Bound By Blood: (The Betrayed Series Book 2)

by Victoria Renteria

  “You’re bad.”

  Shrugging, I respond, “I’m just trying to find my girl. And we both know I’m gonna do whatever it takes to find her.”

  Nodding, his smile is cold and cunning. “Well, it looks like we’ll have our chance because our man is on the move,” he says, inclining his head toward the alley.

  “Time to roll,” I say, opening the door and jumping out of the vehicle at the same time as Noah. Using darkness as our cover, we palm our weapons, silently making our way across the alley where Chee is trekking toward us. Blood rushes through my veins as my heart pounds furiously in anticipation. Each inhalation fuels my muscles, feeding them for what’s to come. Running silently through the alley, Noah and I close the remaining distance, coming to a stop around the corner of the building.

  Peering around the ledge, I motion for Noah, waving him around so that we can take Chee from both sides. Reading my signals, he backtracks around the perimeter, getting into position. After a few moments pass, Chee comes into view. With a sharp whistle, the signal is sent. Noah leaps off the ledge he was concealed on, landing just to the side of Chee. With a grunt, Chee takes several steps back, reaching for something in his waistband.

  Rushing around the corner of the building, I charge Chee, using my shoulder to ram into his chest. Grunting, all of the wind is knocked out of him as he stumbles back several paces into the wall. Not having a moment to spare, we each grab an arm, securing Chee so he’s unable to reach for a weapon. Safety is always the first priority on any Op. Blowing out a breath, I look at the man in front of me. At first glance, he really doesn’t seem like much.

  However, looks can be deceiving. Hell, I know that from personal experience. Shit, just look at Sabrina. She’s a perfect example. Mentally, I dispel all thoughts from my head other than the task at hand. My eyes narrow down to tiny slits, zeroing in on Chee as I snarl, “It’s come to my attention that you may have some information in your possession that I will be requiring. So we can do this one of two ways. The easy way or the hard way. And I’m really hoping that you choose option number two . . .” I let my words fade into nothingness. The only sound that can be heard is Chee’s panting.

  The man’s chest is rising and falling so rapidly I’m hoping he doesn’t have a damn heart attack before I get the chance to interrogate him. His eyes go wide for half a second before a cold gleam washes over him, and he leans forward.

  “Do your worst, gentlemen.”

  Tossing my head back, I bark out a laugh that’s devoid of all humor. “Oh, you have no idea what you’re asking for.”

  With my free hand, I seize hold of his hair, brutally snatching his head to the right. Chee struggles, thrashing wildly as my grip tightens and I move us into the shadows, obscuring us further. With a sharp nod to Noah, I watch as he sinks the needle into Chee’s thick neck muscle. A smile plays at my lips as I watch Noah pushing the plunger down, flooding his system with the chemical that will have him out within moments. Raging, Chee jerks his head back and forth as spittle flies from the corners of his mouth. “You will not get away with this,” he screams.

  Holding eye contact with Chee, I vow, “You will give me the information I seek. And I promise you, I will extract that information by any means necessary.”

  For the first time, Chee’s eyes grow large, holding a hint of fear. A smug grin stretches across my face as his lids begin to close and he slumps forward. “Nighty night,” I whisper.

  “You’re such a douche,” Noah jokes.

  “Just help me lug his heavy ass back to the vehicle, will ya? We’ve got work to do.”

  Tracking back the way we came, Noah and I swiftly load our passenger into the vehicle and make our way back to our rendezvous point. It was time to get to work. For the first time since my Goddess had gone missing, I felt a sliver of hope work its way into the cracks that had spread through my soul. I just hope and pray that something, anything would come out of this interrogation and point me in the right direction.

  HEAVY WEIGHTS SEEM TO HAVE descended upon my body, pressing me down into a harsh, springy mattress. Mattress . . . a mattress? My mind spins, the images passing through a revolving door too fast to see. The sense that I’m missing something important . . . a key piece of information weighs heavily on me. I gasp as consciousness slams into me with a vengeance. It pricks at the edges of my exhausted brain.

