Page 95 of Us Defiant Few

If the Sinners had killed her, the last thing she’d want was the rest of her family to follow in her steps.

Her breathing got worse, and Winnie sidled up to her.

“C’mon, Khalani dear. You look exhausted. Let’s get you into bed.” Winnie gently looped their arms together as she guided her back through Desert Spring.

Every step away from the desert felt wrong. Not while the people she cared about were still out there searching for her. She nearly turned around, but one glance at Takeshi’s brooding gaze told her he’d drag her back screaming if she tried.

When they reached the house, Derek handed them slices of bread and prepared canned beans, knowing they were starving. After Khalani scarfed the food down, she headed straight for the shower. Dirt, sweat, and grime poured down the drain as she waited under the flow of water with her eyes open.

“Go to the library. Look at the pictures.”

Khalani scrubbed her body harder, trying to wash away his words.

This was all part of Ansel’s plan.

To make her betray Desert Spring.

But would it hurt to check the library? To give her peace of mind?

She roughly turned the knob and dried herself off. It was too much. She needed to sleep.

Come morning, she’d figure everything out.

Winnie turned the corner, wearing a bright smile, just as Khalani stepped out in a fresh set of clothes.

“Winnie will sleep somewhere else tonight,” Winnie exclaimed.

Her brows pulled together. “You’re not staying with me?”

“You’ve had such a trying day. You deserve to have the full bed to yourself. Don’t you worry about Winnie. She’ll take the couch.”

“No!” Derek shouted from the other end of the hall. “Winnie, you sleep in the other bedroom. I’ll take the couch.”

Derek refused to let her say no, and Winnie sighed as she strode to his bedroom, muttering about “the bossiness of men.”

Khalani didn’t like sleeping alone, but the bed looked so inviting. She nestled deeper as the sheets enveloped her. Her eyes fluttered closed as she waited to be whisked away into a warm dreamscape.

“Go to the library.”

“Once you find out their truth, you’ll be begging me to kill them.”

She sighed and jammed the pillow over her head, squeezing the fabric tighter and tighter.

Just ignore it.

Go to sleep.

An hour later, Khalani still hadn’t fallen asleep, and she’d long since given up. She stared at the blank ceiling, clutching the blanket to her chest as she kept replaying Ansel’s words. And in the corner of her mind, piercing blue eyes watched, judging the layers of her madness.

A light knock tapped on her door.

“Come in.”

The door creaked open, and much to her shock, Takeshi squeezed through the opening.

She sat up. “Takeshi. What are you doing here?”

“Figured you couldn’t sleep either.”