Bound By Blood: (The Betrayed Series Book 2)

by Victoria Renteria

  But the passage on the right curves the opposite direction. Indecision weighs heavily on me. If I choose wrong, I run the risk of ending up back where I started and making things worse. The feeling of being hindered sluices over me like warm water from a shower. Inwardly, I give myself a little shake. A damn hallway will not defeat me. Exhaling a heavy sigh, I glance both ways before taking a chance on the right. It’s not like I was offered the grand tour when I arrived.

  Running my hands through my hair, frustration still thrums in my veins as I stumble, scraping my already bleeding feet on the concrete floor. Sounds rush in the distance.

  Rat-a-tat-tat.

  My stomach drops, snarling like a starving beast. No. Oh God. No. I chose wrong. I can’t go toward the gunfire.

  They’ll see me. I need to sneak out unseen. Coldness seeps into my chest as dread unfurls its tendrils, grasping me tightly. A sour taste fills my mouth, sitting heavily on my taste buds. Turning with the speed of a giant tortoise, I proceed to stumble, tripping my way down the lengthy corridor. My heart pounds furiously as the sounds of gunfire come closer.

  Rat-a-tat-tat. Bullets zing, flying through the air, spraying all around me through the hall. Gasping, I try to move faster, but my worn body won’t allow it. Stumbling, I trip, falling face first into a hard body. His smell assaults me first. That unpleasant odor hits my nostrils with such overwhelming ferocity it’s impossible not to gag.

  “Just in time, Agassi,” Jeong sneers.

  The dread that was gripping my insides releases me as terror takes its place. His cold eyes meet mine, his lifeless smile spreading as he says, “We have visitors. It would seem someone thinks that they have the right to take you. It’s my job to ensure they don’t. But, I think maybe you have a little accident during the action and don’t make it out of here alive.”

  My heart thrashes in my ears as I flail in his arms, desperate for escape. Jeong’s maniacal laugh rings out, echoing loudly in the corridor. “You amuse me when you struggle,” he says, glancing down at me through thick lashes.

  “Even though it amuses me . . . I will strike you, so stop. You are weak as it is. You shouldn’t waste your energy,” he says with disgust. Unable to give up my struggle, I continue to push at his solid chest, hoping against hope that it will work.

  “Enough!” he barks, slapping me across the face.

  Pain radiates outward, shooting through my head at an alarming rate. I can almost feel my brain bouncing around in my skull.

  “Come. We’re going now.”

  Dragging me behind him, he yanks my arm with such ferocity, it feels as if it’s being separated from the socket. Letting out an anguished yelp, I stumble, tripping into the wall. Jeong curses as he hauls me up by the wrist. As we round the corner, the sound of gunfire becomes louder. Swallowing, it feels as if my heart has leaped into my throat. I’m not sure whether I’m coming or going anymore.

  I definitely don’t recognize where we are. He stops, sending me careening into his back. “Ow,” I groan. Jeong’s body tenses. He stands, frozen solid like a block of ice. They say curiosity killed the cat.

  Well, call me the cat because I’m curious as hell to find out what’s made this evil son of a bitch freeze up. Meekly, I peer around his broad back into familiar eyes. The shards in my chest lurch, pulsating as a tiny sliver of hope rises inside of me. Standing before Jeong, he looks every bit the menacing 6’2” warrior I believe him to be. Recognition blazes in his eyes as he stares back at me for a moment.

  Moving his gaze back to Jeong, his deep tenor washes over me as he rumbles, “The Goddess has been located. I repeat, the Goddess has been located.”

  His eyes dart to mine once more before he mouths, “Are you okay?” Emotion threatens to overtake me as I stare deeply into Noah’s green eyes. Unable to speak, I simply nod. His eyes snap back to Jeong as he snarls, “Let the girl go.”

  With a frightening laugh, he tosses his head back, the bitter sound echoing around the hall. “Not a chance, soldier boy.” He drags me in front of him, using my body as a shield. My pupils dilate, swallowing up the brown irises completely. Cringing, I struggle as Jeong holds me tightly to his chest with one arm.

  “Do not move, Agassi. It is no use. You are too weak, anyway. Besides, it is easier to just put a bullet in your brain.” Freezing, my movements cease, my breath stalling in my lungs with his threat, one that I very much believe he intends to carry out.