  My throat constricts as an overwhelming urge to panic threatens to pull me back into the dark abyss. Oh God. How did I end up on a mattress? The last thing I remember was being strung up from the ceiling and caned. Shivers dance down my spine as I recall my mother’s fingers embracing my sides in a palliative caress. A small groan slips past my lips in remembrance of the vicious bite from the cane.

  Her henchman wielded the cane with broad, sweeping strokes that lashed into my back, tearing my flesh. Even with my eyes still closed, it feels as if the walls are closing in on me. Memories resurface, assaulting me from all sides with such potency I’m left temporarily stunned. It’s as if I’m still bound and hanging from the hook in her basement. Lashes rained down like droplets of water in a summer storm. Tears form behind my sealed lids, the warmth slipping from beneath my lashes and traveling a path down my cheeks, pooling on the mattress beneath me.

  I don’t try to stop them. I let them come. Let the tears fall for each lash suffered. He gave sadism a new meaning, flogging me to the point of no return . . . and I know he enjoyed every last moment. I tremble as the memory strikes me like a thief in the night.

  Screaming, my head lolls forward. With a flick of his wrist, the cane swishes through the air, making a slicing sound that could be heard for miles. Searing pain blossoms in my right side, dancing along my nerve endings, unfurling in the pit of my stomach. Brandishing his cane, another strike lands along my lower back, dangerously close to my ass. Biting my lip, I fight the urge to scream as my stomach pitches and rolls, the urge to vomit becoming increasingly hard to tamp down. Grinding his erection into my ass, his lips hover a breath away from my ear as he murmurs, “Mmmm. It pleases me to see you stripped and bound, bleeding from my ministrations. Can you feel what you do to me?” He emphasizes his words by thrusting his erection into the crevice of my ass.

  The action forces his body closer, pressing into the open wounds on my excoriated backside. It’s as if I’ve been struck by lightning, a pain so intense it threatens to incinerate me from the inside out. Spots flicker before my eyes, and I pray that darkness takes me to that place where I can find solace, a brief respite, if only for a moment.

  Delicate touches trace soothing patterns along the tops of my shoulders. The touch jolts me out of the memory and back to the present. A split second passes before my heart threatens to leap out of my chest. Fighting the heaviness within, I catapult my eyes open. Ragged breaths saw in and out of my lungs as I frantically struggle to grasp my bearings. Crouching before me is a slender woman with long dark hair and kind eyes.

  Trying to put as much distance between the stranger and myself as I can, I shuffle my feet, scampering backward until my back hits a wall. Releasing a pained groan, my body tenses, immediately going on the defensive. My chest heaves with every pant as I urgently try to pull in more air. Frantic, my gaze darts around the room. The room is small. It can’t be any bigger than 12x12. It’s bare, to say the least, consisting of four walls, a door, a window an infant can barely pass through, and a concrete slab for a floor.

  There are two buckets in the corner by the window—one can only imagine what those are for. My stomach turns at the thought. In the middle of the room, four women huddle around a queen size mattress, watching me warily. Each of the women are clad in a white silken slip that falls mid-thigh. My breath stalls, eyes growing wide as I drink in the sight. The slip clings to each woman, accentuating the curvature of their breasts, nipping into slender waists and flaring out at the hips. It was purposely designed to incite desire and arousal, something in any other circumstance, I would have thought about acquiring t
o wear for Alex.

  A pang slices through my chest as I think his name. Glancing down at my own body, I groan as I realize I’m wearing something similar. My brow creases. Where am I? And why in the hell am I wearing a black negligee? The rustle of fabric and shuffling of feet have me snapping my head in the direction of the women.

  The woman with kind eyes tentatively smiles, taking a step forward. Keeping my back firmly pressed against the wall, I push my hands out in front of me as I step to the side. These women don’t exactly scream violence, but considering my present circumstances, I’m not about to jump to any conclusions. She halts where she stands, holding her hands up with her palms facing out. Her brow furrows for a moment before she bites her lip in concentration.

  Her English is heavily accented when she inquires, “Do you speak Korean?”

  Unable to find my voice, I nod.

  Smiling, she switches to Korean. “We will not harm you. I only wish to tend to your back.” She pauses, her face filling with unfettered rage.

