Just like Mark promised, the rest of the trip to Brookville was quiet.
The sun was high, casting a warm glow over the highway as the car glided smoothly past rows of open fields and clusters of trees.
The tension from earlier had faded, although not fully, leaving behind a calm silence that filled the car like a breath finally let out.
Jessica stared out the window, watching the city skyline give way to stretches of green and blue. A small smile formed on her face.
"It's been a while…" she said softly, almost to herself.
She felt lighter and safer now. With Mark, Ethan, and Jordan beside her, it was easier to believe nothing else would go wrong.
Eventually, Jordan shifted in his seat and sighed dramatically. "Okay, this is boring," he said. "After everything that just happened, I thought the ride would be a little more... action-packed."
Mark kept his eyes on the road, but a faint smirk tugged at the corner of his mouth. "Boring is good. It means they really did back off."
Jessica let out a long breath and finally relaxed her grip on her bag. "After what we went through earlier? I'll take boring. Any day."
Ethan sat quietly next to Jessica, his gaze fixed out the window, but his mind was clearly somewhere else.
After a while, he broke the silence.
"Mark," he said, not looking at Mark, "do you think it's really over? Or are we just… in the calm before something worse?"
Mark tightened his grip on the wheel for a beat before answering.
"The second one," he said plainly. "This isn't over. Not by a long shot."
Jessica and Jordan both looked toward him.
Mark continued, voice steady. "I don't think that attack was just about Jessica. At least… not at first."
Jessica's brows drew together. "What do you mean?"
Mark glanced at the rearview mirror, eyes serious. "People like Lucien LaRue don't move without a reason. Ethan, your move... although it was nothing much as of now, but... you've made noise. It's possible you were the real target from the start."
Ethan frowned. "But why did they aim for Jessica? They tried to take her."
"I think Jessica got caught in the crossfire," Mark replied. "Maybe Lucien saw her with you and decided she was... an opportunity. A weakness to exploit. Or maybe she just became an attraction to him. To his lust."
Jessica looked stunned. "So… what am I actually in this conflict?"
"An object," Mark said firmly before adding, "to someone like Lucien."
Jordan leaned forward, shaking his head. "Great. So you're saying the creepy rich guy wasn't even after her at first? Just wanted to mess with Ethan, and now he's got a new obsession on top of it?"
Mark didn't answer, but the silence said enough.
Jessica hugged her arms around herself, her voice low. "This is so wrong."
"Yeah. It is," Ethan said gently.
Mark took a slow breath. "Look, the good news is… they backed off."
Jordan blinked.
"For now," Mark clarified. "But that tells me something."
Jessica leaned forward. "What do you mean?"
"This wasn't a full-scale mission," Mark said. "It felt rushed. Personal."
Ethan narrowed his eyes. "So you're saying Lucien acted on impulse?"
Mark nodded. "Exactly. He saw something he wanted, and he didn't think twice."
Jessica's voice was quiet. "But what if he thinks again next time?"
Mark glanced at her, then at Ethan. "Then it won't be a sloppy ambush. It'll be planned."
The car went quiet again after that, everyone processing the weight of those words.
As they moved deeper into Brookville, the atmosphere shifted. The roads were narrower now, flanked by two to four-story buildings and small shops. A gentle breeze carried the scent of grass and grilled meat.
Jordan suddenly perked up and pointed ahead. "Hot dogs! Look! There's a stall over there."
He rolled down the window, and the delicious aroma of sizzling sausages wafted in.
His stomach growled loudly, earning a surprised laugh from Jessica.
Mark glanced over. "You want to stop?"
Jordan was already unbuckling. "Yes. Please."
Mark pulled over near the stall. Ethan decided to follow Jordan out, stretching his legs.
"Wait for me," Ethan called out but Jordan couldn't hear it anymore.
As Jordan approached the stall, he greeted the vendor cheerfully and ordered two hot dogs. But before the vendor could respond, a group of four men swaggered up from the alley beside the shop.
"Huh?" Jordan looked at them with suspicion.
They wore black shirts and smug expressions, their eyes scanning the stall like they owned it.
"Yo, old man," one of them sneered. "You know what day it is."
The vendor froze. "P-p-please. Business hasn't been good lately…"
"Who cares?!" Another thug grabbed a bottle of mustard and threw it to the ground. "You shouldn't be selling here without paying for protection."
"What's happening?" Ethan tensed, instinctively stepping forward, but Jordan raised a hand to stop him.
Jordan's easygoing smile had vanished. His eyes narrowed, and there was a strange calmness to his stance.
"Hey," Jordan said casually. "Is this how you treat people and businesses here?"
The thugs turned, surprised. The leader scoffed. "And who the hell are you?"
