Page 214 of The Devil's Fire

Michael let out a sigh.

“I know I shouldn’t be asking you this, but is there anything you can tell us that might help?”

“I’m just as confused as you are.” I mumbled. “One moment I was sleeping, the next we were running for our lives.”

“It’s okay, you don’t have to think about it.” He gave a comforting smile.

“Wait, maybe there is something?” I said as I remembered something.

“What is it?” He shifted on the couch to sit closer to me.

“I think I heard some of them speak Korean?”

“Korean?” He looked surprised, but then his frown deepened when I gave a nod.

“Yeah, but it doesn’t really make sense. Why would Koreans be after my mom?” I wondered out loud. Michael looked in deep thought as he processed the information.

“Definitely weird, but this is a good start and I promise I will look into it.”

“Thank you” I expressed, giving his hand a small squeeze. I was genuinely grateful for everything they were doing to help me.

I had been trying to connect the dots, to see if there was something I could do to help them find out who those people were, and why they were after us - or more specifically, my mother. But no matter what I did, I would always come up empty-handed. It was not like I had sensed anything suspicious going on with my mother.

“Can I ask you for a favor?” I bit down on my lip, unsure of how to ask him.

“Of course!”

“I want to go back to the house.”

“What house - wait, you don’t mean yours?” He asked in disbelief.

“Yes.”

“Absolutely not, Althaia!” He erupted angrily with a scowl.

“Calm down, I didn’t mean that I want to stay there.” I quickly said to calm him down, but he continued to shake his head at me. “I just want to grab a few things of my mom’s belongings to keep. I don’t have anything of hers, and I thought if I had some of her things around me, it would help me feel better.” I explained to him.

It seemed like he was weighing something in his mind as he stared at me for a long moment.

“I don’t know, Thaia. It’s risky for you to go back, and I don’t want to take that risk.” He shook his head. “I can go there for you and grab whatever you need?”

“No, I want to do it. I’ve been thinking about it for a while, and I know I can’t go there by myself. And since you’re here… so, please?” I asked him, hoping he would help me with it.

He let out a sigh and ran a hand through his hair.

“I don’t think it’s a good idea.” The little hope I had in me died at his words. “But I guess if we had to do it, it would have to be during the daytime to be on the safe side.” He said, and I felt hopeful once again.

“Do you think we can go today? I know it’s a long drive, but I thought the sooner, the better.”

“I’m not driving there.” Michael said, checking the time on his watch.

“Oh…” I said, disappointed, and he looked at me with a playful smile.

“Come on! Think a bit highly of me. I’ve got connections and can get us on a flight in no time.”

“Really?” I asked, cheerfully. I hated flying, but I was willing to do it if it meant we could be back as fast as possible.

“Just need to make a phone call, and I can get us on a private flight. It’s small, nothing fancy, so don’t get disappointed.” Michael joked.

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