Page 135 of Us Defiant Few

“Takeshi! What are you doing?”

Khalani moved forward, but Takeshi drew his gun.

And pointed it straight at her.

33

I was there when the world ended.

Khalani stared wide-eyed at the barrel of the gun.

Takeshi’s black gaze was cold and distant. As if he were thousands of miles away, versus the few feet that stood between them.

“What the hell is wrong with you?” Serene shouted.

Brock’s fingers twitched as he reached for his backpack, but Takeshi immediately turned the gun on him.

“Don’t,” he warned, his voice deepening. “Don’t make me shoot you.”

Khalani’s eyes centered on his shaking hands clenched tightly around the gun. In fact, Takeshi’s whole body trembled.

“Takeshi,” Khalani coaxed in a soft voice. She raised both her hands, showing him she wasn’t a threat. “Listen to me. Put the gun down, and we can talk about whatever’s going on. But you don’t want to hurt us. We’re your family.”

His laser-like gaze latched onto her, and she flinched under the oppressive weight of it.

“I don’t have a family.”

A tear escaped the corner of her eye, flowing down her cheek as his words sliced her open.

Takeshi turned his cold focus back to the others, ignoring her cries as if she were an inconsequential afterthought. Purely disposable.

“Throw your backpacks over there.” Takeshi jerked his gun to the right side of the room.

Sharp fear poured over them, dousing them in it as they swiftly obeyed. Winnie made a soft whimper in the back of her throat.

Takeshi must’ve noticed a flash of movement from Brock that he didn’t like because he pointed the gun at Serene. “You make another twitch for your weapon, and I will shoot her. Don’t test me.”

Khalani’s blood pressure skyrocketed, but before she could say anything else, the elevator pinged. They turned in shock as ten men in black helmets and full riot gear stormed out with rifles drawn.

The soldiers surged forward, yelling in furious beats.

“Turn around! Hands behind your back!”

The men drew closer, aiming at them. Khalani and the rest of the group had no choice but to obey. Brock locked eyes with Takeshi, his fury lashing out.

“You fucking traitor.”

One of the men bashed Brock’s nose with the butt of the gun.

“Don’t touch him!” Serene thrashed against the men like a woman hell-bent on destroying everything, but someone pushed a syringe into her neck. Her eyes rolled to the back of her head, and she dropped to the floor.

“You bastards!” Brock headbutted one of the men and reached for her, but another soldier came and slammed a needle into his neck.

Brock twitched, still reaching for Serene…but he fell unconscious beside her body.

No.

Please.