9 #3
And Takeshi remained quiet in his dark corner, content in watching her dysfunctional family fall apart.
“So…” She awkwardly stepped forward. “Are we done for the day?”
“Not yet. You still haven’t gone.” Brock scrubbed a hand through his hair, but his eyes were tinged with bitterness.
“All right. Who am I fighting?”
Brock sighed, stepping forward, but Takeshi pushed off the wall.
“I’ll take her.”
Khalani’s knees threatened to buckle as Takeshi placed himself opposite her. His dark expression was indecipherable, but his eyes burned right through.
“Are you sure?” Brock hedged, clearly remembering the last time Takeshi tried to kill her. “I think it’s better if I fight.”
But when Brock moved closer, Takeshi ever so slowly shifted his gaze.
“I’ll only tell you once to back off, before I make you.” Takeshi’s whisper was laced with death.
Brock reached for the knife in his pocket, but she lifted her chin. “It’s all right, Brock. Let me fight him.”
Brock hesitated, clearly thinking it was a terrible idea. But when neither of them moved, he grumbled under his breath and backed away.
She locked eyes with Takeshi.
He set his feet apart, so still that he appeared frozen in time. But his piercing gaze roved over her, taking in everything from her boots, pausing on the black fabric clinging to her thigh, moving to the gray tank that rode up against her skin, to the bob of her throat as she swallowed.
She wondered what he saw.
An innocent girl out of her league?
Or a criminal ready to meet her doom?
She hoped it was the latter, because she wasn’t holding back.
And with the way Takeshi’s head lowered, neither was he.
“Go!” Brock commanded.
They circled each other, waiting for the other to attack first. She mirrored his foot movements, not taking her eyes off him, remembering everything he had taught her.
Takeshi feinted, and she shuffled back. She did the same to him, and he leaned away, neither of them going for the first blow.
“I was thinking about our conversation earlier,” he said.
Khalani narrowed her gaze, not letting him distract her.
“You say I’ve threatened your life before. But you keep looking at me like you want me.”
Blood rushed to her face as they circled each other.
“Is it pain you’re after?” His voice dipped lower.
Her fingers started to twitch, struggling to block him out.
Takeshi tilted his head, cutting the invisible knife deeper. “Or are you just that desperate?”
She punched him.
Takeshi expected it, easily blocking the hit aimed at his body, but he didn’t anticipate the next one slamming into his jaw.
The crack reverberated throughout the room.
His eyes imperceptibly widened. He didn’t remember that every move she used came from him.
Khalani used that sick twist of irony like a weapon.
Fueled by agony and rage, she launched another attack.
But Takeshi effortlessly dodged the hit this time. Khalani danced on her toes, throwing punch after punch. Takeshi blocked each of her shots without breaking a sweat.
But a faint hint of respect glimmered in his eyes.
It wasn’t enough for her.
She stomped on his ankle, but Takeshi anticipated the next punch. When she missed, he locked an arm around her neck and kicked her feet out from under her, throwing both of them to the ground.
She gnashed her teeth, twisting to escape his grip. But Takeshi placed his full weight on her back, capturing her elbows in a pin.
“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.