'' Dominic Toretto. '' No playing games, he's going straight to the point. Not even glancing down to the cross as he chucks it towards the upturned car. Faint sounds of movement tell him the beta's stirring, trying to get free no doubt. Too bad.
'' You don't know me. You're about to. '' He doesn't intend on speaking any further words, not cutting the call off even as silence follows. No doubt Toretto trying to figure out who the hell was calling him. If he happened to trace the number, well no doubt the package was delivered already. The man wouldn't have much time to react when he pieced the location of the call and the source of the delivery together.
The explosions are faint in the phone, hearing Toretto shouting before he's finally hanging up the phone, tucking it away as the explosion of the car behind him echoes that of the Toretto house. Now for the next target. None of them were safe.
~ ~ ~
Despite being stuck in hospital, it didn't take long for Hobbs to learn about the bomb at the Toretto house. Knew almost as soon as Neves was telling him the news that Toretto was going to go after the person responsible. A good thing he'd insisted on Toretto as soon as he had awoken and been able to speak.
Watching Dom and Eden banter draws a muffled chuckle, enjoying the light atmosphere before it would the conversation about the culprit for Hobbs being stuck in hospital and the Toretto house being blown up would start. Eventually cutting the brief chat off, he's nodding to Neves with a thankful smile when she leads Eden out of the room, gaze soon returning to the other Alpha.
Even though Neves had only just handed him the hardcopy of Deckard Shaw's file, Hobbs had already had a chance to read the digital version. Insisting on a hardcopy because he knew Toretto was going to ignore what he was planning to say. Great to know that the mess in London wasn't behind them as they had expected.
Shaw was serious, perhaps even more of a threat then Owen had been. And clearly interested in removing details from his file, or at least someone was determined to keep some of his information secret. For being in the military, it was expected for the secondary gender to be known and recorded. Yet, Shaw's was blank. Unknown. Either he had the help to or someone else had gotten it erased, or, for whatever reason, it had never been documented.
Even as Toretto reads over the file, Hobbs is already starting to speak about the man. Try to make it clear how much of a threat he was, how much of a risk Toretto was taking in going after the man. Twenty lead operatives, what might have been overkill against one guy, though not necessarily when faced with his training and skills. An asset no one would admit to employing, until they'd decided to try and retire him. Twenty people had gone in after Shaw, only the man himself had been left standing.
And then Toretto is asking the question Hobbs knew he'd ask, his expression not changing as he simply responds. '' The official answer is: You don't. '' He can see the determination on the other alpha's face, drawing a slight furrow of his brows. Trust Toretto to not listen to a single damn thing he'd just said. Sure, the Toretto crew had a good chance against Shaw. But this was a trained assassin, someone who had been a ghost for six years until his brother ending up in hospital had drawn him out. Toretto needed to leave it to the authorities. Too much risk.
He knew it well before Toretto stepped into the room, a point he knew would be a waste of time trying to get across. Still, it was worth a shot, wasn't it? A small sigh before he's finally continuing, waiting for Dom to turn around and meet his gaze before he finishes. '' Don't miss. ''
~ ~ ~
As expected, Toretto had gone and brought Han back to Los Angeles, making it easy to find him. Showing up towards the end of the funeral, he hadn't needed to do much to draw Toretto's attention, driving slow enough to not disrupt those gathered, slow enough to draw his attention. Even as he saw the man disappear into the crowd before reappearing near some of the cars, he hadn't increased his pace, waiting. Just as Toretto finally started the car and started the chase, he's finally increasing speed, not caring if the loud revs of the engine drew the attention of the others from Toretto's crew. Shaw would have drawn Toretto far away before they had a chance to try and catch up.
Keeping ahead far enough to keep Toretto from gaining any ground, but not going too fast as to lose him. This wasn't a surveillance mission. This was getting Toretto out of the way. He'd indulge in a little chase, let Toretto enjoy one last ride before he'd deal with him.
He had to give it to Toretto, man knew how to drive. Even weaving through the traffic, the other had kept up with him, even managed to get closer to Shaw. He keeps his gaze mostly on the road, going over the roads he'd memorised, picking which of the places would be the best spot to end this fight. Occasionally, his gaze darts to the rear view mirror, watching Toretto glaring at his car.
