(Ruby's POV)
The car smells like blood and fear.
Nicholas is slumped against me, his body heavy, his breath shallow. I can feel every bruise, every cut, every broken thing Kai did to him. My hand is pressed against his chest, feeling his heartbeat. Fast but steady. Alive.
He's alive.
I keep telling myself that. Over and over. He's alive. He's alive. He's alive.
The warehouse is shrinking in the rear window. Kai is still standing in the doorway, watching us go. His face is hard to see now, just a dark shape against the light. But I know he's angry. I know he's already planning his next move.
We didn't win. We just survived.
"Ruby."
Nicholas's voice is weak, scratchy. I look down at him. His eyes are open now, cloudy with pain but focused on me.
"Don't talk," I say. "Save your strength."
"Need to tell you something."
"Tell me later."
"Now." He coughs, and I feel his whole body shake. "Kai isn't going to stop. He's going to come after us. After Mia. After your mother."
