Guldrin’s Gluttony: Family Bound by Speed & Food

(Bonus Chapter Due to Power Stones, Thank You to all who support my work!)

The next morning, at the crack of dawn, Guldrin awoke to some random sounds in the garage. Knowing no one should have been there yet, he slowly approached the garage with Emily in his arms, 'Who do you think is inside?' Guldrin asked Emily who purred, 'I don't know but be careful, you need to run if they are dangerous,' Guldrin nodded.

Walking forward with a small wrench in hand, Guldrin crouched and peered through the garage shop entrance. Inside the dark garage, Guldrin could see a small light glancing around the shop as if looking for something. The figure couldn't be made out, but they didn't appear to be stealing anything, instead, they were going through things with precision. Leaning forward to get a better look, he didn't notice a small canister of some kind which fell to the ground.

*Clang!*

The sound echoed through the shop, and whoever was inside the garage ran like a bat out of Hell. With swift and practiced movements, they turned off the flashlight, jumped out the window, and were gone before Guldrin could get to the window. 'Wow, they are fast… I can't believe I didn't see that can on the floor… I lost my chance to see who it was.' Guldrin pouted and Emily comically patted him on the shoulder, 'It is okay, you didn't see it… Just do better next time… Plus, it might be good that they ran and didn't confront you… At Least you know it is now someone who doesn't wish to be found out.'

'You are right,' He palmed his hand, 'They ran away quick as could be instead of finding out who made the sound and… Silence them? Why does that seem so… Familiar?' Guldrin's head started to hurt, and his Gluttony began to act up, 'I need food.' And like that, Guldrin forgot about his question and left to get a snack or a lot of snacks, yes A LOT of snacks.

Guldrin hurried back to the kitchen, where he made quick work of grabbing snacks, chips, meat sticks, and even some leftover bacon from the fridge, anything that could curb the gnawing emptiness that occasionally flared up within him. Emily watched, both amused and concerned, as Guldrin devoured the food in record time, filling the space with the sounds of crunching and wrappers. She perched herself on the counter, licking her paws daintily, and eyed him.

'Feel better now?' she asked with a smirk, her white pale eyes glinting.

Guldrin let out a satisfied sigh, wiping his hands on a napkin. "Way better. I don't know what came over me. This Gluttony thing is getting annoying, I looked it up, but all I found on the internet was a constant need for food or someone who craved food. Oh yeah, also something about the seven sins, but that is… No way, right?" He gave her a confused but sheepish grin, but his mind quickly returned to the intruder. His curiosity was piqued, and the mystery nagged at him. Who would be sneaking around the garage, and what could they want?

'Who could it have been? Brian? Why do I think it could have been him? I mean, he got me a car… But… maybe that was his plan? I can't bring my suspicions to Mom or Dad yet… I will just tell them what I saw.'

Just then, Dom walked in, dressed in a plain white tee and jeans, looking ready to start the day. He paused when he saw Guldrin surrounded by empty wrappers. He raised an eyebrow, but his gaze softened as he noticed Guldrin's expression.

"You okay, little man?" Dom asked, reaching over to ruffle his hair with a chuckle, Guldrin's love for food never gets old and always serves as a source of amusement. "You look like you've seen a ghost."

Guldrin glanced up, not entirely sure how to explain the situation. "Dad…there was someone in the garage just now. I didn't see much, they were gone before I could even get close, but they seemed like they were looking for something. I wanted to go closer, but I kinda bumped a can and scared them off."

Dom's eyes narrowed. He exchanged a look with the strangely intelligent feline in Guldrin's arms, then placed a reassuring hand on Guldrin's shoulder. "You did good, but it concerns me that you tried to get closer, Guldrin, staying safe is the best choice… You are a young kid and if you confronted the intruder, you could have been hurt. I'll check the place out, and see if anything's been disturbed." He gave a gentle squeeze before glancing around the wrapper-littered kitchen. "But first, let's get breakfast going. Can't go investigating on an empty stomach, right?"

Feeling the warmth of Dom's approval, Guldrin nodded eagerly, he felt chided but oddly enough his spirits were lifted. Together, they whipped up some breakfast, and the smell soon brought Letty into the kitchen, followed by Jesse, who had just arrived and looked half-awake but perked up at the sight of food.

Guldrin smiled and ran to Letty with a cup of coffee and a beer in hand, "Here Mom, I don't know which one you wanted, so I brought you both." Letty giggled and took both with a gentle smile, "Thanks kid, I will drink them both… Just not together. Coffee first, then the beer." Guldrin was pleased and went back to help Dom, putting his cooking knowledge to good use.

