The engine growled as we pulled out of the police station's lot.
Too loud.
Too final.
In the side mirror, I caught movement.
Lila.
She staggered forward a step—just one—like her body had already decided before her mind caught up. For a split second, it looked like she might run after us.
Then she stopped.
Whatever had been holding her together cracked. Not loudly. Not dramatically. Just… gone. Her face folded in on itself, and she stood there, small against the concrete, watching us leave.
I turned forward again.
I didn't trust myself to look any longer.
She was too volatile for this. I knew that. The warehouse proved it. The way she'd abandoned everyone else just to reach me. The way she'd sworn the rest were dead like it was already decided.
I couldn't afford that kind of tunnel vision now.
A hand touched mine.
I flinched— then felt fingers curl around my own, grounding, firm.
Aubrey.