  Reading the fear in my eyes, Noah replies with a steely voice, “Never gonna happen.”

  “I guess we’re about to find out, aren’t we.”

  Smiling treacherously, Jeong raises his gun, bringing it to my temple. Glancing down at me, he leers, his eyes lingering on my breasts. Out of the corner of my eye, I see movement. More of a blur, really, until the impact comes. Shoving me forcefully out of the way, Noah tackles Jeong to the ground. I scramble back, shuffling out of the way as they wrestle on the ground.

  They struggle, fighting for control of the Glock as Jeong knees Noah in the stomach. Grunting, the air is stolen from him momentarily, but he rolls with it, rearing back, slamming Jeong in the jaw with a ferocious punch. Blood spews from the corners of Jeong’s mouth as he grins up at Noah. Grappling, the gun slides out of their reach as they struggle for dominance.

  Jeong bucks his hips, tossing Noah into the air. I watch in awe and pure unadulterated shock as Noah flips over his head, landing on his feet.

  Noah wraps his thick forearms around Jeong’s neck, securely locking him in a chokehold. Squeezing tightly, he cuts off his air supply. I watch as he struggles for a moment, gasping for air. My eyes bulge, growing wide as I watch Jeong shockingly maneuver his way out of Noah’s expert grip. Using leverage, he goes to the opposite side of which Noah is positioned. Stepping behind him with his left foot, he slides his head out, gripping his arm, twisting it behind his back. With a swift kick to the back of his knee, Noah falls to the floor with a grunt.

  “Noah,” I cry, pointing toward Jeong as he dives for the gun.

  Noah’s head whips around just as Jeong reaches the gun. Leaping through the air, Noah pounces on him as they struggle, wrestling for control. Three shots fire from the gun, the sound deafening in the long corridor. Full body tremors wreak havoc on me as I stare wide-eyed at their unmoving bodies. Fear petrifies me, gripping my insides, making it difficult to catch my breath.

  “Noah,” I breathe out.

  Both men lie in the hall, neither moving a muscle after the gun went off. Finally coming to my senses, I scramble across the floor to where both men are lying. Oh God, please don’t let him be dead. Please. My broken prayers are just fragments of thoughts bouncing around in my skull. Tiny tremors plague my hands as I shakily reach for Noah.

  Tugging, I pull with all my might. He barely moves an inch. “God, Noah, you’re so heavy, and I’m too weak to move you. Please, you have to help me.” With a grunt, he rolls over, landing on my lap, causing me to breathe out a loud “Oomph.”

  “Sheesh, you’re heavy,” I tease.

  “Are you calling me fat?” he jokes.

  “Never.” I smile.

  A brilliant smile lights up his handsome face as he reaches up to brush away a few tears. “I’m so glad we found you.” His words are raspy, pain interlacing each one. My breath hitches as I look at the bullet wound in his neck. Blood is gushing from the wound, seeping through my hands as I desperately try to seal it.

  “Me too,” I say. The pressure behind my eyes is so great, the tears flow unchecked down my dirty cheeks.

  “Don’t cry, Goddess, unless they’re happy tears.” I smile at the nickname. All of the guys must be using that stupid name now.

  “I-Is he dead?” I hesitantly ask, my eyes darting to Jeong’s lifeless body.

  Noah nods, a pained sigh escaping his lips. All of the color has drained from his face, and his lips are tinged a slight shade of blue.

  “It’s okay. It was worth it.” I strain to hear his words, the barely audible sound br
eaking my heart. His heavy lids begin to droop as he slowly starts to close his eyes.

  “No!” I beg. “No, no, no, no, no. Noah, please don’t leave me. I don’t want to be all alone. You can’t leave me here by myself. You’re wrong. I’m not worth it. Take it back. You have so much to live for.” Tears fall freely like the rain in a summer storm, splashing onto Noah’s cheeks.

  His eyes flutter open just a smidge, his voice hoarse as he says, “Kylee, you are worth it. He’s here, love; he’s coming for you. I’ll stay with you until he gets here. My time is over, but don’t worry. You’ll see me again one day.” A small smile plays at the edges of his mouth.

  Leaning down, I kiss him and whisper, “When you get there and you see her, can you hold her for me? Tell Violet that her mother loves her, and that Alex and I will be with her one day. That Uncle Noah is there to take care of her for me until then . . .” My voice cracks as the rest of the words remain unsaid.

