She brushed a strand of hair from Vaughn's face, her fingers lingering on his skin. His breathing was shallow, but it was steady. That was something. A small thread of hope amidst the overwhelming darkness.
Nikolas's voice broke through her reverie, low and focused. "We're approaching the safe house," he announced, his tone betraying none of the exhaustion and strain he must have been feeling.
Eliza's eyes snapped open, her grip on Vaughn's arm tightening as she prepared for whatever might come next. She glanced around the van, taking in the tense faces of her friends. Jannie and Ryle were in the back with her, their expressions a mix of worry and caution.
Ivan and Alexei, seated up front, were scanning the road and the surroundings with a vigilance that spoke of the dangers they had narrowly avoided and those that still lay ahead.
