The city lights blurred as Christy sped through the empty streets, weaving between alleyways and backroads with practiced ease. The tension in the car was thick, but no one dared to speak until they were far enough from the compound.
Jaxon sat stiffly in the passenger seat, his grip tight on the rifle still resting across his lap. Aster leaned back, stretching his sore muscles, while Rea kept glancing at the side mirrors to make sure they weren't being followed.
Finally, Aster broke the silence.
"You drive like a lunatic," he muttered.
Christy smirked, eyes still on the road. "You're welcome."
Jaxon exhaled, rubbing his temples. "We need a safehouse."
"Already on it," Christy said. "I have a place just outside the city. No cameras, no trackers, no nosy neighbors."
Rea arched a brow. "Since when do you have a safehouse?"
Christy shot her a sideways glance. "I may have been locked up, but I had a life before Collaway decided to turn me into a ghost."
Jaxon turned to her. "Why did he keep you alive?"
Christy's grip on the wheel tightened. "Because I know things. Things he didn't want anyone else to know. And because I'm a thorn in his side."
Aster chuckled. "I can respect that."
Jaxon ignored him. "Why didn't you try to escape before?"
Christy's expression darkened. "I did."
Silence.
Rea exchanged a glance with Aster, but neither of them pushed.
The rest of the drive was quiet.
---
They arrived at Christy's safehouse just before dawn. It was a run-down, abandoned warehouse, but the inside was fully stocked—guns, food, first-aid supplies, and enough security measures to make it a fortress.
"Not bad," Aster said, whistling as he looked around.
Christy shrugged. "I have good taste."
Jaxon wasted no time. "We need to contact Celeste and Andrew."
Rea frowned. "They left a note saying they weren't dealing with Collaway. How do we even know they'll pick up?"
"They'll pick up," Jaxon said, pulling out his burner phone.
He dialed.
The phone rang once. Twice.
Then—
"Jaxon?" Celeste's voice came through the speaker, tense but relieved.
"We got Christy," Jaxon said.
A long silence followed. Then Celeste let out a sharp breath. "Where are you?"
"A safehouse."
Another pause. "We're coming to you. Stay put."
The line went dead.
Jaxon turned to the others. "They'll be here soon."
Aster folded his arms. "Then what? We take Collaway down with a one-liner and a dramatic explosion?"
Jaxon ignored the sarcasm. "We plan. We prepare. And when the time comes—" His expression hardened. "We finish this."
Christy leaned against the counter, a slow smile creeping onto her face. "Now that sounds like my kind of fun."