Bound By Blood: (The Betrayed Series Book 2) (32 page)

The air around me charges with tension, waves of unfettered rage tumbling through the air. My steps slow as I reach the door. Tentatively, I lean closer, placing my ear to the dense wood. My old friend silence greets me, not even the
rat-a-tat-tat
sound of bullets zinging in the air. My heart quickens, the shards pulsing in my battered chest. Holding my breath, I wait, listening for any signs of life beyond the door, beyond my little room of pain. Not hearing anything, I release the breath I’d been holding and look down at the handle. Biting my lip, I question.

Would they? No. It’s a foolish notion. They never have before. A little zing, something deep in my subconscious urges me to try it. It couldn’t hurt, right? What’s the worst that could happen? I’m stuck in my room of despair, anyway.

Cautiously, my fingers slide across the wood, sweeping along the dense planes. With shaky fingers, I grasp the handle, giving it a little twist. A bark of laughter sounds loudly as my head jerks back from the door. They left the fucking thing unlocked. I can’t believe it. The damn door is unlocked!

Twisting the handle, I turn it, tugging at the door. It moves an inch before the heavy door stalls. Panting, I glower at the door. The weakened state of my body is making it difficult to lug the heavy door out of the way. Grunting, I tug, and it moves another inch before it stops. Pulling on the handle again, sharp pains shoot through my abdomen as hot, sticky fluid saturates my thighs.

My eyes widen in fear as I glance down, peering at my blood soaked legs. Pushing my shoulders back, I glare at the door with determination. There is no way a damn door is going to stand in my way of escaping this hellhole. Scrounging up all of the energy I can muster, I yank the handle as hard as I can. The door moves back several feet with an audible scrape against the concrete floor. With wide eyes, I peer around the doorway, praying it will be empty.

The long hallway is deserted, only the barest hints of light shine from the sconces on the wall. Frowning, my gaze darts left then right. I don’t know where I am. I’m unsure as to what direction even leads outside.
“Well, you can always stay in the safety of the room,”
the evil Kylee on my shoulder quips.

Looking at the evil bitch with disgust, I reply, “Screw you, bitch. You stay in there.” Slapping my forehead with my palm, I mutter, “Great, Kylee. You’re talking to yourself now. You have officially lost your cotton pickin’ mind.”

Allowing my gaze to dart both ways, I make a quick decision to turn left. Gradually, I begin the slow trek down the narrow corridor. Stumbling along, the uncomfortable pain in my abdomen makes it an even bigger challenge to walk. My chest heaves, the vise grip seizing my lungs squeezes, making it difficult to breathe. As I gradually move through the hall, silence surrounds me. The only sound that can be heard is that of my rapid breathing.

Fearing I will be overheard, I clamp a hand over my mouth as I reach the end of the hall. Peering around the corner, I curse. Before me lies another long, dimly lit hallway. A knot forms in my stomach as frustration threatens to cloud my judgment. Letting out a heavy sigh, I try to work out which direction to go. If I choose the corridor on the left, it seems to curve, doubling back the way I came.

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 breaking 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.