  “He harmed you. Marred your beautiful skin. Is not right.” Her voice shakes as she speaks.

  “Yes.” My voice quivers with the memory.

  Stretching her arm in my direction, she opens her hand, extending an invitation. Holding her gaze, I study her, looking for any sign of a hidden agenda. Her brown eyes greet me, welcoming me with kindness and warmth. Inhaling deeply, I take a step forward, closing the distance. Her warm hand entwines with mine, squeezing gently. Peering into my eyes, she wipes a stray hair from my eyes as she says, “My name is Nari. Here on the left is Hye, in the middle is Areum, or Are, and on the right is Kyung. We call her Key.”

  Nodding, I reply, “Hello. I’m Kai.”

  Collectively, their heads turn to the woman holding my hand, staring at her briefly, uncertainty etched in the small lines around their eyes. Confusion laces her tone as she asks, “We thought your name was Kylee. Kylee Parker.”

  Gasping, I drop her hand, taking a step away from the women. Ice floods my veins, sending chills dashing through my nervous system. A fine tremor begins in my fingers. Balling my hands into fists, I lock my knees, praying I won’t topple over. “H-How do you know m-my name?” I stammer.

  Nari raises a hand, reaching for me, but I instinctively take a step back, retreating to the wall. Sighing heavily, she says, “Jeong. He gave us your name.”

  “Why would he do that?”

  “Why does he do anything?” she says, with exasperation.

  I quickly look around the room, wondering yet again where I am. Finally having the courage to voice my question, I ask, “Where am I?”

  Smiling, Nari motions for me to take a seat on the mattress. She gestures to the other women, who quietly seat themselves, patiently waiting. Tilting my head to the side, I observe how they interact. Gazing with focus, I watch as Are rests her head gently on Hye’s shoulder. Hye absently begins stroking Are’s hair while Are links her fingers with Key’s. The women relax into each other like sisters getting ready for a sleepover.

  Their behavior is nothing like captives, although my heart tells me they are being held against their will, which now makes me look at the scene unraveling before me with fresh eyes. Is it still sisters bonding, or is it now women bonding over the most terrifying experience of their lives? Nari watches me from the corner of her eye.

  Nausea threatens to work its wicked way up. Covering my mouth with my hand, I close my eyes, swallowing against the bitter acid.

  “Kai, are you all right?” Nari questions.

  Giving my head a slight shake, I feel my stomach slosh. “I’m gonna be sick,” I groan. My body tenses as my stomach churns. Panic begins to swell, tightening my chest until I’m unable to breathe. I can’t be sick. There’s nowhere to be sick in here! Swallowing, my throat constricts, making me gag as bile rises again, choking its way up my reddened throat.

  Nari’s sharp voice cuts through my panic. “Kai, come quickly. Here, there’s a bucket if you’re going to be sick.” She points to the bucket by the window.

  Scrambling, I hurl myself in front of the putrid smelling bucket with seconds to spare. Intense, gut-wrenching sounds leave my body as I expel the contents of my stomach. The acid sears my already raw throat, burning my nose, and stinging my eyes. Soft hands hold back my hair from my face as another pair rubs soothing circles down my arms, slow touches meant to comfort me in my time of need. Tears prick the back of my eyes as I continue to retch into the vile bucket.

  My body continues to heave long after the bile from my stomach dries, leaving me exhausted and numb. When my heaving finally subsides, I rock back onto my heels, greedily sucking in breaths through my nose. Burying my head in my hands, a small whimper leaves me as my body hunches over. Several hands aid me to my feet. Stumbling, barely able to hold my own weight, I allow them to guide me. When my feet hit the mattress, my knees buckle, and my body collapses.

  Fatigue runs deep, sinking its claws into my very existence. Darkness courts me, my eyelids drooping. Nari continues to run her hand through my hair, brushing the strands from my face, reminding me of a mother soothing her child after a long night of being ill. Are, Hye, and Key all surround me, comforting me as I steadily breathe in deeply.

  Still stroking my hair, Nari asks, “Kai, how are you feeling?”

  “Better, thank you,” I croak.

  “Would you like for me to speak while you rest your eyes?”

  “Yes, please.”

