We reach the tree line. Elliot is there with the car, engine already running, face white with fear.
"Oh god," he says when he sees me. "Oh god, oh god—"
"Move over," Jace orders. "I'm driving."
They load me into the backseat. Jagger climbs in beside me, pulls my head into his lap. Jinx takes the front passenger seat, rifle across his knees, watching the road behind us and Elliot slides in the back.
The car lurches into motion. I close my eyes, letting the darkness pull me under.
"Stay awake," Jagger says.
"Trying."
"Try harder." His hand strokes through my hair, gentle despite the blood coating his fingers. "We're not done yet. You don't get to die until I say so."
"Bossy."
"Damn right."
I force my eyes open. His face swims above me, still streaked with other people's blood, still wearing the hollow look of a man who just killed people with his bare hands.
"How many?" I ask.
"What?"
"In the house. How many did you kill?"
"All of them."
"Even the ones who surrendered?"
"No one surrendered, Jonah."
"Because you didn't give them the chance."
His jaw tightens. "They shot you. They were going to kill us both. I did what I had to do."
"I'm not judging." I reach up, touch his cheek. My fingers leave red smears on his skin, adding my blood to the rest. "I'm just... I needed to know."
"Know what?"
"What you're capable of. When someone threatens the people you love."
He doesn't answer. But his hand finds mine, squeezes tight, and holds on.
The car races through the night. I drift in and out, consciousness slipping like water through my fingers. Every bump in the road sends fresh pain screaming through my side. But Jagger's hand is in mine, and his voice is in my ear, and I hold onto that.
"Almost there," someone says. Jace, maybe. Or Jinx. I can't tell anymore.
"Stay with me," Jagger says. "Jonah. Stay with me."
"I'm here."
"You're fading."
"Just resting my eyes."
"Don't bullshit me. Not now." His voice cracks. "Please. Just stay awake a little longer."
