Page 24 of Us Defiant Few

Serene shot her a worried look and picked up the cup.

“Khalani, are you okay?” she whispered.

Water dribbled over the wooden table. She watched the liquid fall in slow motion as more voices rang their dissent, calling for an attack on Apollo.

But those blue eyes never left her mind.

“We need to recover, regroup, and plan our next move.” Jack’s words cut through the noise, silencing the room. Everyone stared at him like a beacon in the dark.

“Keep staying low for now. I must get back to the hospital before anyone questions my absence.” Lane’s expression remained grim as he handed the chip to Jack and left, but not before giving Khalani a strange look.

Like he was silently warning her to leave as well.

To not go near Takeshi.

But the chip was out. And he might not have his memory back, but Takeshi didn’t show any further signs of aggression.

Even so, Jack turned to his large bodyguard.

“Jericho, I want a round-the-clock watch on his door. Even though the chip’s been removed, we still can’t be certain of the aftereffects.”

Jericho nodded solemnly and marched to his post.

She kept staring at the wooden door, her vision narrowing, yearning with everything inside of her to run past the guard and open it.

“Khalani.” Serene tugged on her arm, disrupting her from her spiraling thoughts. “Let’s get your mind off it. Since we’re not allowed to leave the church, Brock suggested doing some group exercises in the basement.”

Khalani raised a brow at Brock. “You suggested a group exercise?”

“No.” He scowled. “I told Serene that I could train her while we’re stuck here. She’s the one who wanted to make it a group affair.”

“I don’t see why we can’t all suffer together,” Serene snapped, returning his glare.

Brock rolled his eyes to the ceiling. Like he was dealing with the most aggravating woman on the planet.

Someone else used to look at Khalani the same way, and her eyes flittered back to the forbidden door.

Just one more talk with him wouldn’t hurt—

“C’mon.” Serene pulled on her arm. “No better time to start working out than now. Adan, let’s go. Winnie, you coming?”

Winnie’s eyes lit up. She stood, smoothing her purple dress and clapping her hands together. “Winnie would love to join. She might not be the best fighter, but she’s a good student.”

“Excellent.” Serene beamed.

“Can I come, too?” Elise tentatively asked, tugging on the hem of her shirt.

“Of course. The more the merrier, right, Brock?” Serene flashed Brock a sweet, innocent smile.

He stalked off without another word.

That was how Khalani found herself in the basement of an abandoned church.

They’d gone back to their rooms and changed into more breathable clothing. Khalani wore tight black shorts that clung to her thighs, but at least she could move in them. She wished they were longer, but she tucked the oversized gray sweatshirt into the waistband, so it didn’t look like she was gallivanting through the church with nothing covering her rear.

All five of them were stretching on the floor while Brock grumbled by himself at the front.

No doubt he was cursing Serene’s existence, but her blue-haired best friend only seemed to gain energy every time she pissed the Death-Zoner off.