Thanks to the Miracle Hangover Pill, Lawson successfully outlasted Dom in their drinking game.
Dom, Vince, and Jesse were all completely wasted under the table by Lawson.
Lawson obviously couldn't drag three grown men away by himself, so he had to dig through Dom's phone, find Mia's number, and call her for help.
"How did they get this drunk?"
When Mia arrived at Sangiovese, she saw Dom, Vince, and Jesse practically hugging each other in a highly philosophical scene.
Lawson threw his hands up, looking completely innocent.
"Uh, Dom insisted on going shot for shot with me. This is the result."
"What? My brother can hold his liquor! How much did he have to drink to end up like this?"
"Not that much. Maybe a dozen bottles of whiskey."
Lawson pointed at the empty whiskey bottles lining the booth.
Mia was instantly speechless. Whiskey is usually around 40% ABV. If you blood-tested them after a dozen bottles, you'd probably find zero blood in their alcohol stream!
But then Mia got curious. Even though Lawson reeked of alcohol, he looked completely unaffected.
Mia had her fair share of drinks before, and seeing this kill-to-death ratio was unbelievable to her.
"Holy shit! Are you guys trying to break a Guinness World Record?"
"Uh, maybe we should focus on getting Dom and the guys into the car first?"
It was definitely going to be tough for a girl like Mia to carry three large men. Lawson had to help her stack them like cordwood in the backseat.
But unloading them once they got home was also going to be an issue, so Lawson rode shotgun with Mia to help out.
"Oh? Mia, you guys live in San Gabriel too?"
"Yeah. The security in San Gabriel is relatively better, and it's quieter. When we used to live in downtown LA, we ran into shootouts every other day!"
In America, the middle class and the wealthy generally live in the suburbs—the kind of single-family homes you see in movies.
Only the poor live in inner-city neighborhoods, which are also the areas with the highest crime rates.
East LA, where Lawson was currently staying, fell into that category.
That was why Ray Gaines told Blake to hurry home when he heard her taking a walk that night.
Lawson himself even slept with his G18 within arm's reach, just in case someone got the bright idea to break in.
"What a coincidence! Mia, I'm actually looking to move. Could you help me find an apartment that's a bit more... private?"
Snakes have their trails; rats have their tunnels.
After Mrs. Gaines moved out and Blake returned to school, Lawson was planning to leave that neighborhood too.
But where to move was the issue. He definitely wasn't considering highly chaotic areas, and he also needed to keep his profile low.
After all, Lawson had just pulled a major job a few days ago.
Given Mia and Dom's status as local street figures, they could probably help him find the right spot.
"Lawson, what are your requirements for the new place?"
"Nothing specific. Being a bit out of the way is fine. The main things are it needs to be quiet and spacious. I don't mind paying higher rent, but I don't want to sign a lease."
He didn't want to sign a lease to avoid leaving a paper trail. Paying extra rent wasn't an issue; Lawson had plenty of cash now.
"I see. I'll keep an eye out for you."
As they spoke, they arrived at Dom's house. Dom actually lived in a detached suburban house, putting him squarely in the middle class.
Vince and Jesse were Dom's neighbors, which is why they all hung out together.
Lawson and Mia dragged the three heavy guys inside. By the time they finished, they were both sweating profusely, and the smell of alcohol had completely evaporated.
"Lawson, thank you so much! If you hadn't helped, I would have no idea how to handle these three."
Sweating heavily, Mia thanked Lawson.
"It's nothing. If it wasn't for me, they wouldn't have gotten this drunk in the first place."
"Come on! These three are always getting hammered. This isn't my first time dealing with this!"
Saying that, Mia couldn't resist kicking her brother. The kick actually made Dom talk in his sleep.
"Letty, stop kicking me! I won't do it again!"
That made Mia burst out laughing. Lawson looked at her, a bit confused.
Mia quickly explained.
"Letty is my brother's girlfriend. They've been fighting lately."
Lawson raised an eyebrow. He didn't expect Dom to have this side to him.
But the guy was known for being fiercely loyal, a trait he maintained throughout the entire franchise, which was pretty rare for a Hollywood character.
"Mia, it's getting late. I should probably head home."
"Leaving so soon? I mean, do you want me to give you a ride?"
Mia flipped her hair, a specific look in her eyes.
Men aren't the only ones who are visual creatures; women are too.
And Lawson's top-tier looks were exactly the kind that piqued a woman's interest.
It was obvious Mia was highly interested in Lawson. With her brother out of the way, she was ready to make a move.
Lawson knew exactly what was going on.
Back when he was still eating at the soup kitchen, wealthy older women had noticed him and offered to be his sugar mommies.
Lawson had almost caved and accepted a life of luxury and a "bad stomach" (eating soft food/relying on a woman).
Unfortunately, his spine was just a bit too stiff to bend.
"No need, right? It's already so late."
"It's better if I take you. You won't be able to catch a cab at this hour!"
True. Lawson had noticed during his time in America that hailing a cab was incredibly difficult.
Partly because almost everyone in America owned a car, and partly because there just weren't that many cabs around. If you didn't call ahead, you could only find them in specific spots.
Like airports, major commercial streets, or outside big hotels.
"Alright then. I appreciate it."
Getting back into Mia's car, Lawson suddenly noticed a faint glint of light in the distance.
The situation instantly reminded him of when he was eating dinner at Mrs. Gaines's place, and Ray Gaines was in the opposite building spying on them with binoculars.
Was someone spying on him right now?
Lawson immediately looked toward the reflection.
Unfortunately, the watcher was highly alert, and it was pitch black outside, making it impossible to see anything.
"Lawson, what's wrong?"
"No, nothing. I thought I just saw a wild boar."
San Gabriel was near the San Gabriel Mountains (the city was likely named after them), so it was common for wild animals to wander down into the neighborhoods.
It sounds interesting, until you come home and find a North American Death Hamster (Grizzly Bear) tearing apart your cabinets. Then it's not so fun anymore.
"A wild boar? Lawson, don't scare me!"
"Maybe I just saw things. Don't worry about it, Mia."