Page 38 of Us Defiant Few

“Submit.”

“Not on your life,” she hissed, throwing her head back and clipping him in the nose. Takeshi’s hold on her tightened, refusing to let her go.

“Give. Up. Kanes.” His tone was lethal, and Brock shifted forward, ready to interfere.

But this was between the two of them. Khalani recognized the truth. He didn’t just want her to tap out. Takeshi wanted her to quit fighting for him. To leave him alone in his dark abyss.

He’d be waiting until hell exploded.

“You’ll have to hurt me first,” she rasped.

Takeshi’s expression transformed from rage to hesitation, then resignation.

“Fine.”

He grabbed her shoulder and snap. Dislocated it.

Sharp pain shot up her upper arm, and she screamed.

Takeshi immediately released her, but Khalani’s face stayed glued to the floor, her shoulder throbbing.

Adan and Winnie immediately rushed to her side, helping her sit up. Brock crossed his arms, glaring at Takeshi, but she didn’t miss the angry look he sent her way for egging him on.

“You okay, Khalani?” Adan asked, checking her over with wide eyes.

“I’m fine.” Her nostrils flared as she cradled her aching shoulder.

“Winnie should smack you with another chair,” Winnie muttered at Takeshi.

Takeshi stood back with an unreadable expression on his face. His breaths were ragged, but pure war waged in his eyes. As if he couldn’t decide whether he wanted to pull her into his arms and scream with her, or sink further into the shadows and disappear entirely.

She didn’t know what he saw in her expression. Whether it was fury or lost love.

But Takeshi’s jaw tightened, and he didn’t close the distance.

He silently left the room and expanded it.

10

The bigger the heart, the more it suffers.

Takeshi

The strangest and most unbearable feeling was being a stranger within one’s own body.

Takeshi had always prided himself on control.

It wasn’t a preference. It was necessary. When he unleashed his temper, blood spilled, and bodies dropped around him like storms he’d used to dream of as a lonely child.

He’d never felt rain wash over his skin.

But Takeshi wasn’t quite sure what to believe anymore.

He scraped his hands down his face, sitting on the small bed the Aces granted him.

He didn’t want to be motionless. Takeshi wanted to claw his brain out. He couldn’t handle something so useless dwelling inside him.

He recalled growing up in the dark city of Apollo. Working as a captain in Braderhelm. Watching prisoners and punishing those who stepped out of line. Sleep. Wake. Repeat.