Page 153 of Us Defiant Few

“Shoot, damn it! SHOOT!” Raziel yelled.

The Aces lifted their guns from their prone position and fired. More guards fell, but they were outnumbered, and the soldiers were closing in fast.

“We need to get off the street!” Brock shouted.

They bounded to their feet, ducking into a nearby alley for cover.

“Aghhh!”

Khalani heard a fatal cry behind her and turned, her heart completely shattering.

It was Adan.

“NO!” Serene screamed, moving toward him, but Brock yanked her back into the alley.

Adan’s side was painted red as he lay on the ground. But his chest was panting up and down. She tried to escape Takeshi’s grip, but he held firm, refusing to let her go.

“We have to get him! He’s alive!” Khalani beat on his chest, her body on the verge of crumbling.

“Please!” Serene yelled at Brock, tears streaming down her pale face. Brock and Takeshi met each other’s gazes and, without speaking, came to an understanding.

“Give us cover,” Brock commanded Raziel, who gnashed his teeth and yelled to his men.

“Get ready to shoot!”

The Aces reloaded, pure carnage lining their severe expressions.

“On my mark,” Raziel began, his back to the wall, rifle pressed to his chest. “Two… One… FIRE!”

The Aces popped around the corner and fired their guns simultaneously. The guards ducked and ran for cover, halting their assault. Takeshi and Brock surged out of the alley and ran straight for Adan.

Serene cried, her head buried in Khalani’s shoulder, unable to look, but Khalani watched the whole thing. Her toes clenched and she shifted her weight, ready to run and help the second they met trouble.

With relentless speed, Takeshi grabbed Adan’s legs while Brock lifted him under his armpits. Shots rang around them as they carried his injured body into the alley.

The Aces made room, still firing at the guards as Takeshi and Brock gently placed him on the floor. Sweat lined Adan’s face, his breath shallow and uneven, blood leaking through his shirt.

“Where was he shot?” Serene asked, crouching beside her brother, grasping his hand.

“Ribs.” Takeshi inspected the wound, and when he prodded the skin, Adan cried out.

“Just leave me,” he groaned.

Serene slapped her brother across the face.

“Shut up, Adan. I’m not leaving you. And if you see some heavenly light, tell it to fuck off. Do you understand me?” Serene squeezed his hand tighter. Brock had already taken off his cloak and pressed it against the wound.

“Agh. That hurts.” Adan’s head rolled back as he pushed against the wall to get away, but Brock increased the pressure.

“He’s going to be okay, right?” Khalani asked, threading her fingers through Adan’s other hand.

“I need to get the bleeding stopped,” Brock growled, glancing at her. “You two have to go without us.”

“But we can’t leave you—”

“It doesn’t matter!” he snapped. “If you don’t stop Alan, this will all be for nothing. You need to go now.”

Khalani opened her mouth to argue, but Takeshi gripped her chin, pulling her attention to him.