Love Burned, She Rose Unscathed novel Chapter 892

They had boarded a rickety shuttle van at 7:30 AM.

Corley, unluckily, got motion sick from the bumpy ride.

Owen turned his head to look out the window.

After rinsing his mouth with bottled water, Corley's first words were, "I don't get motion sickness."

His second were, "Your breakfast sandwich was bad."

"Oh," Owen replied.

"I'm telling you, I don't get carsick."

"I never said you did."

*But your expression, your every move, is screaming it!* Corley thought. Owen was genuinely trying not to laugh, which only made it funnier.

The driver, noticing the exchange, kindly offered, "If you're feeling sick, just open the window. A little cold air will help."

"I! Am! Not! Sick!"

The driver chuckled. "You city boys are all the same, too proud to admit it. What's wrong with a little carsickness?"

Owen's interest was piqued. "From the sound of it, you've driven other people from the city?"

"Sure have! Just a couple of days ago, I drove a few young folks out here. One of the guys reacted just like him. Looked green as a gourd but swore up and down he was fine, hehe…"

Corley caught on and sat up a little straighter. "Was it a group of two women and one man, headed for the Smith family's place in Low Creek Village?"

"Hey, you know them!"

Owen and Corley exchanged a meaningful glance. They took the opportunity to ask the driver about the Smiths, which inevitably led to mentioning Fabian and Jay Moore.

Suddenly, the driver became evasive, mastering the art of playing dumb.

"Of course! A good smoke is a good smoke!"

Noticing Jean's hands were on the wheel, Corley smoothly offered, "Here, let me get that for you."

"Oh, you don't have to…" Jean said, but the cigarette he was about to tuck behind his ear found its way to his lips.

Corley flicked his lighter and lit it for him.

With that, the floodgates opened. Jean told them everything, from the Moore family's rise to power to the brothers' reign of terror in the village.

"…The reason Fabian Jay is so brazen is because he's got powerful backing. Word is…"

The more Owen and Corley listened, the graver their expressions became. It was clear that charging in unprepared was not an option. They needed a solid plan.