ourselves as we'd proved it on more than one occasion.

"So where to this time?" Brandon asked.

"Anywhere inside with AC," I replied.

"I say a restaurant because I'm starving," Jace remarked.

"Dude, we literally just had breakfast two hours ago," Brandon said.

"Yeah, I know. What's your point?"

"How the hell do you stay in the shape you're in with all the food you eat?"

"I don't know but I'm not complaining."

"How about that place right there?" I suggested, pointing to what seemed like an out-of-the-way local joint. The boys agreed. Jace most likely because he was hungry and just wanted food. Brandon because he was getting antsy being out in public with madmen on the loose after us.

We sat down in a booth where we could see all the entrances so in case we had any unwelcome visitors, we'd be able to make our escape. The chat was pretty much nonexistent when the food was around. I did joke about how Brandon had chastised Jace for being hungry when we'd only eaten breakfast two hours ago yet he himself was pigging out like tomorrow was his last day on Earth. Where he and Jace put all their food, I have no idea. I can eat a lot but if I ate like them, I might actually pop.

"Any news from our frenemy?" Brandon questioned, stuffing the last taco in his mouth.

"Our frenemy?" I replied.

"Jackson."

"Oh, no. No news. He's probably having to lay low after telling us about Lynch's tracking device. Lynch might be on to him."

"I don't trust him but I don't want him killed either. He's saved our asses more times than I care to admit."

"Have you thought anymore about asking him if he's Jack?" Jace asked.

"Yes. Practically every waking minute. But nothing's come to me so far."

"Maybe he'll tell you on his own."

"I doubt that. I don't know why, I just do." I pulled out my phone to check the time. Seeing that we'd been gone for two hours, I said, "I'll be back. I'm going to the restroom."

The boys nodded. I made my way through the crowd to the bathroom. I did my business and was fixing my hair when my phone buzzed. I pulled it out to find a text from Jackson. There was only one word.

RUN.

I shoved my phone into my pocket and went back to my friends where I threw down some cash on the table, grabbed their hands, and led them to the back of the restaurant to make an escape through there, all the while telling them what Jackson had just sent me. We stopped when we saw a familiar face entering the back door. It was one of Lynch's men. We turned around to find all our exits covered.

"We're trapped," Brandon hissed.

"I have an idea. Follow me," I said. I led them back to the girls' bathroom where there was a window near the top of the wall, just big enough for us to fit through. The boys lifted me up first. I shimmied my way out of the window onto the ground below. Brandon came next. He proceeded to lift me back up so I could reach through the window to help Jace up. Just as Jace tumbled out of the window, we heard shouts in the bathroom that belonged to Lynch's men. We darted away.

"Where are we going?!" Jace shouted.

"We need to make our way back to base!" I ordered. I fumbled for my cellphone, hitting Hobbs' speed dial number. He picked up on the first ring.

"Ember, what's up?"

"I don't know what street I'm on but Lynch's men found us. We managed to get a good head start on them but they're right behind us. We could really use your help!" I exclaimed.

"Stay on the line, I'm tracking your cell right now. Ember, do not hang up!" He commanded.

"Wasn't planning on it!"

"Guys, they have motorcycles!" Brandon yelled. "Motorcycles and guns!"

"Oh shi-" Jace began as we ducked behind a building to get some cover.

"Ember, we've got you tracked. You have to stay on the phone do you understand me?" Hobbs asked. I told him I did. What I refrained from telling him was that it was kind of difficult to run and be on the phone at the same. I figured sarcasm was the last thing he needed at the moment.

"We're sending your family out. Stay on the main roads as much as you can. Make your way back here," Hobbs said. "We'll be waiting for you and them."

"We can't outrun the motorcycles if we're on the main streets!"

"Can you get to higher ground?"

"I can but it doesn't exactly involve being on the ground and I won't be able to stay on the phone if I do it."

"I'll get eyes in the air to look for you. Hang up and do whatever you have to do to get back here."

"I'll call you when I'm safe." I hung up my phone and shoved it into my pocket.

