Page 57 of Us Defiant Few

The man’s eyes turned eager. “Yes. Are you all headed there too?”

Adan opened his mouth to answer, but Brock cut him off.

“No. We’re just passing through and are leaving now.” Brock nodded to the group to make their way out.

“Wait!” Gentry begged, reaching out. “Can you please help me?”

Something inside her twisted at the sight of the broken man on the floor. She made eye contact with Winnie, who held the same torn expression.

Khalani stepped forward, but Takeshi instantly blocked her path.

“No.”

“You can’t be serious.”

“I’m dead serious.”

“Please,” the man continued to beg just beyond the door. “You can’t leave me like this.”

“He’s right,” Khalani said. “We can’t leave him.”

“You’re not going near him, Kanes.” His black gaze tore into her.

She debated kneeing him between the legs, but something in his crazy eyes said that he’d drop her to the floor if she tried.

“I’m with Takeshi,” Brock interjected. “He could be lying.”

“I’m not lying! You have to believe me!” the man cried, beginning to tremble. “If you leave me here, I’ll die.”

“If we leave, he doesn’t have a chance. What if he’s telling the truth?” she countered, but their unsympathetic expressions told her they didn’t care.

The world indeed had changed them.

But she refused to let it break her.

She tried shoving past Takeshi, but he stood in front of her like an impenetrable wall.

“If I have to carry you out of here, I will,” he growled.

“Why does it matter? I mean nothing to you. Isn’t that what you told me before?” She hurled the dangerous words like a weapon.

He seethed, a muscle in his jaw jumping, but he didn’t deny it.

“Well?” she pressed. “Make it make sense and tell me you don’t care.”

Takeshi lightly shook his head, his angry eyes begging her to stop. But she was nowhere near finished.

“Don’t be scared now,” she goaded. “Tell me you don’t fucking care, Takeshi.”

“I don’t!” he finally roared.

“Then prove it!”

He gnashed his teeth, muttering something unintelligible under his breath before stomping away. He bumped into her side, his hand briefly brushing her pocket as he vanished from sight.

Khalani released a heavy breath, her stomach sinking, but she kept her feet cemented to the ground.

The best choices weren’t always the safest. And if he despised her for making them, that was something she was willing to live with.