Page 17 of Us Defiant Few

“Walk forward, Kanes,” Takeshi murmured in her ear.

Khalani swallowed, and she might’ve been hallucinating, but she felt the tips of his fingers ever so gently tracing her jugular. He nudged her forward, and she had no choice but to move. He angled their bodies as they passed the men, keeping them in his gaze.

The cool air licked her skin, but the heat coiling through her was unmatched as Takeshi held her hostage. They hurried down the hall, torches flickering as they ran past.

“Keep moving,” Takeshi ordered, pushing her forward.

He mistakenly thought the Aces cared if she lived.

Thought that she’d be his ticket out of there.

Khalani never believed his escape plan would work.

But much to her shock, when they surged past the communal area, the Aces stood and reached for their weapons, but when they looked to Jack for orders, he held up a hand to let them go.

It didn’t make sense.

What was going on?

They continued racing down the dimly lit hall. Despite the control he projected, she felt Takeshi’s heart pounding against the back of her head.

But when Takeshi and Khalani passed a marble pillar near the front of the church, a large figure jumped out.

Takeshi immediately shoved her out of the way, viciously punching the man who attacked, but it was too late. The figure had already driven a giant syringe into his neck.

Takeshi locked eyes with her, his pupils dilating, his expression turning completely dazed. And in his moment of defeat, he reached out for her before collapsing to the ground. Knocked out cold.

Her jaw gaped open as the white-robed man stepped out of the shadows, clutching his swollen nose with a groan.

“Good job, Lane.” Jack appeared around the corner with Brock, Jericho, and Spade hot on his heels.

“He’s got a killer right hook.” Lane shook his head, tears welling behind his eyes as he yanked the syringe from Takeshi’s neck.

Spade eyed his unconscious body on the floor. “Hopefully, he didn’t hit his head too hard.”

“Jericho.” Jack gestured to the large bodyguard. “Get him to the transport.”

Jericho stepped forward, but Khalani blocked his path. “He’s not going anywhere until you tell me where you’re taking him.”

“What?” Lane exclaimed. “Didn’t he just try to kill you?”

Khalani chose to ignore him.

He wouldn’t have believed her anyway.

She’d seen Takeshi murder others without hesitation.

He had the perfect opportunity to kill her, but he didn’t.

“Jack.” She turned to the man in charge. “Where are you taking him?”

Jack’s frame was held tight, his jaw locked in a vise, but he pointed to the white-robed man. “Lane is one of the best surgeons in Hermes. He knows about the chip and is going to get it out.”

Lane rolled his eyes to the ceiling. “I said I’d try. If there’s a chip implanted, we’ll do our best to remove it. But make no mistake, he can very well die from this procedure.”

Her knees buckled.

Die.