Jordan took a slow step forward, cracking his neck. "Someone who's had a very long day… and no patience left."
One of the thugs stepped in close and shoved Jordan by the shoulder. "Back off, pretty boy."
Jordan barely flinched. He just looked down at the thug's hand, then back up with a smile that didn't reach his eyes.
"You know," he said calmly, "I was just here for a hot dog. But now…"
The thug sneered. "You've got a mouth on you."
Another one snorted and cracked his knuckles. "Let's teach him some respect."
That was the cue.
The first thug reached to grab Jordan's shirt, but Jordan struck first—fast and clean. His hand shot up, parrying the grab at the wrist, twisting it hard until the thug yelped.
With a quick pivot, Jordan pulled the arm forward and drove his elbow into the guy's ribs, dropping him with a sharp grunt.
Ethan blinked, barely catching up to what had just happened.
The second thug lunged with a wild punch. Jordan ducked low, twisted under the swing, and swept the guy's legs out with a quick, circular kick. The thug landed hard, groaning on the pavement.
By now, the remaining two hesitated—but only for a second. One rushed in with both hands raised, aiming to tackle him.
Jordan sidestepped with practiced ease and slammed his palm into the back of the thug's neck, guiding him straight into the hot dog cart's metal side with a clang.
The last one backed up a step, breathing hard. "H-He's trained—!"
Jordan looked at him, then rolled his neck slowly with a crack.
"Want to test that theory?"
The thug raised his hands in surrender. "Nope. I'm good."
He turned and bolted, leaving his friends groaning on the ground.
The vendor stood frozen behind his cart, jaw slack. "W-who… are you…?"
Jordan dusted off his hands like nothing happened.
"Just a guy who hates bullies," Jordan said to the thugs as he pointed to the vendor. "You'll leave him alone. Got it?"
The thug nodded quickly and helped his friends retreat.
The vendor looked at Jordan like he'd just witnessed a superhero. "T-thank you… I don't know how to repay—"
Jordan waved it off. "Just give me two hot dogs, extra mustard."
Ethan finally walked over, still wide-eyed. "That was… unexpected."
Jordan grinned, taking the food. "You thought I was all talk, didn't you?"
Ethan blinked. "Honestly? Yeah."
Jordan winked. "Let's just say I had a wild encounter while you were in university."
Back at the car, Mark and Jessica watched them return.
Jessica raised an eyebrow. "What happened?"
Jordan passed her a hot dog with a grin. "Local welcome committee. I sorted it out."
Mark studied Jordan with new eyes but said nothing.
They drove on, the town now shifting into quieter neighborhoods.
Neatly kept houses lined the streets, and small businesses with friendly signs filled the town center.
Mark slowed down the car as they reached the main intersection.
"We're almost there," he said as he looked at Jessica through the rearview mirror. She seemed excited.
Mark then asked, "Where should I go now, Jessica?"
Jessica quickly unlocked her phone and pulled up the directions. "It's just a few minutes from here. Turn right at the next light."
Mark nodded and followed her instructions, navigating the quieter streets with ease. As they passed through the heart of the town, Jordan looked around with mild curiosity.
"Nice place," he remarked. "It's got that whole small-town charm thing going on."
Jessica smiled, her expression softening. "It's home. Well, it was, anyway."
Ethan, noticing the warmth in her voice, glanced at her. "It must feel good to be back."
She nodded. "It does. It's a mix of feelings. There are many memories here. Some are good, and some... are not so good."
The car turned onto a smaller residential street. The houses were now spaced farther apart.
Jessica leaned forward slightly, pointing ahead. "That's the one. The white house with the red wooden mailbox."
Mark slowed the car as he entered the driveway. The house was simple but tidy. A small garden was in front, and a medium-sized garage was at the side. The porch looked inviting under the shade of a big tree.
When the car stopped, Jessica paused before taking off her seatbelt. She looked at the others and smiled. "Thank you, everyone. I don't know how I would have made it through today without you."
Ethan smiled back. "You don't have to thank us, Jessica. We're friends."
Jordan smiled and gave her a thumbs-up. "Yeah. That's what friends are for."
Mark didn't say anything, but he nodded slightly to show his support, and his expression became softer.
Jessica opened the door and stepped outside. She looked back at the group. "Please come in. My mom would love to meet you all."
"I told her that you guys are here. She had prepared a feast," Jessica continued with a chuckle.
Jordan smiled. "Really? I'd love some. I'm starving."
"Didn't you just finish two hotdogs?" Ethan teased.
Everyone laughed at Jordan's antics and Ethan's teasing.
"Come on in," Jessica urged.
Mark glanced at Ethan, waiting for a signal. Ethan nodded, and they all headed into the house.
Author's Note:
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