It didn't take long for a full-spread breakfast to be completed and plated on the counter where they sat for breakfast. As they ate, Dom brought up the intruder to the group, his tone serious. "Someone was in the garage this morning, poking around. Nothing's missing that I can tell, but I don't want anyone else alone out there until we figure out who it was. The kid saw them and wanted to sneak into the room, I already scolded him, but I am confident whoever it was will be back as they didn't have time to find what they wanted due to the brat scaring them away."

Letty frowned, her eyes sharp. "You think it could be Tran's crew, scoping out the place?"

Dom shrugged, his jaw clenched. "Could be, or it could be someone else altogether. We'll keep an eye out, make sure we're all on guard." His gaze softened as he looked at Guldrin. "And you? Next time, don't go looking by yourself. Call me, alright? I left you my, Mia, and Letty's number, our house is but a few minutes away and even less if I don't drive the speed limit."

Guldrin nodded solemnly, understanding the weight of Dom's words. He wasn't afraid, if anything, he was more curious now than ever, but he knew better than to argue. And as they finished breakfast, he felt the growing resolve in the room.

Later that day, Guldrin wanted to mess up Brian's date with Mia and enlisted the help of Jesse who was all for the plan. They searched the internet, found the restaurant, and called them using different voices to reserve each seat till there were none left. Whether they were mad when no one showed up, Guldrin and Jesse didn't care, but they knew Brian would need to find a new place to go with Mia. Vince caught wind of this when he showed up at the shop and laughed before clapping Guldrin on the back and buying him a bucket of KFC.

So with greasing fingers from reaching into the bucket, Guldrin bit into a drumstick and his entire world lit up as he quickly finished it in record time. "Mmmmm, shoo guuud…" With the brightest expression, Guldrin rushed to Vince who had left to work in the garage, and gave him a giant greasy hug, "Thank you, Uncle Vince!" Then he ran off to eat his food with a blissful smile as everyone laughed at the scene.

"Uncle, huh? I could get used to it." Vince muttered and everyone looked at him shocked, "What?" He looked offended, and no one elaborated to avoid causing issues.

Later that afternoon, as Mia slipped out of the house, she glanced around the street, her heart racing with excitement and nerves. Her thoughts returned to the way Brian had looked at her, a mix of intensity and gentleness, something she hadn't felt in a while. Despite the slight hesitation that lingered due to her family's suspicions about Brian, she couldn't deny her attraction to him.

The rumble of Brian's truck brought her attention back to the present. He pulled up, a relaxed grin lighting up his face as he stepped out, exuding an effortless charm. "Hey," he greeted her with a smile, hands in his pockets.

"Hey yourself," she replied, her own smile widening as she leaned against his truck. "Where are we going?"

Brian shrugged playfully. "The restaurant we were planning to go to, was booked for the night. So I thought we'd keep it simple for now. There's a little diner out by the coast. Quiet, good food, no interruptions."

"Sounds perfect," she said, feeling a flutter of excitement. "However, we aren't taking your work truck," She gestured to her blue 2003 Acura NSX-T. "I will drive," Mia didn't wait for Brian's response and got into the driver's seat. With that, Brian reluctantly slid into the passenger seat, and Mia took them down the winding streets, his gaze occasionally drifting over to her, making her cheeks warm.

As they reached the coast, Mia pulled into a cozy spot overlooking the ocean, where the sound of waves crashing against the shore added a soothing backdrop. They ordered simple meals, sharing fries as they fell into easy conversation about everything from favorite foods to travel dreams. Brian told her about Arizona, his supposed "home," and shared some stories about the "wild desert nights," and she couldn't help but laugh at his ridiculous tales. He was funny, quick-witted, and so disarmingly open, something she hadn't realized she was craving.

But as the laughter faded, a more serious tone settled between them. Mia leaned forward, her elbows resting on the table. "So…what brought you to LA?" she asked, her curiosity genuine. "I mean, Dom's not exactly the first person you'd think to start hanging around with if you're from out of town."

Brian hesitated, and she noticed a flicker of something in his eyes, almost like guilt. But he quickly covered it up with a smile. "Let's just say I was looking for a change. Needed a break from the usual, you know?" He took a sip of his drink, his gaze softening as he looked at her. "I didn't think I'd find someone like you, though." His words were oddly truthful, but he knew this wouldn't last, if things went how he thought they would.

Mia felt her heart skip, the sincerity in his tone catching her off guard. She wanted to believe him, to trust that he was just a guy who'd been swept up in her world. But a part of her wondered if there was something more, something he wasn't telling her.

"You're full of surprises, you know that?" she teased, her voice soft. "First you show up out of nowhere, then you just... fit right in."

Brian chuckled, his fingers lightly tracing the edge of his glass. "Guess I was just lucky to land where I did. Being around you and your family, it's more than I expected."

