From Frying Pan to Strange Fire

“Boss, it’s almost time.” Trevor said, bringing down his arm after glancing at his wristwatch for the umpteenth time. His face held a deep frown, unlike his usual demeanor. Inside, he was a panicky mess.

If it were just him and Roman out there by that time, he wouldn’t be worried. They could very easily handle anything thrown at them. But having Joan with them complicated the issue.

“I know that.” Roman answered, his eyes fixed on Joan and Grace. He was seated on the top of the bonnet of his car, while Trevor stood beside him. It’s been over thirty minutes since they arrived at Joan’s parents’ house, and the man was nowhere to be found, neither was he taking his calls. If he didn’t know how worried she was at that moment, he would have suggested they leave. But he didn’t want to come off as uncaring.

Trevor let out a long sigh, running his fingers through his hair, a move that Grace’s eyes caught just when she moved her attention to his direction.

“She is gonna freak out.” Trevor concluded, knowing there was no miracle that could stop Joan from knowing what they really were that night.

And that was one thing Roman didn’t want yet. Having absolutely no idea what she was, she wouldn’t take that knowledge well. Roman knew she would eventually find out, but he wanted that to happen when he had already uncovered the truth about her hidden identities.

“Once they are ready, take her friend home, then meet me at Merry fields. If all goes well, she wouldn’t find out a thing.” Roman instructed, and Trevor let out another sigh.

“Why have you been blocking your mind? I can’t reach you?” Trevor asked, realizing from his calculations that they would need to communicate via mind link should anything go wrong.

“It’s not blocked. The connection is broken, and it can’t be fixed until the red moon.”

“What?!!!” Trevor’s eyes circled. “How?”

Before Roman could answer, his phone buzzed and he checked it to see a message from Williams which read: “What is this something that came up?”

Roman sent a text back in response: “Wifey found out her mother is missing. She needs her husband’s support in such a trying time. I’ll be with you soon.”

A few minutes later, Joan decided she had waited enough. She didn’t know where her father had gone to that late at night. She had no idea why he wasn’t picking up his calls. Having gone to a few neighbors, who claimed to have seen him leave the house that evening, she decided to wait for him. But seeing how she was keeping Grace, Roman, and Trevor out by that time, she decided not to wait any longer.

If not because her mother was involved, she wouldn’t have bothered coming out that night. But all of her efforts were now wasted.

“I don’t think I can wait anymore. Let’s go back to the house.” Joan said to Roman, and he nodded.

“Don’t worry too much. Your mother will be found. No harm will come to her, I promise.” Roman assured, jumping down from the bonnet and walking around to open the door for her.

“I’ll drop you home, Miss Everton, if you don’t mind.” Trevor said to Grace, and she flashed him a smile.

“Thank you.” Grace uttered, then turned to Joan. “I’ll see you in the morning.”

“Thanks Gracie, and sorry once again.”

“Don’t apologize until you tell me everything. Goodnight, Mr. Gavriel.” Grace said before walking over to Trevor’s car.

Trevor waited until Roman moved before he did. And just like the first Journey, he was driving at a high speed, howbeit, not as fast as the first time.

Grace, who had suspected that would happen, didn’t wait for him to tell her before she buckled up her seat belt. Again, she didn’t say anything to him. He was a skilled driver, she observed, but she still didn’t want to distract him.

It surprised her when he pulled up right in front of her house without asking for directions.Published by Nôv'elD/rama.Org.

Trevor checked the time after he pulled over and realized he still had two minutes to spare. So he turned to Grace.

“You don’t seem to be scared of dying in a car crash. Tell me, Is there more to you that I need to know? Do you perhaps have more than one life? Or maybe superpowers?” He asked, seeing how calm she was throughout despite how fast her heart was beating.

“I am not Catwoman if that’s what you’re asking, Mr. Baliante. And I was scared I must confess. However, I do love the adrenaline rush.” Grace answered, turning to face him. “May I know why the hurry, if you don’t mind?”

“My boss has to be somewhere and he has to be there early. It’s a matter of life and death.” Trevor answered, and Grace nodded.

“I understand. But it’s dangerous. You could lose your life in the process of driving at such speed. Not just that, you could kill other people as well.” Grace lectured, but a different thing entirely was running through Trevor’s mind hearing her speak.

“I know that, and I’m sorry for endangering your life.” Trevor apologized, his brows knitting as he lowered his eyes. “I deserve a punishment.” He lifted his eyes again to look at her, and Grace didn’t know what to say. He looked extremely remorseful, like a child being scolded for his sins. And what the hell was he talking about?

“A punishment? Stop kidding.” She laughed out loud, but stopped when she saw he wasn’t laughing or changing his expression to a playful one.

“I’m not kidding. You should punish me for being bad and putting your life in danger. I may not learn my lesson if you don’t.” He said with all seriousness in the world and Grace didn’t know what to make of the situation anymore.

“You want me to punish you.” She repeated.

“Yes.” Trevor responded almost immediately.

“Okay… What kind of punishment do you want?” Grace asked, trying to understand what was going on.

“I’ll accept anything you come up with. You can take some time to think about it.” Trevor answered, trying his best to keep his eyes on her face and not let them roam about the places they wanted to.

“Alright.” Grace wore a smile, then nodded. “I will think about it and get back to you. Goodnight, Mr Baliante.” She wished him, then opened the door and stepped out.

“Goodnight, Miss Everton.” Trevor wished her back, finally letting his eyes feast on her perfect figure before driving off.

He knew she didn’t understand what he meant, but he didn’t regret saying it. He had held himself for so long. Since the first day she put herself in his way to stop him from leaving the hospital, he knew he would not rest until he did this. He would have waited a little longer, but she scolded him. That one act made him lose all control.