Echoes of the Past

(Leon James PoV);

I was standing in front of my house waiting for my wife to open the door. I didn't know how to feel today. It was all going normal till Hector showed up at the dealership.

(Flash back);

(3rd person PoV);

"Boss, there is a man called Hector here to see you, he says he is a friend of yours.", A salesman at the dealership informed Leon. ' Hector...hmmm... Now I haven't seen him in like 9 years now, what does he want?' Leon got up from his seat pausing his work. He walked towards the waiting room.

Seeing the man sitting in the lounge, he paused for a while. The slightly obese Mexican man in front of him had a sombre expression on him. 'That doesn't look good news to me.' Leon thought while approaching the man to greet him.

"Hey, brother...", He greeted Hector with a smile which he happily reciprocated. "It's been a long-time man... and I see that you have settled well brother." He said with a small smile. "Yeah that it has man. Well I am a family man now; I think a change was in order. So, what's the occasion man, how's the business going in the neighbourhood?", Leon asked him." The business is good...it's all right... Man, I don't know how to say this to you man. Letty's passed man. She's dead ..." The words that hector said silenced him. His emotions were going places that he didn't want it to. His eyes were tingling but somehow, he held his rumbling emotions in.

Before he became a peace-loving family man, he had another family he belonged to. 

It all began when Leon was an adrenaline seeking, high octane driver without much aim in his life. But like every man in the world, he fell for a woman. Rosa Lee Alvarez. She was a beautiful and headstrong girl and she was studying art in LA while she and Leon fell in love. They were deeply in love and one fine morning he got the news, she's pregnant with his baby. Now he was thrown off into a turmoil without any warning. As much as he loved Rosa, he knew he had to go legit and have a stable income to look after her and his baby who was on the way.

But like fate, he met Hector who used to run a circuit in the streets that hosted street races that made him hooked. Now all he had was his skills behind the wheels and his way around fixing cars. And it was exactly what he was looking for. Soon after he started racing and started earning some money, He started turning heads. He was starting to make a name for himself. But looking at the growing Rosa who was now at odds with her family and relatives was basically his responsibility. And he knew, he needed to do something bigger.

Say it is a miracle. It was on one fine day that Hector introduced him to Dominic Toretto. He was yet another car enthusiast and had a god given talent when it came to cars. He was undefeated already and he was basically the king of the street racing. He was a very charismatic person. One thing led to another, he became close friends with Dom and the rest of his friends. 

But one day he saw Dominic at his doorsteps. He knew his condition. He didn't know if it was sympathy or just because he considered him a family, he gave a business proposition to him. It was risky but money was what he needed now. 

Then it all began. He along with Dom's 'family' that consisted of Letty who was Dom's girlfriend, Vince and a neurotic Jesse, started to hijack shipments that had electronics. Money was flowing and now he had enough to feed and sustain my family. Rosa was anxious about the 'job' that he did. There wasn't a day that she was not anxious and she knew there was only one end to this. Either him dying or him going to the jail, both of them were not ideal at all. So, she repeatedly persuaded him to quit.

After a few runs over the year he now has a house, a car and a very angry and very pregnant girlfriend as his own. He still remembers that day. After a routine run he returned home to see his wife in pain. Her water broke and she was about to give birth. He rushed her to the nearby hospital and thank goodness they reached in time and she had a very safe delivery. It was when he held his son, that something changed inside him. He now knew what was important in his life. He knew he had to give up his 'job' and start afresh. But it was easier said than done.

One thing led to another, he ended up being with Dom for at least six long years now. Even though they had multiple runs over the years Dom was still deep in debt. He was putting an unnecessary amount of money into a sinking ship that was his garage and was paying his entire family so that they could stay afloat. He did have a tendency of living pretty lavishly and that too just secured a nail on the coffin.

Leon's life was slowly falling into track. He and Rosa had eventually made it up with her parents. It was tough. But family is indeed a family. While keeping his real nature of his work, he had to make sure that his family was safe. It was then he made the decision to move her and his six-year-old son Miguel to Texas in case something goes wrong. And he, after a lot of arguments and coaxing, left them in Texas with her parents to work with Dom for one last time.

His life was being split into two at this point. Being a father means responsibility and that involves him being there for their family and trying to make it most of the time. Then things changed. 

An undercover cop came into their lives, became an integral part of Dom's crew and they didn't know it until it was too late. Even when he asked Dom to stop things for the good, he kept pushing and he pushed too hard. One of the jobs went sideways. Vince nearly got killed and the cop finally blew his mask. Johnny Tran and his crew came for their lives and poor Jesse whom he had grown closer to was now killed in their shooting.

He has had enough and it was time for him to disappear. When Dom and his family fled to Baja, Leon had to make sure that he reached Rosa safely after making sure that he was not on the radar. Thankfully, things died down with time as there was no actual proof of him being directly involved in the heist. The rest was history. He settled down in Texas and now is a veritable family man of a happy family.

Now nine years later, it seems that his past is catching up to him. He was close with Letty and knew how badly Dom loved her. And now she is no more. He can't even imagine how heartbroken Dom and his family are now. And it seems that they are back in LA for her funeral.

  After a long pause, he stood up." When's the wake Hector, I will be there. " Leon said in a deep and sombre tone. After all they were his family for years before they all went different ways. That was the least he could do. To turn up to give Dom his condolences and try to help him through it.

  "The wake will be day after tomorrow man. It will be at the Evergreens. Dom will be here only by then. I mean the cops are still on his tail. So I guess things will take time. Give my greetings to your family man. See you brother." With a final greeting Hector left. Leon was left himself to handle his grief and decided to head home early. 

(Back to the present) (Leon PoV);

I saw my wife open the door with a tired expression. And as always she was quick to catch on." What happened Leon? What's wrong... Talk to me Leon..." She became anxious upon seeing my sombre mood. I went in and closed the door behind me and said." Letty's dead, Rosa. Dom's coming to LA." Upon hearing that she suddenly hugged me. "Oh darling...I don't know what to say babe. Everything will be alright. When are you going?", She asked me. " The day after, Rosa. I know you don't like me meeting Dom again hon. But I have to do this." She nodded although hesitantly. Leon just hugged his wife. 

(Third person PoV):

Unbeknownst to Leon and Rosa, their conversation had been overheard by their son, Miguel. He had been halfway down the stairs when the doorbell rang, and he paused to listen. Now, he knew another crucial piece of information about his father's past and the potential troubles heading their way and it was coming fast.