Page 26

“You okay, Winnie?” She bent down.

“Never better, dear,” Winnie replied with a pained smile and coughed into her fist. Her raspy cough had a slight rattle and was deeper than before.

“Drink.” A large hand promptly shoved a canteen in front of Winnie’s face.

Her gaze drifted past Winnie to Takeshi, who stood over them like an insurmountable wall. It was difficult for Khalani to swallow with him so close, knowing how much he’d risked saving her.

“You shouldn’t waste water on Winnie, Kesh,” Winnie admonished in a weak voice, waving off the canteen.

Kesh?

“You can’t expect me to give up that easily, Win. Now, drink your water,” Takeshi instructed firmly, but his eyes were soft as he gently placed the canteen in her hand.

Win?

Why did this feel like mutiny?

Winnie washerfriend.Herfamily. Family was supposed to hate the people you hate.

She gnawed at her bottom lip as Winnie obeyed and drank from the canteen. Only then did Takeshi nod and walk away, retrieving the gun from his bag and checking the ammunition.

Khalani cleared her throat and stood, side-eying his imposing frame. The black fabric hugged his chest tightly as he handledthe gun like it was second nature.

Without thinking, she approached him. But the words “thank you” were stuck in her throat when he shifted his attention to her. The warmth he had for Winnie was absent.

He scrutinized her like an incessant thorn in his side—one he’d like to pluck out and burn.

“Can I ask you something?” she finally asked.

He cocked a brow and motioned for her to speak.

“Why did you come back for me?”

“Would you prefer it if I left you?”

A part of her wanted to shrink from the deep resonance of his voice. But she was tired of running and too exhausted to be anything but honest.

“I’d prefer not to be indebted to you.”

“Why? Afraid I’ll hold that debt over you?” Takeshi pocketed the gun and leaned against the pillar. He crossed his arms, and a lock of black hair fell over his eye.

“Of course.” She lifted her head. “You’reyou. You always want to be in control.”

“You’re wrong about that.” His dark eyes trailed across her skin like a dull knife. They were only a couple feet apart, but the air between them felt magnetized.

“Care to explain how?” she asked, standing straighter, trying to maintain control of the conversation.

“No. You’ll lose sleep if I tell you.”

“Doubtful. I don’t get scared easily.”

A lie she would take to her grave.

“That so?” He leaned forward, his eyes glinting with an untamed fire. “Then why are your hands sweating, and why is your weight shifting side to side like you’re ready to bolt through the very doors I dragged you in.”

“That’s not true.” She was fidgeting with her fingers now, and Khalani immediately slapped her hands to her side. “I didn’tcome over here to fight.”

“Then why did you really come?”