"What's the plan?" Brandon huffed out.

"Run until we lose them or until our family catches them. Follow me!" I climbed up the side of a ladder onto a house. I vaguely remembered Dom telling me about this running on rooftops that last time he was in Rio which is the only reason this idea had come to me. Ironically, Hobbs had been after him instead of helping him. Oh how the tables have turned...

"Do you even know where we are?" Jace asked, hopping onto a roof below us.

"Nope, just keep running!" I answered.

"Just keep running, just keep running," Brandon repeated.

"All right Dory, we get the concept!" Jace retorted.

"Would you two- Brandon!" I screamed. Jace and I skidded to a halt when Brandon disappeared from view. He'd fallen through one of the roofs.

"I'm fine! I'll meet you back at base! Go!" he replied.

"We're not leaving you by yourself!"

"I'm fine! You're the one they're after! Jace, drag her away from here if you have to but get her out of here!"

"Brandon's right," Jace said, cupping my face to force me to look at him. "Lynch's men are after you. And if they can't have you, they'll kill you. Do you understand? We have to run."

"Brandon, we'll see you back at base," I called out.

"See you there!" he replied. Not giving me time to say anything more, Jason took off running with my hand in his. We leapt over rooftops, leapt up to rooftops, and leapt down to rooftops, but nothing seemed to help us lose them.

"Jace, let's get back down to the ground. We're too easily seen up here!" I remarked. The two of jumped down to the ground, quickly regaining our footing to bolt down the hill. I heard shouts behind us, mostly the words 'get them' or 'kill them'. They seemed to be indecisive about which one to actually go through with but I was praying for the former.

Jace and I made it to a main road where I dashed across the road before a semi blocked our way. It took me around thirty seconds after to realize that Jace was no longer with me.

"Jason?!" I yelled. I spun around in circles, trying to find him in the massive crowds. But when multiple searches yielded nothing, I swallowed my fear and kept running. I had to believe that he'd be okay by himself. I knew he was savvy.
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It was sundown by the time I reached base. I was hot, sweaty, thirsty, exhausted, and unimaginably worried about Jace and Brandon. Maybe they'd gotten here before me. Maybe they'd been captured. There was another option as to what could have happened to them but I refused to think about it. I couldn't handle it. Not right now.

"Mom? Dom? Hobbs?" I called out. I saw a flash of black hair before being engulfed in a hug by my mother. My uncle was soon to follow. Even Hobbs gave me a hug and except for with his own daughter, he's not a 'huggy' person.

"Are you okay? Are you hurt?" Mom demanded.

"I'm fine. Just tired. Where's Brandon and Jace?" I asked, looking around.

"We thought they were with you," Dom said.

"They were but we got separated. Brandon fell through a roof but told us to keep going. Jace and I got separated on one of the main streets. Have you tried calling them?"

"They didn't answer," Roman informed solemnly.

"Maybe their phones died. They could've been trying to reach someone all this time and drained their battery. Or maybe they dropped their phones somewhere. With all the jumping and running we were doing, it's not a far-fetched idea," I said hopefully.

"Em, our drone found Jace and caught video of him being taken by Lynch's men. We have reason to believe he most likely has Brandon too. He has them alive for a reason," Hobbs told me. "We're going to make sure we get them out of there."

"Honey, why don't you go take a shower and get cleaned up? It'll make you feel better. Then you can have dinner," Mom suggested.

Not up to arguing, I listened to her. The shower felt good, especially since I had it on a cool setting because I was done with the heat. Being in fresh clothes felt even better. Nothing beat eating good food though.

However, my mind never stopped thinking about Jace and Brandon. I had to find out whether they were okay. The moment I knew everyone else was asleep, I slipped outside, dialing the one person who might actually be able to get this show on the road.

"Ember, are you okay?" Jackson demanded immediately.

"I'm fine. I'm safe. That's more than I can say for Jace and Brandon though. Where are they?" I whispered, not wanting to wake anyone up. Even though I was outside, I knew very well Dom and Hobbs were light sleepers. I can act but there was no way I'd be able to lie myself out of this one if they caught me.

