Silence hits the garage, save for our ragged breaths.
Even with the chaos, I don’t cry out. I can hardly move; my arms are locked around Jasper’s waist. We’re both shaking, jaws clenched.
Jasper’s whisper is a prayer. “It’s over. You’re safe.”
Safe.
All of me trembles with it.
Behind us, Dredyn grunts and collapses against the wall, holding his side. Talon and Knox move to help him.
I’m still cradling Jasper’s hand, fingers digging into his jacket.
He’s whole. He’s here. Alive.
“He’s still moving,” I whisper, watching Chase’s chest rise slowly. “He’s alive.”
Knox paces around the SUV, pistol down but ready, as sirens wail in the distance. Color-flashing lights start to spill into the garage.
Talon grabs my arm. “We need to leave. Now!”
Jasper spins me around. He’s wide-eyed but nods, urgently. “Run.”
In a heartbeat, we’re scrambling into Rook’s black SUV. Jasper yanks me into the back seat, cradling me in his arms, before Talon jumps in beside me. Knox slides into the passenger side, eyes scanning our rear, and Dredyn and Chase are thrown in the back together.
I curl into Jasper’s side. His arms are warm and solid around me, as he buries his face in my hair, breathing me in.
It’s quiet except for the SUV’s engine and the distant sirens.
Safe.
I slump against Jasper as the adrenaline goes limp in my veins.
My body is blooming in pain. My side aches where Chase threw me, a bruise blooming across my ribs. My elbow and hip throb with cuts from concrete, and my cheek is split with dried blood. Every breath tastes like metal.
He saved me. All of them did.
I shake, exhausted. “Jasper...”
He tightens his hold. “I’m here,” he says softly.
I lean forward and whisper, eyes closed, “Thank you.”
Jasper brushes my hair from my face. “You’re safe,” he says. “I promise you.”
I rest against him, his heartbeat steady in my ear. I can feel Jasper’s warmth at my back and Talon’s fist bumping next to my knee. We’re alive, we’re whole, and we’re together.
My tears fall onto Jasper’s shoulder—tears of relief and exhaustion.
In the back of the SUV, I’m wrapped in safety.
My home is right here… in these arms.
TEN
TALON
We make it back to the safe house in record time. Rook switched vehicles and doubled back to collect the others from the rendezvous point, leaving just Mara, Jasper, Dredyn, and me.
