The tense atmosphere at the scene shifted the moment Luca spoke, turning uncertain and unpredictable. Vincent had assumed Luca was on his side, but now it was obvious—this guy intended to shield the robbers. Not even remotely what Vincent expected; he'd misread Luca from the very beginning.
"Luca, what exactly are you trying to do? Didn't you want to catch the people who stole your trucks? They're standing right in front of you, and you're protecting them?"
I don't need to explain myself to you. Luca glanced at Brian and the others nearby, all visibly tense; compared to a few truckloads of cargo, the bonds between people mattered more.
"Luca! I have more than enough evidence of Toretto and his crew's crimes!" Vincent stepped forward, pointing squarely at Dom and his group. "No excuse changes the fact they committed robbery!"
"Oh," Luca replied casually, "so what? I'm not pressing charges, and neither are my drivers."
Vincent: "..."
The duck was cooked, and somehow it still flew away. Known for his blunt temper, Vincent snapped, "You might not file a complaint, but the Los Angeles Police Department reserves the right to prosecute! I'm telling you now—Toretto and his crew will face the law!"
"Officer Vincent, there's no need to pick a fight with me. I want the real robbers caught even more than you do." Luca shook his head. "Toretto and his crew aren't the main culprits—you know that."
Vincent's irritation kept climbing. What exactly is this guy playing at? The suspects are right here—why not arrest them?
"It's a misunderstanding," Luca said evenly. "My original plan was to use this as bait, draw out the real robbers, and take them down. Didn't expect my own people to bite instead. According to my plan, today…"
He went on, laying out a carefully constructed version of events, even glancing at Jack as he spoke.
Jack finally put it together. So that's why Luca fed him those clues—they were using the police as leverage to flush out the real criminals. Too bad they snagged the wrong fish.
"Toretto and his crew didn't know it was my convoy beforehand," Luca continued. "You were watching—once they realized, they aborted. If you insist on charges, at best it's attempted robbery. And good luck finding a driver willing to testify."
That, at least, gave Luca some satisfaction. From a legal standpoint, sure—highway robbery makes them criminals. But from another angle? These people were loyal, tight-knit, willing to risk everything for each other. The kind who show up when it counts. And as someone who operated in the same world, Luca naturally stood with his own.
Vincent saw it differently. Forget Toretto's crew—Luca himself was a crime boss. If Vincent had his way, he'd lock up both sides. Problem was, he didn't have the evidence. And if Luca leaned on his drivers to keep quiet, even Toretto's group would slip through his fingers.
"Luca, you realize you're obstructing justice?"
"I'm protecting my friends." Luca met his gaze. "You know there's another crew out there. Let's not waste time here—we can work together and catch them."
Vincent hesitated. Today wasn't going his way, that much was clear—but Luca was offering cooperation. And in the end, they shared the same goal.
"Luca, they're repeat offenders," Vincent said quietly. "Maybe you cover for them today—but what about tomorrow? As long as they keep this up, I'll catch them eventually."
And you, too. He kept that part to himself.
Taking down Luca wasn't realistic. If the East Coast couldn't touch him, what chance did the West Coast have? Vincent knew his limits. Between LAPD politics and whoever was pulling strings behind the scenes, it wasn't a simple fight.
Still… part of him remembered what McClane had said. The dove—a symbol of peace. If Luca could stabilize New York and Boston, could he do the same here?
Vincent wanted to believe that wasn't just wishful thinking.
"Don't let me catch you again," he said at last, relenting. Maybe it was McClane's words, maybe Luca's conviction—but he chose to trust him, at least for now. "And remember what you said—if you still want those robbers."
"Officer Vincent, appreciate the cooperation." Luca smiled, offering his hand. "Los Angeles is lucky to have a cop like you. Here's to a productive partnership."
Vincent shook it firmly. "I trust McClane. That's all."
[Character Card: Vincent Hanna]
[Rank: A]
[Source: Heat]
[Skill Heat]
Effect: In danger, you may abandon a bond (close friend or higher) to gain 30 seconds of guaranteed escape time. The bond is reset to zero and may turn hostile.
Learning Requirement: Bond: close friend or higher | Cost: 100 skill points
[Skill Etc.]
[Bond: Familiar]
The other skill, "Fireline Pursuit," enhanced investigative ability—useful for cops, not particularly interesting to Luca.
"Heat," though—that was something else.
On the surface, it sounded like a cold survival rule. But underneath, it was about people. About ties. Vincent abandoned his family every time duty called, just like the gang leader in that old story who always ran alone. In the end, both paid the price—their attachments exposed their weaknesses, and that was how they were brought down.
Luca studied the skill, expression calm, though something stirred beneath the surface.
I've got too many ties now… If the day comes, would I really be able to cut them loose just to survive?
[Ding! You resolved the conflict between the police and the biker gang and upheld their fragile peace.]
[Reward: +20 Skill Points]
[Reward: +10 Skill Fragments]
Vincent and his team withdrew, leaving Luca alone with the bikers.
Facing him, Toretto and the others looked awkward. They'd practically robbed their benefactor blind—and walked right into his hands. Lucky for them, they stopped in time.
"Dom, you heard what I told the police, right?" Luca shifted his gaze from Toretto to Brian. "This time, I'm letting it go. Your past hits on my trucks too. Not because I'm generous—because of Brian."
He's my guy. And now he's tied to your sister—he sees you as family. I'll respect that. But there won't be a next time.
Toretto hesitated, conflicted. Mia stepped forward first.
"Thank you… Dove," she said, choosing the name carefully. "I promise—there won't be a next time."
Luca didn't respond immediately. His eyes stayed on Toretto.
"We've worked well together before. That GTR? I liked it. I don't want that to be our last deal." He paused. "The real robbers are still out there. Dom—help me catch them."
Mia shot Toretto a desperate look.
After everything that had just happened, Dom had to admit—Luca had shown restraint. More than most would.
Better to stand with him than against him.
Toretto nodded slowly. "What do you need me to do?"
[Bond: Familiar]
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