Page 18 of Us Defiant Few

The thought alone was unbearable.

“What are the chances of Takeshi regaining his memories if the chip stays?” she dared to ask.

“Zero.”

Even though Lane glared at Takeshi, she detected no hint of falsehood in his tone. She still didn’t move, though.

“We’re not taking him far,” Spade interjected. “Lane runs a hidden lab for surgeries when members of the gangs are injured. He took care of Ryder there.”

They had all the right answers. The things that were supposed to make her feel more comfortable. But the last time she let Takeshi out of her sight, she’d nearly lost him forever.

“Khalani.” Brock’s voice filtered through the air, and she looked up, her whole body trembling. “If Takeshi were here right now, the real one, what do you think he’d want? Because if it were me, I wouldn’t want my memories fucked with. To forget the people I care about. He wouldn’t want this and you know it.”

Her gaze lowered to Takeshi’s beautiful face lying motionless on the floor. His eyes were closed. There were no traces of hatred or malice in his expression. Only peace.

She didn’t have to think about the answer.

Takeshi would want the chip removed.

He’d rather die than let anyone make him forget all that he’d fought for. To make him turn on the people who loved him.

Khalani exhaled a rough breath and finally nodded. Jericho moved to pick up Takeshi, but she held up a hand.

“Wait.”

Before anyone could protest, she leaned down and whispered in his ear. “I’ll be right here when you get back. I promise. And when you’re ready, we’ll make every last one of them pay.”

Khalani silently watched as they carried him away.

Only the walls of the church heard her prayer that night.

It wasn’t for her sake.

It was for the fate of the world should he not return alive.

6

Beware the ink that bleeds red.

I always thought my eyes would close

When my heart reached the end

I prepared to greet death

Kept the beats close to my chest

I prayed for victories

Agonized over defeats

And when the time finally arrived

The pounding was gone

But I remained behind

Don’t you remember?