Avery’s POV
The air in the SUV was thick with exhaustion and adrenaline. No one spoke as we sped down the highway, the city lights growing brighter in the distance. Every mile that passed felt like a countdown to something bigger, something inevitable.
Lisa was still ahead of us.
She had let us go because she knew we'd come back. And she was ready.
I glanced at Noah. He was still pale, his head leaned against the window, but his breathing was steadier. The pain must have been unbearable, but he hadn’t complained once.
“You good?” I asked quietly.
His eyes flicked open, and for a second, they softened. “I’ve been worse.”
That was a lie, but I let it slide.
Raven was still typing on her laptop, her face illuminated by the glow of the screen. Dominic kept his eyes on the road, his gri
