Heavy breathing on the other end of the line was followed by a muffled rustling sound.
Hunter could tell someone had covered the phone's microphone.
Then, he heard a voice—faint and fragmented, even with his enhanced hearing.
"Ask him... what he means... get details..."
It was a male voice. Deep, rough, cold.
If Hunter guessed right, that was Dom Toretto.
A moment later, the hand covering the microphone was removed.
Mia's voice came back, laced with anxiety.
"Hunter, what do you mean?"
"Someone is watching Dom?"
"Dom" was the nickname for Dominic Toretto.
Hunter had already rehearsed this script. He answered without hesitation.
"Yeah. I think someone is targeting your brother."
"A couple of days ago, I felt like I was being followed. The tail was professional—I could sense eyes on me, but I couldn't spot them."
"Then this morning, I had that fight with Slant and his guys."
"This afternoon, two men claiming to be FBI agents found me. They asked me a bunch of weird questions."
"Most of them were about Dom and the car modifications his crew orders."
On the other end, the heavy breathing returned. Even Mia's breathing hitched.
Hunter pretended not to notice.
"I can't be sure if they were real FBI. I managed to bluff my way through it."
"I'm calling to tell you so you can warn Dom."
"I didn't see a badge, but I doubt anyone would impersonate the FBI just to trick a nobody like me."
"So, whatever your brother is involved in... tell him the Feds are watching."
"Tell them to be careful."
Warning Dom about the FBI investigation was a move Hunter had planned for a long time.
Brian O'Conner's mission to infiltrate Dom's crew was incredibly difficult. His only real point of entry was Mia.
Hunter's original plan was simply to block that path.
But things had gotten messy. Vince had attacked him, and Hunter had beaten him into a coma. The relationship with Dom was strained before it even really began.
However, seeing Brian today confirmed the timeline: The FBI didn't have hard evidence yet. They were fishing.
Even if it was just to keep Brian away from Mia, Hunter felt it was necessary to tip Dom off.
After all, Dom was his future brother-in-law.
As for whether this warning would help the "Highway Bandits" escape justice?
Hunter didn't care.
He was a Chinese-American in this life, but he felt zero loyalty to the Stars and Stripes. His education from his past life made him view the chaos of America with a certain detached amusement. The more chaotic, the better.
The muffled rustling sound happened again. Mia was covering the phone to confer with Dom.
Hunter waited patiently.
He wasn't going to expose Brian's identity yet.
It was too early.
The best strategy was to let Brian hang around the crew for a while. Then, at a critical moment, Hunter would "accidentally" reveal that Brian was one of the agents who interrogated him.
Sure, the story had holes. But once the seed of doubt was planted, Dom—paranoid as he was—would tear Brian apart. The FBI would scramble.
And while they were dealing with that mess?
Hunter would either be long gone with the Toretto crew or swimming in Steve's stolen gold.
Either way, he wouldn't care about the investigation.
Mia came back on the line quickly.
"Thank you, Hunter!"
Her voice was lighter, almost happy.
She was touched. Despite her brother's men attacking him repeatedly, Hunter still cared enough to warn Dom about the danger.
He was doing it for her.
This realization made the feelings she had suppressed over the last few days surge back to the surface.
Hunter knew when to quit. Dom was listening, so saying too much could backfire.
"Don't thank me. I don't know why the FBI is looking into Dom."
"But I won't let anyone hurt you."
"Alright, Mia. I'm going to rest."
"I'll contact you once I find a new apartment."
"Okay!"
Hunter hung up and looked at his phone, the corners of his mouth curling into a smirk.
He didn't care if Dom got caught.
But he was going to crush any chance Brian had with Mia.
"Brian, you stick to being a promising FBI agent."
"Mia is too much for you to handle. Let me take care of her."
Just then, there was a knock at the door.
Hunter paused.
Through the thin walls of the cheap motel, the owner's voice drifted in.
"Sir, the night is long."
"Do you need a fiery friend to keep you company?"
The moment he heard the offer, Hunter remembered a certain skill—[Reproduction]—that hadn't leveled up since his night with Mia.
Without hesitation, he answered.
"Send her in!"
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