  She shifts, stretching her legs out in front of her. “Come lie your head on my lap while we tell you our story.”

  Doing as she instructs, I place my head on her thigh. Immediately, she resumes stroking my hair. The other women surround us, each placing a hand on my leg or arm, consoling me with their light touches.

  “We are being kept in a remote location. I know we are still in Seoul only because I have overheard some of the men speak.” She pauses, taking a breath, but never stops her ministrations of my scalp.

  “Our stories vary on how we came to be here. It is not my place to tell you their stories. However, I can share my own with you. It was late one evening. I had lost track of time, something I often did when I got lost in my work. When I finally came up for air, I realized how late it was. Tidying up my things, I closed up and left. Unfortunately, due to the lateness of the hour, the buses no longer ran, so my only option was to walk home.” The hand in my hair quavers.

  “The night was dark and stormy, and the street I traveled wasn’t well lit. I could barely see to put my feet in front of me. Looking back, it was a foolish thing to do.” I look up, watching as her words trail off. Her eyes are distant, lost in memory.

  “I was lost in thought, not even conscious of my surroundings. He took me by surprise, sneaking behind me. I struggled, but it was no use. He was strong and overpowered me. He must have used some type of drug to knock me out because when I awoke, I was here in this room with Hye and Key. Are joined shortly after.” She peers down at me through her lashes, her gaze locking onto mine.

  “What I’m going to tell you next you will not like, of that I’m sure.” She hesitates, gauging my reaction. My breath freezes in my lungs.

  “In one way or another, when we arrive, we are all put through a vigorous training of sorts. It is a different experience for each of us. Jeong . . . he is the one who trained me. He is a sadistic man who takes pleasure in torturing women. The louder your screams, the more you bleed, the more pleasure he derives from it. I was tortured at his hands for many days, forced to choke down his cock until I was gagging and fighting the urge to vomit. Then he bound me, gagged me, and ravaged my body until the pain was so unbearable I blacked out.” Inhaling deeply, she takes a calming breath before pressing on.

  “It took several weeks for my body to heal before they put me into circulation among their clients.” She peers down at me from beneath her lashes. Feeling the intensity of her stare, I look up with wide eyes and see the understanding and knowledge buried deep within her gaze.
<
br />   “Clients . . .”

  “Your assumption is correct. Although, we both know you are not here for the same reason.”

  The truth in her statement unsettles me. Although, how she would know is beyond me. It’s not common knowledge . . . is it? No. No, it can’t be.

  Right away, my mind becomes restless, unease penetrating my thoughts like a thick fog. Hesitantly, I withdraw myself from their clutches and hug my knees into my chest. Gently, my body begins to sway, rocking from side to side as watchful eyes scrutinize my every move. Scanning their faces, I try to get a read on the situation. Something, anything that will give me one iota, one tidbit, an inkling, some kind of a sign that they’re not trying to harm me. Thousands of tiny needles prickle my skin along the base of my scalp, burning me with awareness.

  An old memory of my father flashes in my mind. He once told me that I should always go into every situation with my eyes wide open. Casting my eyes in Nari’s direction, I meet her gaze. We sit that way for several heartbeats, staring intensely at each other. My instincts tell me she’s holding something back. That she is not being completely truthful. But what secrets she’s concealing I’m not sure.

  Many questions still remain. Why would she keep something from me? What reason would she have to lie? Regardless, she is hiding something, even if I can’t quite put my finger on what it is. Now I have to determine what she wants with me. Does she mean to do me harm?

  And who is she protecting? Because as hard as she is trying, I have a feeling she is protecting someone. The bigger question at the moment that needs an immediate answer is: Is she working for my mother? I don’t get the feeling she is. She’s protective of these women. She doesn’t seem like the type to side with my mother. But it doesn’t explain how she knows about me. She hasn’t exactly given me a reason not to trust her.

  I don’t buy that bullshit that Jeong just stops by to shoot the breeze—not that she said that—but he doesn’t just volunteer information. No. Something is off. I just need to gain their trust enough to find out. Then maybe, just maybe, I can use that information to help me escape. A plan slowly begins to formulate, a way to get close and learn as much as I possibly can while still keeping myself guarded.