Nothing like a car chase to get the adrenaline running, something Shaw admittedly was enjoying. But this wasn't about having fun, this was about pissing the alpha off. Letting him think he was catching up to him, only to find Shaw far ahead of him once again. Seeing the lights ahead changing to yellow and then to red, he lets Toretto draw closer again, before quickly swerving around the last cars in front of him to get ahead.
The cars easily block Toretto off, leaving him the option to wait or to cut around and go through crossing traffic. Either way allows Shaw plenty of time to get ahead and continue leading him to his chosen location. He catches up quickly, though not quick enough to interrupt Shaw from setting up for the final steps of this encounter.
Waiting patiently, he watches the other car slow down as Toretto notices him, the other's car eventually coming to a halt as Shaw looks at him, revving the engine. Not that he doubted Toretto would turn away from the challenge, confirming his belief when he hears the revving emitted from the alpha's car. Nice looking car. A pity it was about to be ruined.
His next step is risky. No doubt he's going to end up with some whiplash from this. But it'll pay off. He doubts Toretto has any clue about the reinforcements to the car, and even in the rare chance that he chickens out, Shaw still will have any easy enough time striking his car anyways. Even as the tunnel echoes with the constant revs being emitted from both cars, Shaw waits, lets Toretto initiate the charge.
Finally allowing his car to jump forwards as Toretto takes his foot of the brakes, Shaw's quick to shift gears, speeding up just as the other does. As expected, Toretto wasn't chickening out, meeting Shaw's gaze seconds before the cars collide, drawing a grunt from him as he jolts forward.
Quickly recovering, he's cracking his neck to realise some of the tension caused from the crash, allowing himself a few seconds to take a deep breath and focus on the task. No movement from Toretto's car, but he doubts the crash knocked the man out. He's quick to get out of the car before Toretto has the chance to first, readjusting his coat as the door of the other car is shoved open, grunts echoing from within.
Unlike Hobbs, who at least uses some sort of suppressants to muffle his scent, Toretto exudes his alpha status. Unblocked by any scent suppressant or blocker, it's easy to detect as soon as he ignores the fumes from the crashed cars. A man too confident in his status to give a damn about muffling it.
The sledgehammer he sees the other carrying as he stumbles to his feet almost draws a raise of a brow, though Shaw manages to keep his expression neutral. Shoulders squared, posturing just like an alpha. Make it look like a challenge to draw an instinctual reaction from Toretto. The man was clearly already running off rage, blind him even further by drawing on those alpha tendencies of challenging.
'' Never should have messed with a man's family. '' He utters as soon as Toretto finally turns and meets his gaze, noting the slight flare of his nostrils as the alpha takes in the challenging stance. Ignoring his response, he notices Toretto's gaze deflect to the car he'd driven, the crumpled metal easily revealing the reinforced hood. Clearly, he didn't run on instincts for his fight, given the lack of attack in reaction to his challenge. As he rattles on, Shaw manages not to roll his eyes, the glare obvious as his brows furrow slightly. '' Your mistake. I'm not here to play games. See you and me? We're from different worlds. '' He holds the alpha's gaze, not straightening his posture from the challenge he still presents, hands clenched by his sides. '' Trust me, I've seen a lot meaner streets than the ones you're used to. ''
Hand slipping into his coat, clearly going unnoticed by the alpha, too distracted by their conversation to be paying attention. His loss. At the threat, as his posture shifts to hint the step forwards, he's raising the gun, the noise announcing its presence even before he lifts it. Watching the change in his expression is amusing, the guy really thought this was going to be a brawl.
'' You thought this was gonna be a street fight? '' He's barely keeping the smirk from his expression, finger tightening about the trigger. Before anything can happen though, the shattering of the car door's glass draws his gaze upwards, though keeping Toretto in his sights still in case the man took advantage of the interruption. Returning fire, he's quick to duck behind the parked cars for shelter, keeping his head ducked to avoid any shots above the cars. He'd known from a quick glance this wasn't a fight he wanted to keep going. Toretto was damn lucky for the timing of his backup.
Seeing the other entrance to the tunnel being blocked off by another car, he briefly contemplates taking the driver and occupants down. But they weren't who he was after, and it would just be a waste of time dealing with them. Especially when there was a set of stairs leading to another escape right beside him.
Annoying. But the events wouldn't set him back too far.