JOHN PAUL

"Okay last picture, I swear!" Stella exclaims. But in reality takes several more photos of Kai and Miles with their dates and several more of Marco and Lucy. 

"I can't wait until I can dress up like a princess and have all these cute boys take me dancing!" Lola says happily bouncing on her toes next to me. 

"First, you look like a princess every day, Lolabug; second, it won't be boys, just one boy." I tell her. 

She gives me a mischievous grin. "We'll see." 

"You'll have to wait your turn, because I'm next!" Carmen says to Lola excitedly. 

"Someone has to like you first, Carmen and you're not very nice," Lola responds which causes Carmen to scowl at her.

"What? I'm being honest, not mean. Every month, you turn into this really mean Carmen, who is angry, or cries all the time." Lola tells her as Carmen folds her arms scoffing at her.

I chuckle as I walk towards Stella to pry her off of Lucy so the kids can be on their way. I remind the guys of their curfew and then I turn to Lucy and Stella. 

"Amore, they need to get going." 

Stella pulls away, wiping at a stray tear. "I'm sorry," She chuckles, "You just look so beautiful, Luce. I hope you have the best time." She tells Lucy.

"Thanks, mom," Lucy smiles and then her gaze moves over to Marco. He smiles back at her.

"Alright, will go on then, have fun guys. Be safe and smart," Stella tells them as they all pile out of the door to get in the waiting Limo. Some of the men get into the SUV parked behind the Limo and follow it out of the property.

Stella looks at Carmen and Lola, "Alright you two, it's time to get ready for bed."

"Aww," Lola whines. "Can't we stay up with you guys?"

"No, Lola, you stayed up late with JP yesterday and you both had a hard time waking up this morning and when you did you were very grumpy." Stella faces her folding her arms. 

"But JP was lonely since you went out with Aunty Annalisa," Lola argues. 

Stella snorts. "Lonely, huh?" She raises her eyebrows at me. I hide my smile as I rub my beard. 

"Yes, if it wasn't for us and Toby keeping him entertained, he probably would have been sad and crying in his room all alone." Lola pouts her bottom lip.

"And drowning his sadness in beer and ice cream," Carmen adds.

Stella bursts out laughing. "Man, talk about loyalty." 

I pick up Lola, and wrap my arm around Carmen's shoulders. "Let's go ladies, sometimes, it's good know when to pick your battles and this is not one we're going to win."

"Was it too much?" Lola asks me. 

"Just a little," I chuckle and kiss her cheek and she wraps her arms around my neck and kisses my cheek, too. 

"I told you I should have done the talking," Carmen comments. 

I hear Stella chuckle behind us as she follows and out of the corner out of my eye I see Adonis walk quickly from the hallway, and he looks up as I keep heading up the stairs. "John Paul, I have a video call for you and Stella."

"From who?" Stella asks. 

"Maksim and Dmitri, they were at the gathering," Adonis responds. 

"Tell them I'll call them in a half hour. We're just going to put the girls to bed," I tell him and he inclines his head and walks back in the direction of the conference room. 

Later on, when Stella and I are walking back to the conference room, her phone chimes. "It's Ray." 

"What does he want?"

"I have no idea. I'll let him know I'll call him back after we're done with the video call." Stella responds as she types a quick text and puts her phone away. 

I'm surprised to see Enzo and Crisitian in the Conference room. "Buongiorno gentlemen," I greet them shaking their hands and Stella hugs them both. 

"Where is everyone? It's so quiet, like eery quiet," Enzo tells asks as he sits down.

"The younger kids are in bed, and the older ones all went to winter formal." Stella pulls her phone out to show them pictures of the kids. 

"Lucy looks beautiful," Cristian points out. "And the boys, they clean up well don't they?"

"They sure do!" Stella agrees proudly. 

Adonis clears his throat, "Maksim and Dmitri reached out letting me know they wanted to speak to us and I suggested a video conference on short notice." He looks at David and he clacks away at the computer and then we wait for the call to connect. 

"Gentlemen," I greet them. "To what do we owe this pleasure of speaking with you." 

"We wanted to let you know, the retaliation on the Albanians is still rippling through Eastern Europe and Asia. We are not sure if you are aware your names are being associated with the Vitale organization."

"Yes, we are aware as we enlisted their services to carry out the plan," I inform them. 

"So you are working with them?" Dmitri questions, leaning forwards.

"More or less," Cristian responds as he lights a cigar. "Does that concern you?"

Maksim shakes his head, "No, but speaking from experience, their integrity is not...consistent." 

"The Vitale's and the Bracco's have had a troubled and violent history," JP informs them. "But I'm determined to keep the relations cordial." 

"Sure, we just wanted to make sure you were aware of all sides of the devil you are dealing with, Don Toretto." Dmitri states. 

"The other reason for our reaching out is, we have an associate who has a contact with an Albanian buyer. This connection lead to one of the main heads in Albania to reach out to us in order to make contact with you. We told them we'd speak to you first, give you their information so you could contact them if you felt so inclined."

I look over at Stella and she nods. Maksim and Dmitri give us the contact information for the Albanians and the video call ends shortly after. 

"Well, what do you think they want?" Enzo asks drumming his fingers along the table. 

"If they're smart, they'll want figure out a way to stay clear from us. But," Cristian, blows out a cloud of smoke. "I suppose it wouldn't hurt to hear what they have to say. Stella, what do you think?"

