Bound By Blood: (The Betrayed Series Book 2) (24 page)

Reaching for the box, I tear it open, yanking out the little stick. Angrily, I urinate on the test, replace the cap, and pace the confines of the small space. I should be numb, unresponsive, pissed off. None of those things can describe the reaction, emotion, the level of consciousness I’m achieving this very moment. Delving into the box, I grab the second test, ensuring the results are accurate. It doesn’t even take the three minutes.

Two solid lines float across the little stick. How is this possible? Well, I know how it’s possible, but . . . I swear we used protection. Actually, I can’t say for certain that we did that last time. My fingers inch down toward my stomach where the result of my love for Alex grows. The breath in my lungs catches, wariness entering as I wonder what my mother has planned.

Tears scorch my eyelids, begging for release. The door bursts open. Yelping, I jump back, pushing closer to the wall.

“Well?” my mother demands. Her eyes wander over to the sink where the two tests lay out in the open. She glides to the sink, taking her time, pausing to look down at the tests.

Turning, her smile is genuine as she says, “Very good, Ttal. You have made me proud.”

Proud? Grimacing, my eyes narrow in her direction as I wait for her to explain. Picking up on my obvious confusion, her pleased expression grows.

Her tone is smug, full of supreme confidence and satisfaction when she clarifies, “Don’t you see what this means?”

Giving my head a little shake, I wait with bated breath for her to continue. Dread slowly inches its way into my veins like an inky black sludge.

“This means, my dear, that I will have an heir.” She pauses, looking me straight in the eye as she says with determination, “With or without you.”

“W-What do you mean?” I stammer.

“Exactly what I said,” she snaps. Closing her eyes, she rubs the bridge of her nose for a second before opening them and leveling me with her stare.

“You will either join me or you will not. Either way, that child will be mine. I will raise him or her in the ways of this family, and that child will grow up to be one of the five most powerful crime lords in the Kkangpae. You can either choose to be a part of it and rule until the child comes of age or not. It is now of no consequence to me. You’re now just the incubator.” She waves a hand dismissively.

My heart plummets into my stomach. How can I let my child grow up with this woman, let alone in this environment? Unable to help myself, I ask the question I’m terrified I already know the answer to. “W-What happens if I choose not to?” My voice wavers.

A bone-chilling smile sweeps across her face. Her tone is full of malice as she replies, “Then you will be dealt with as is anyone who defies me. I’m sure I don’t have to go into the nasty little details, daughter . . . You can put two and two together. Now come, let’s get you back to that room. There is much to be done so that I can prepare for my grandchild . . . or child, depending on how you choose.”

Her malevolent grin sends fire shooting through my veins. It takes every bit of restraint I have not to claw her eyes out. The only thing holding me back is the thought of my unborn child. That perfect mixture of Alex and myself. Those tiny violet eyes growing inside of me. Of course I won’t abandon you to her. I will protect you with my own life if need be.

It’s what a good mother does, something she knows absolutely nothing about. Returning to the room, she stalls, taking extra time unlocking the door.

Her voice is pitched low, and I have to strain to hear her. “Make the right decision. It would be a shame to have to kill my own daughter. But, I will do it.”

Unlocking the door, she steps aside, allowing me to enter. The door closes with a click and is quickly locked behind me. Breathing a sigh of relief, I slump to the floor, my head making an audible thunk against the wood. Four pairs of hands gently caress my arms, legs, and torso, searching for any sign of injury.

Opening my eyes, I smile gently. “It’s all right. She didn’t harm me.” My voice quavers with unshed tears. Emotion is thick in my throat, making it difficult to speak.

“What happened?” Nari asks, eyeing me quizzically.

“Umm.” I hesitate for a moment.

“It’s all right. Don’t be afraid,” Key encourages. My heart swells a little with affection for these four women. Maybe, if I’m in that position, I can do something with it? Inwardly, I shake my head. I wouldn’t even know what to do.

“S-She made me take a pregnancy test.” All four women collectively gasp.

Nari is the first to speak, her sharp-witted gaze not missing a thing. “What did it say?” Her voice holds a note of speculation.

“W-Well, i-it said I was pregnant.” My mouth is dry, my tongue thick, making me trip over my words.

Key, Hye, and Are gasp, expressions of shock and unease blotting their faces. Nari watches me with a reserved expression that quickly morphs to one of keen determination. Her voice changes to one she’s never used before, full of commanding authority with the ability to eloquently articulate a person’s needs.