For a while, they sat there in comfortable silence, the sun setting over the ocean, painting the sky with hues of orange and pink. When they finished their meal, Brian suggested a walk along the beach, and Mia agreed without hesitation. They strolled barefoot along the sand, their conversation flowing easily again, but she couldn't shake the feeling that there was something he was holding back.

Finally, as the last light of day dipped below the horizon, Mia turned to Brian, her gaze steady. "Brian, can I ask you something?"

"Anything," he replied, though his expression became slightly guarded.

"Why, Dom?" she asked softly, her eyes searching his face. "What is it that drew you to him?"

Brian looked away, rubbing the back of his neck, clearly trying to find the right words. "Dom's... he's a force, you know? People like him, he is magnetic, how could someone not be drawn to him? He runs the streets, and everyone knows him. You see him, and you just want to be part of what he is building, you know you will be taken care of."

Mia listened, noting the genuine admiration in his tone, but still sensing the underlying tension. "Just... be careful," she said, her voice almost a whisper. "Dom's family means the world to him. If you're here just to get close, to mess around-"

Brian's expression softened, and he stepped closer, taking her hand in his. His acting was Oscar-worthy as he stared into her eyes, "Mia, I'm not here to hurt anyone," he said, his voice low but earnestly deceptive. "If anything, I'm trying to figure out a place for myself in all of this. And with you... I don't know, Mia, but this feels different."

Mia's heart melted at his words, the sincerity in his gaze washing away her doubts, even if just for the moment. She leaned in, and he met her halfway, their lips brushing in a gentle kiss, soft yet electric, like a promise unspoken between them.

As they pulled back, their eyes met, both of them momentarily speechless. For the first time in a long time, Mia felt as if she was exactly where she was supposed to be, with exactly who she was meant to be with. 

Back at the shop, Dom and Letty were discussing what to do about Guldrin staying at the shop alone. They had chosen to keep him there since it would be the safest location for him instead of the house, but with the intruder, they needed to rethink what they would do.

They were speaking in hushed tones until Guldrin walked in, and they dropped the conversation. Dom motioned him over and handed Guldrin his own cell phone so he could reach them if he needed to at a moment's notice.

"...keep that close and use it when you need it. This is a team, kid. You're not alone in this."

Guldrin nodded, the weight of Dom's concern warming his heart, yet he felt the gnawing curiosity tugging at him still. "I promise, I won't put myself in danger like that again…" He walked to an empty seat and leaned back in his chair, suddenly aware of how nice it felt to have someone looking out for him.

Jesse leaned back too, his playful expression fading as he stared off thoughtfully. "Well, if it was someone trying to case the joint, we should be ready for anything. This town isn't what it used to be. If they're looking for trouble…" He trailed off, the underlying tension filling the air.

"Yeah," Letty agreed, placing her hand on Jesse's arm. "We should keep our eyes open. If it's Tran's crew, they won't give up easily." She exchanged a glance with Dom, both of them silently agreeing on the need for vigilance. "But we can't let this affect our plans for tonight, right?"

This piqued Guldrin's interest as he listened intently.

Dom nodded, his demeanor shifting back to a more relaxed state. "Right. In fact, we have to focus on the job at hand. Tonight's heist is our priority." He leaned forward, his tone sharp as he outlined their plan, the intensity of his gaze igniting a fire in the hearts of his crew. "We're hitting one of the trucks on the outskirts tonight. It'll be a quick in-and-out situation, and with the right timing, we can grab what we need before anyone notices. Same as always,"

Guldrin perked up, his eyes wide with excitement. "A truck heist? That sounds awesome! Can I come?"

Dom exchanged a glance with Letty, their shared concern evident, and the realization that they just spilled this information in front of Guldrin, wore on them. He wanted to protect Guldrin, to keep him away from the dangers of their world. But he also saw the boy's enthusiasm, the fire of adventure sparking in his eyes, that Guldrin wouldn't let this go after his mistake of spilling this. "Guldrin, I don't want you involved, I can't have you in the middle of a situation like that. It can get dangerous fast. How about you stay here and work on your Chevelle while we're out? You can protect the garage till we get back."

The disappointed look on Guldrin's face made Dom's heartache, but he knew it was for the best. Even if he spilled something he shouldn't have, there was no way they were going to involve a 10-year-old in their plans. "You'll be building something special, and once we're back, we'll show you how to take it to the next level. Trust me; you're going to be proud of what you accomplished with that car. It will take years, but trust me, the wait will be worth it and the experience will stay with you for the rest of your life."

Letty chimed in, kneeling beside Guldrin and offering a reassuring smile. "And you can be our lookout. You'll know what to do if anything happens, call us, and then the cops. Stay out of sight, don't let them know you've seen them. Don't worry about the cops showing up, there is nothing inside the shop that they will care about. Just like Dad said, your safety is the most important. We can't let any surprises sneak up on you while we're gone. Jesse has set up some motion-detecting lights, and sensors, if you hear or see them go off, hide. No question, don't… Don't put yourself in danger." She knew he wouldn't be happy about her orders, but this wasn't just to pacify him, but to ensure he stayed here and was safe.

