** Ryder’s POV **

The second the car doors shut, the world goes quiet. It’s not a peaceful or relieved quiet; it’s a stunned silence.

Paige sits between me and Parker in the back seat, staring straight ahead. She hasn’t said a word since the police finally let us go. Her glow has dimmed to almost nothing, not gone, just tucked deep inside her.

The engine hums as we pull away from the curb. I’m not sure how we all switched seats, but Ronnie is now driving with Blaine beside him, ...