Bound By Blood: (The Betrayed Series Book 2) by Victoria Renteria Page B

inquires in a deadly voice.
    Shrugging, he smiles and responds, “I’m a man, what can I say?”
    With unexpected speed, she grasps him by the throat and steps into his body. Her melodic voice is barely above a whisper as she utters the words, “If you ever touch her without my permission again, it will be the last thing that you do. Is that understood, Jeong?”
    In a matter of moments, all of the musty air in the dingy basement crackles with tension. Shallow breaths saw in and out, searing my raw lungs. My mind races, searching for answers. Why is she protecting me? It’s not like she cares. She’s torturing me for her own gain.
    The situation is sixty shades of messed up. All she’s ever given me is a lifetime of unfulfilled promises and broken bones. Ragged breaths draw my attention back to the two fighting for dominance at my side. Flexing her fingers, my mother tightens her grip, cutting off the air to her henchman’s throat.
    “I said, is that understood?” she snarls.
    Lowering his eyes, he takes a breath through his nose and gives a rough nod of his head. She releases him with a shove, and he stumbles back a step before righting himself. Hatred and anger shine brightly in his eyes before he levels me with his gaze. His eyes bore into mine for several long moments. A rushed breath leaves my lungs. I’m hardly able to drag in another to replace the one I’ve lost.
    Turmoil. It’s the only way to describe my riotous emotions. Utter turmoil, all because of the glimpse of himself he’s bestowed upon me. One I do not wish for. He’s given me a peek into his barely leashed desire and rage just beneath the surface that are straining to be free. My pulse begins to race, hammering through my veins. He drags in a final breath before hastily turning his icy glare back to my mother.
    “What would you like to do first, Mamasan?”
    “Get the gidung while I have a word with my daughter.”
    An involuntary groan passes my lips as he takes his leave, going to get the wooden poles she requested.
    “Now, now, Ttal. No need to be like that. You can stop this at any time.” Gliding in my direction, my mother runs her delicately manicured fingers down my face. Ice instantly fills my veins.
    Shaking my head, my voice squeaks, as I say, “No.”
    Growling, she shoves away from me, thrusting the chair I’m in back onto two legs. Startled, I scream as the chair is forced down onto four legs again, sending ripples of pain through my joints.
    “Do it.”
    Dragging the gidung behind him, Jeong takes slow, intimidating steps toward me. Every muscle in my body tenses as I await the imminent torture that will no doubt be doled out to me. Taking his time, his eyes rove over my body, lust gleaming with each heated pass. As he approaches me, a feral grin stretches across his face, transforming him from dangerous to deadly. Trying to get as far away from him as possible, I slump down in the chair, scooting as far back as my bound arms and legs will allow me. Coming to a stop directly in front of me, he drags the poles, holding them in the shape of an X before my quivering body.
    Crouching down, he runs his fingers up the lengths of my calves. Prying my shins apart, he takes both wooden poles and inserts them between my legs into an X-formation. Applying pressure, he pushes them so the center of the pole is now in the middle of my shins. Running his hands along the undersides of my calves one final time, he squeezes before standing and peering over his shoulder to my mother. Glancing in my direction, she gives a curt nod before taking a seat on top of the rack in the corner, studying the polish on her nails.
    Jeong’s large hands grasp the inside of each pole. With his gaze firmly fixed on mine, he applies pressure, thrusting outward, scissoring them open. Every muscle in my legs and hips stretch, elongating, pulling taut. Fiery pain rushes through each tendon, incinerating the tissue from within. My chest blazes as the ability to