  Noah’s eyes light up, filling with pride as he gently cups my cheek and says, “It would be my honor to watch over your child until the day you come home, Goddess.” Blinking back the tears, I place another chaste kiss on his lips before pulling back to stare at his face.

  Commotion in the hallway snaps my gaze up as a team of men round the corner, guns drawn, all aimed at me. Violet eyes come crashing into mine, and the tears I’d just gained control of come raging to the surface.

  Alex shouts, “Hold your fire!” His eyes snap to mine, relief flooding his face as he worshipfully breathes out my name. “Kylee.”

  Noah wheezes and my gaze lowers to his face. “My time is up, doll. You take care of them for me. They aren’t as strong as they look. I’ll make good on my promise, and I’ll look after her . . .” He takes in a pained breath.

  His eyes snap to mine. “Violet.”

  Tears cascade down my cheeks, pelting him as I nod furiously at her name. “Yes,” I whisper.

  Noah smiles as he looks at me. “Don’t cry, pretty girl. Violet and I, we’re gonna be just fine.” Noah’s eyes flutter shut, his lashes fusing together. His chest barely rises as the blood continues to seep from his neck.

  “Kylee?” Noah breathily whispers.

  “Y-Yes?” I stammer, my voice full of tears.

  “It wasn’t your fault.” The words are expelled with his final breath. My gaze lifts, meeting the violet hue of the man I love now crouching on the other side of Noah. Guilt assails me as I stare deeply, drinking in his familiarity. How is it not my fault? Everything that’s happened . . . it’s all because I had the misfortune of being brought into this world.

  “HOLD YOUR FIRE!”

  The furious beat of my heart is wild in my chest as I take in the sight before me. Noah’s voice through the earpiece telling me he’d found her was a breath of relief. Then getting tangled up in a nasty shootout kept me from getting here as quickly as I wanted, only to find a dead body on the floor, Kylee covered in blood, and Noah bleeding out from a neck wound in her lap. The princess I’ve been keeping locked up in her ivory tower rampages, demanding all of the bottled up emotion be let out. Noah’s pained groan snaps me out of my daze.

  Bolting into action, I yell into the COM, “We need a medic!” My eyes frantically search Kylee’s face and body, looking for any signs of injury. There’s so much blood. Her tiny hands are applying pressure to the wound at Noah’s neck. Sprinting in their direction, I drop to my knees, a pained groan leaving me as I take in the sight of my friend and colleague.

  “Hang in there, Jester. Help’s on the way, buddy,” I choke out. His eyes never once leave my Goddess. His face is pallid, lips tinged blue as he stares deeply into her eyes.

  “Violet,” he whispers. Scrunching my eyebrows in confusion, I wonder what he’s talking about. Could he have had a girlfriend I didn’t know about? I’m momentarily struck dumb as I watch Kylee freeze, tears streaming uncontrollably down her face.

  “Yes,” she whispers.

  My confusion continues to grow. What could they possibly be talking about? Oh no. He’s in shock, hallucinating from the blood loss. Fuck. We’ve seen it dozens of times.

  Turning my head, I bark, “What’s the ETA on the damn medic?”

  “ETA five minutes.” Sam’s voice is tight when he replies.

  “Not good enough! It needs to be faster!” I grit out.

  “Dammit. You have to hang on, Noah. You have to show the rest of us all this medic stuff, remember?” My words go unnoticed as he continues to stare into Kylee’s chocolate colored eyes.

  He gives her a bright smile, one that she returns as he says, “Don’t cry, pretty girl. Violet and I, we’re gonna be just fine.”

  Noah’s eyes close, and I’m left yet again to wonder who Violet is. The pain in my chest intensifies, threatening to overwhelm me as I peer down at my friend. His torso stills, his breathing becoming sparse. Tears sting, threatening me with their presence as pressure builds against the backs of my eyes.

  Gasping, Noah breathily rasps, “Kylee . . .”

  “Y-Yes?” she chokes out, her voice filled with unshed tears. Her dark hair cascades around them as she leans in closer.

  “It wasn’t your fault . . .” Noah whispers the words on his dying breath.

  His jaw slackens and peaceful tranquility settles over his features. Tiny sobs emanate from her chest as she clings to Noah’s body. Peering up at me with tear-stained cheeks, the raw pain in her eyes steals my breath. Emotion clogs my throat as I reach down, touching her blood soaked hands. Gently, I try to remove them, but she freezes, looking at me with wild, uncertain eyes.

