Page 154 of Us Defiant Few

His gaze held too much pain.

He was tired.

Just like her.

And when he said, “He’s right, Kanes. It’s time to end this,” she knew he meant it.

Khalani inhaled a ragged breath and kissed Adan’s cheek. “I’ll see you soon,” she whispered.

She turned to Serene, hugging her with all her might. And when she let go, a shocked noise escaped her when Brock briefly embraced Takeshi and her.

He didn’t offer words of affirmation or say good luck. His eyes were glossy, the first time she’d ever seen Brock with such emotion.

He handed her his pistol with a nod.

“Go,” he whispered.

Takeshi grabbed Khalani’s hand and pulled her down the alley, away from the gunfire. When they emerged at the other end, Takeshi peered down both streets, weapon ready. But no one stood on the cobblestone path except them.

They continued running, hand-in-hand, racing toward their ending.

Her pulse hammered as they reached the green hedges. No guards were posted at the gates. Everyone available was fighting in the city.

They raced past the towering greenery, and at the end of the path, the White House stood untouched to the horrors that surrounded it. The grand pillars were as immaculate as the day Khalani had first entered Genesis.

When they approached the front entrance, Takeshi squeezed Khalani’s palm before letting go, clutching his pistol as he slowly turned the knob.

The door ominously creaked open, and Khalani jerked back at the dead body on the floor.

She recognized him. It was the Governor’s butler. His bald head was disfigured by the bullet hole going straight between his brows. She swallowed as they carefully moved farther into the lobby, maneuvering around multiple dead bodies scattered on the floor.

In the back of the room, the Mona Lisa painting hung on the wall, her eerie grin sending shivers down Khalani’s spine.

“He’s killing everyone,” she whispered, the gun trembling in her hand.

A chilling expression crossed Takeshi’s face as he glanced up the stairs, violence coiling through his limbs.

That’s when she heard it. Voices.

“Stay behind me,” he ordered.

They made their way up the marble stairs, keeping their feet as light as possible. When they reached the top, the voices grew louder.

“The men keep radioing for backup,” a man grumbled.

“But the Governor said we have to stay here and guard the house,” another replied.

“Nothing’s happening here! We need to go out there and help them kill—” The man appeared at the top of the stairs.

Takeshi kicked him in the chest, sending him hurtling over the railing. He yelled, crashing to the bottom level, his neck bent in the wrong direction.

“The fuck!” One of the men grabbed his gun, but Takeshi was faster, punching him in the face, grappling with him. A third guard heard the noise and bounded around the corner, charging at Takeshi.

Khalani raised her gun and didn’t hesitate. She shot him in the leg. The guard yelped, rearing back. But he was large, shrugging off the wound as he set his sights on her.

From his angle, he probably only saw a small girl who couldn’t do much harm. But he had no idea where she’d grown up or what she’d learned in the dark.

Khalani lifted the pistol higher, and shot him in the heart.