She tucks a piece of her hair behind her ear and has a contemplative look on her face. "We should hear them out; and if necessary remind them we are a family that you underestimate."

I signal David to connect us and he begins getting the call ready. 

An image pops up on the screen and then we see three men in suits, sitting in an office, looking back at us.

"What if they don't speak English?" Enzo whispers out of the side of his mouth. 

"They wouldn't attempt to reach out to us if they didn't," Stella whispers back. 

I clear my throat to introduce ourselves. "Gentlemen, my name is John Paul Toretto. My wife Stella. My associates, Cristian and Lorenzo Romano, Adonis Bertolino and David Carisi."

The man sitting in the middle, nods. "My name is Turhan. My brother, Artan and my son Merkush." He gestures to either side of him and they nod. "We are grateful for willingness to speak with us." 

"What it is the nature of this parley?" Cristian asks. 

Turhan's son, takes point and notice his English is significantly stronger than his father's even though his accent is still heard. "We are aware of the bad blood between our family and yours. It has been this way for very long time, but we managed to..."He pauses to search for the right word. "Resist?...each other for many years until recently." 

"Until members of your family and organization, here in the U.S. aligned with someone who betrayed our family a few years ago. We warned your leaders not to work for him, to not trust him and your men laughed and spit in our faces." Stella informs them.

"I'm not criticizing how you choose to run your organizations. But your men attacked and slaughtered our men, their families, innocent children without provocation, to manifest your power to us, but all they did was make themselves a target." Stella continues, her voice is firm and strong.

"Ms. Toretto, we regret the actions of our family against yours. But as you must know, in this world, no one is safe, no on is off limits. Business is business." The brother, Artan, states arrogantly.

I purse my lips and slightly nod my head. "I agree there are certain facts that are not disputable or avoidable when it comes to this life; things that I can over look with a level head. I don't let my emotions rule my decisions on the business end of things.

"And I am someone who is not afraid to get blood on my hands but I do so only as a result of someone or this case your entire, Albanian American associates who crossed the line, when it should never have happened in the first place." I lean forward in my chair. 

"Yes, well, it seems you outdid yourselves with the retaliation that has been circulating everywhere. You single handedly dismantled centuries of an organization that was rising in a matter of two hours from what has been reported back to us." Merkush states, even though he seems polite, the eye twitch gives away his resentment. 

"It was a consequence for the shortsightedness of your family indiscretion against us." I respond.

Merkush, chuckles, "I'm not sure moves and countermoves are seen as shortsightedness, perhaps it means something different in your country than ours?" He shrugs casually. "To make things right we will return the product that was taken and we each walk away, making an effort to continue our avoidance of each other as best we can." 

I smile at them ruefully and stand. "Perhaps I was not clear before or it was lost in translation."  The men each shift in their seats, clearly ruffled by the insinuation they do not understand English, but I continue. 

"I do not care about the product. In fact, I implore you to keep it, and remember as you sell it, distribute it or what have you, it is because of us that you're making profits off of our efforts. What I do want to make very clear and make sure is understood is the fact that one of your men, put their hands on my wife."

"My wife!" I shout, pounding my fist on the table. They jump back slightly even through the screen.

"While you believe there are no limits when it comes to women and children and no one is safe, that is an offense I could not and will not overlook. And nothing can or will make that right in my eyes.

"And gentlemen, if it wasn't for my wife, you would not be speaking to us at this time, because I while I was prepared to find and track every single person associated with the Albanians here in the United States as well as in Europe---and kill every last one of you with ties to Armend---she convinced me not to. So, gentlemen," I straighten my suit and smooth back some of my hair. 

"When you go to bed tonight, with your significant other, your wives, your children--your families; safe in your homes, remember it is because of her that you are able to do so." 

Turhan clears his throat then inclines his head at me. "We thank you for your time, Don Toretto. Ms. Toretto, gentlemen." 

The video ends and the room is silent for a moment.

"Daaammn!" Enzo exclaims. "I'm proud of you John Paul." 

"Shut up, Enzo." I sit down and rub a hand down my face. 

"What? I was actually being serious," Enzo states. "Total badass, Stella is finally rubbing off on you." 

"I'm in agreeance with Lorenzo," Cristian states, buttoning his suit when he stands. "I mean about being a badass, that is." Stella chuckles as her arms come around my head from behind me. She presses her lips against my cheek with a loud wet kiss

"Barf!" Enzo says. While I pull Stella around me, to sit on my lap. 

"Take me to bed, amore," She leans in whispering and bites on my earlobe slowly. 

"Alright, let's head out guys, before our eyes and ears are forced to hear and listen to things and images that will be burned in minds forever." Enzo announces.

Stella laughs loudly and then Adonis's phone rings. 

Her phone also rings. 

And then I look at the table when I see my phone light up and vibrate on the table. 

"Well, I'm really feeling left out now." Enzo chuckles. 

I pick up my phone as Stella answers hers. "Kai?"

Miles is calling me, and we knew this was going to happen, but I still can't help feel worried that it's in motion now. 

"Lucy and Marco got taken," Miles tells me as soon as I answer my phone. 

"We planned for this remember," I remind him. "Come home, and we'll track them to see where Jimmy is taking them."

"It wasn't Jimmy who took them, it was that blonde woman, Charlotte." Miles informs me.

****