  Keeping my tone calm and soothing I say, “Baby, I need you to let go. We have to move Noah so we can get you out of here.” She drags Noah into her chest, hugging him tightly as she sobs.

  “I-I can’t, Alex. H-He saved me. He’s going to watch over her, and he said it was worth it. But it’s not worth it. It’s not. I’m not. It’s too much. The price is too high . . .” she rambles, her wild gaze searching mine.

  My heart shatters. My strong girl . . . this was the last straw. I owe Noah everything. He protected her, saved her. Tilting my head to the side, I see the forlorn faces of my brethren, each mimicking how I’m feeling inside. Brighton’s expression is downright crushing. His best friend is pressed to my beloved’s breast.

  Clearing my throat of the thick emotion, I look to Sam and nod. He steps forward to retrieve Noah’s body from Kylee, but Brighton stops him.

  “No. Let me.” His voice trembles, heavy with emotion. Kneeling down before her, he takes her face into his hands and places a gentle kiss on her forehead. She startles, her wide eyes searching his face before realizing where she is.

  Tears mix, mingling with the blood smudging her cheeks. Her voice wavers as she says, “H-He saved me, Brit.” She shakes her head in disbelief as if she’s trying to wrap her head around it.

  “I know, baby girl . . . I know. He’s a hero and hero’s need to be taken care of properly. In order for that to happen, you’re going to need to let him go, princess, okay?” She shakes her head once.

  “It’s okay, baby girl, I know. I promise I’ll take good care of him.” His voice cracks, breaking at the end. Kylee’s eyes snap up, watching Brighton intently. It’s as if a light has turned on, as if she’s seeing something for the first time.

  She nods once and says in a whisper, “Okay, but you’re going to have to help me. I don’t know if I can let him go on my own.”

  Brighton steadily holds her gaze while he softly pries her fingers from around Noah’s neck. Her hands slip free, blood sliding down the side of his neck. Kylee lets out a pained cry, wet tears continuing their trail down her cheeks. With her arms gone, Brighton sucks in a deep breath.

  Still holding her gaze, he says, “I’m going to lift him from your arms now, okay?”

  She gives a shaky nod as Brighton places a kiss on her forehead and lifts Noah from her lap. The moment Noah’s weight is gone, she hunches forward, loud sobs taking over her tin
y body. Banding my arms around her, I lift her into my lap, cradling her against my chest. Anger flares momentarily as her slight weight registers. She’s smaller, frailer than she was before she was kidnapped. Pushing the thought out of my mind, I trace my hand along her spine.

  The leash holding my unbridled rage threatens to snap with each new mark I find on her body. Letting out a shaky breath, I center myself, focusing on the task at hand. There will be plenty of time to focus on vengeance and making them pay later. Resuming the path along her spine, I bury my nose in the top of her head and breathe deeply. Underneath the blood and grime, it’s there . . . cherry blossoms and sandalwood and something completely her.

  “Shhhh. Goddess, it’s all right, baby. I’m here.” I rock her back and forth soothingly.

  “I-I’m so sorry, Alex,” she cries into my chest.

  “What do you have to be sorry for, baby?” My arms tighten around her when her sobs increase. She buries her face into my chest, inhaling deeply. I know she can’t be comfortable with her face smushed against my vest. My chest constricts, the tightness in my torso worsening with every tear she sheds.

  Unable to take it any longer, I finally coax, “Goddess, you know it kills me when you cry.” She stiffens in my arms, her little body going rigid. What in the hell caused that reaction? Glimpsing down at her, I watch as she stares blankly at my MBAV.

  Brushing the hair back from her face, I gently question, “Goddess, look at me. Tell me what’s wrong.”

  “You said that in my dream. At least, I think it was a dream. That you don’t like it when I cry.” She mumbles the words into my vest.

  Chuckling, I respond, “Well, that is something I would say, sweetheart.”

  She breathes out a heavy sigh. “A-Alex, I have to tell you something. I don’t want you to hate me, though.” My brows crease with her comment.

  “You know better than that, Goddess. It’s you and me. Nothing you say is going to change that.”

  “Promise?” she hesitantly asks. Tilting her head back so that I can look into her rich, chocolaty eyes, I say, “I promise that you are stuck with me forever.”