Guldrin took a deep breath, nodding slowly. "Okay, I'll work on the Chevelle. But can I help with the plans? I want to know how you are going to do it. You already said what you wanted to hide from me, what can it hurt?" His eyes were hopeful, almost like a pleading puppy.

Dom grinned, impressed with Guldrin's determination and cunning to manipulate their emotions. "Of course. You can help us brainstorm. Just remember, our main goal is to grab that truck and keep it off the radar. We'll need precision and speed."

"Let me write down the plans!" Guldrin jumped up, full of energy, as he rushed to grab a notepad and pencil. "I won't let you down!"

As he dashed back to the table, Jesse laughed, enjoying the infectious enthusiasm. "Look at him go! Reminds me of when I first started helping out around here. The little tinkerer is in good hands."

"Just don't blow anything up with that budding energy, alright?" Dom teased, lightening the mood as he ruffled Guldrin's hair again.

"Hey!" Guldrin protested with a laugh, shoving Dom's hand away, but his smile never faded.

"Alright, here's the rundown," Dom said, taking a spare notepad and pencil from Guldrin. He began to sketch out their plan, breaking it down step by step. "First, we'll hit the route at midnight. It's when the least amount of traffic will be on the road. As always, we will be in our identical cars, two behind the semi, one in front to hit the truck with the grapple, and once secured, take out the driver with a tranq and climb inside to take control of the truck. Once in the driver's seat, we will pull off the road, unload the truck, and leave before anyone knows what happened… No one gets hurt, and we get our payday. I don't want a repeat of our last failure where the driver woke up and attacked us. He is still in a coma at the hospital."

"That wasn't my fault, we had no way of knowing he was taking tranqs as a sleep aid and had built up a tolerance. He hit me with a bat, I blanked and punched him. I couldn't know he would trip and his head on the asphalt." Vince raised his hands in defeat and surrendered as Dom shot him a look.

As Dom explained their approach, Guldrin hung on every word, jotting down notes and ideas, his excitement bubbling over with each new detail. The plan began to take shape, and with every stroke of the pencil, Guldrin felt more and more a part of the family's world. While it might have frightened most kids, Guldrin couldn't feel anything but excitement, his blood pumping as he pictured the scene. Caring about the truckers or their cargo? Why would that matter to him; are they family?

Hours passed in what felt like minutes, filled with laughter, banter, planning, reminders, and the sound of scribbling of pen against paper. Guldrin couldn't shake the feeling that something more significant was at play, that this night wouldn't just be about the heist. The tension in the air hinted at impending danger, and he felt it in his bones. But he pushed it aside, determined to fulfill his part of keeping watch over the shop.

As dusk settled over Los Angeles, the garage was abuzz with activity. Dom, Letty, and Jesse geared up, preparing their cars for the heist. Leon and Vince had been sent to fuel the cars, wherever they might be. The rest shared smiles and friendly jabs, but Guldrin could sense the undercurrent of seriousness. He watched as Dom prepped the tools, checking every detail, and making sure everything was in place. This was more than just a job for them; it was a way of life, one filled with risks and the thrill of the chase.

With the sun dipping below the horizon, painting the sky in vibrant hues of orange and pink, Guldrin felt the excitement mount. He hurried back to his Chevelle, envisioning all the work he had ahead of him, dreaming of the moment he'd finally get to take it for a spin.

"Remember, kid, when we get back, we want to see some real progress on that Chevelle!" Letty called as she finished loading the car.

"I will! Just you wait!" Guldrin shouted back, filled with determination.

As the crew filed out of the garage, ready to head off into the night, Guldrin stood watching, heart racing with anticipation. He took a deep breath, feeling the weight of responsibility on his shoulders. They were going out to face whatever dangers lay ahead, but he had a role too, his role, to make sure no one broke into the shop.

The sound of engines revving filled the air as they pulled out onto the road, the rumble of their cars echoing through the stillness of the night. Guldrin waved goodbye, his heart pounding with excitement and a hint of anxiety. He watched as their tail lights disappeared around the corner, feeling a mix of pride and nervousness.

This was it; this was the life he had chosen. He had a family, a car to work on, and a future that felt limitless. But as he turned back to the garage, the earlier sense of unease returned, creeping into his thoughts. What if the intruder returned? What if the night didn't go as planned? He would take it as it came, to his surprise this didn't frighten him as much as he felt it should have. As if he knew the outcome instinctually, but that was absurd, he could know what hadn't happened before.