"They're being held by Lynch. Besides being beat up, they're hanging in there. Is your family coming after them soon?"

"We would if we knew where they are. Hobbs caught video of Jace being caught but I don't know what happened after that. Jackson, you need to tell me their location."

"How are you going to explain to your family how you found out about it?"

"I could always tell them the truth."

"They won't believe you. Not when it comes to one of Lynch's guys."

"Then what are we going to do?"

"Look, it's risky, but I can maybe get them free. I can have one of them punch me to make it look like they escaped by themselves. But Ember, if I do this and Lynch finds out-"

"You can come stay with us," I finished.

"That's not what I was going to say, but thank you."

"Regardless of what you were going to say, you're staying with us if Lynch finds out about you. I can convince my family about your innocence. Especially if Brandon and Jason back me up. So what were you going to say?"

Jackson didn't respond immediately. When he did, all he just said, "Nothing. Expect Jace and Brandon to be there sometime early tomorrow. I'll talk to you soon."

"Thank you. And Jackson? Be careful."

"Thanks. I will." He seemed kind of taken aback by my sentiment but in a good way, as if he hadn't had someone tell him that before. I took a deep breath and hung up. I sat on the steps, staring up at the stars, hoping they'd maybe calm me down or something. It didn't work, but at least they were pretty.

"What are you doing up?" Dom's voice sounded from behind me. "I thought you'd be asleep after the day you've had."

"I'm so tired, but I'm too worried about Jace and Brandon," I admitted.

Dom sat down next to me. "What else is on your mind? You've been acting differently the past week."

"Just a lot on my mind... have you ever made a decision where you trusted someone that has orders to hunt you down, and then questioned whether it was the right decision?"

"I'm friends with Hobbs, aren't I?" Dom remarked. I smiled. "Who are you trusting you don't think you're supposed to?"

"A guy who's saved my life, Brandon's, and Jace's."

"I don't see the problem in that."

"He works for Lynch. Now do you see the problem?"

"What do you mean he works for Lynch? And how has he saved your life?"

I heard the anger in my uncle's voice so I quickly explained the situation to placate him. "The night before we let for Rio, he found me and Brandon at Jace's place. He warned us that Lynch was going to try and kill one of you the following day as an incentive to get me to join his team. The second time was when he told us about the tracker in our GPS. The third was today, when he told me to run."

"He found you at the restaurant?"

"No... he kind of has my number. I kind of have his. He sent me a text that simply said 'run' and we did. If we hadn't, all three of us would be in Lynch's hands."

"Why is he helping you?"

"He says it's because he didn't get a choice in the life and doesn't want someone else forced into it when they don't want to be."

"What aren't you telling me?"

"He knows our motto, Dom. He knows about 'Ride or Die'."

Dom's expression visibly changed to one of shocked interest. "Have you asked him about it?"

"No. Our conversations are usually too brief and to the point. But it makes me have a theory about how he knows."

"I have an idea about what you're going to say but say it."

"It's far-fetched, I know, but I think there might be a possibility he's Jack. It would explain how he knows 'Ride or Die', and give him motivation to help me out against Lynch while risking his life to do so. Not to mention he kind of looks like mom."

Dom sat in silence for a few moments. "When's the next time you're seeing him?"

"I have no idea. He just has this ability to pop up out of nowhere."

"Next time you see him, tell me. I want to meet him."

"He's doing something for us that could possibly get him killed by Lynch. If he gets found out, I told him he could stay with us."

"What exactly is he doing?"

"Saving Brandon and Jace."

"He can stay with us, but tell him he's going to have an interrogation."

"That's better than what he would expect. He expects to be killed on sight."

"He has valid reasons to believe so. Look, get to bed, get some sleep. We'll see if Jackson follows through tomorrow. For now, there's nothing you can do. We're all working round the clock to find them. And if Jackson can't help them, I can assure you that we will."
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Hope you enjoyed :)