“How did your mother react to you being pregnant?” she questions.

Hoisting an eyebrow in her direction, I examine her closely. I expected the question . . . although, the manner in which it was presented, not so much. It was as if she was interrogating a suspect rather than asking me a general question.

Keeping my eyes firmly fixed on her, I quietly ask, “Why?”

Shrugging, she purses her lips, chewing on the inside of her cheek before she answers, “She isn’t exactly the nurturing type. So, I’m assuming she had a rather untraditional reaction, so to speak.”

Chewing on the inside of my cheek, I contemplate her answer. On the outside looking in, it seems normal. But . . . I’m not on the outside, and something didn’t seem right with that answer. Goosebumps rise on my arms, sending shivers racing along my skin. Maybe it’s a sign? Thoughts drift into my mind of a little violet-eyed infant cradled in my arms. A child that’s a mixture of both Alex and myself.

The small seed of affection that was planted the moment I’d found out about this pregnancy spreads, growing exponentially. The vision of our child increasing with each beat of my heart. In my mind, I can see Alex as clear as day, his tall, muscular frame leaning against the wall, waiting for me. Silken strands of deep ebony hair, just long enough to run my fingers through. His strong angular jaw, prominently chiseled cheekbones, and bright violet eyes. And his smile. Oh, that smile . . . When he smiles, he has the tiniest of dimples on either side of his mouth that light up his face, transforming him from handsome to godly in mere seconds.

My heart surges in my breast, beating wildly as I hope against all odds that this child will look like Alex. Deep in my heart, I know I will not see him again. Somewhere in my brain, that protective instinct kicks in, demanding that I protect my unborn child from all of this madness.

Tired of playing games, I look to Nari and growl, “Will you spit it out already? I know there’s something you’re not telling me. So, please, let’s cut the bullshit and get on with it already.”

A satisfied smile expands along her lips as she says, “Finally. You will need that for what is to come.” Extending her hand to me, she waits patiently for a moment. When I don’t take it, she lets out a frustrated sigh.

“Kai, take my hand. You can trust me. We are just moving to the bed to get comfortable for what I need to tell you.”

Eyeing her speculatively for several seconds, I look for any signs of untruth. Not able to find any, I slip my hand into hers, allowing her to help me up from the floor. After settling in, she levels me with an intense stare. Her tone becomes grave, intently focused. She’s speaking in hushed whispers as we all huddle around her.

“I needed to make sure that I could trust you. You have to understand that anything I say cannot leave this room.”

We all nod in agreement. Looking back to me, she says, “Before I tell you what I need to say, I must know . . .” She pauses, leaving her words unspoken for a moment. Inhaling deeply through her nose, an adamant look settles on her face as she presses me.

“I must know what your mother said when she found out you were with child.”

Peering into her eyes, I weigh my options. It seems as if she isn’t going to tell me what I want to know unless I give her this little bit of information. What harm will it do? Although, on the other hand . . . information is power. What could she do? Maybe she would try to use it against me.

Looking deeper into her eyes, I search for any signs of malevolence. Is she someone who wishes to do me harm? No. I don’t think so. I don’t get that feeling around Nari.

Breathing out a sigh of relief, I answer her question. “Well, she did what she always does. My mother gave me an ultimatum. In no uncertain terms, she told me that I had two choices, which really means I only have one. The first choice was to have this child and take over as one of the five until my child comes of age. Or choose option number two, which means I get to die at the hands of my mother while she raises my child as her own.” The combined gasps of Hye, Key, and Are reach my ears. Nari silently nods as if she suspected this would be my answer.

“Have you made your decision?” Nari questions. Irritation prickles at the back of my scalp. What a stupid question. What choice do I have? How could any mother choose to turn their child over to a monster?

My frustration bubbles to the surface, entering my tone as I snap, “Of course I made a decision. Not that I really had a choice. Did you really think I would hand my child over to that monster and allow her to raise him or her?”

Nari’s silence further exasperates my irritation. Leaning forward, I’m but a breath away as I harshly whisper, “I’m sick of the damn games. Say whatever it is you need to say. Now.”

Nodding, she replies, “Very well. I’m part of NIS.” She stops, noticing my look of confusion.

“NIS is The National Intelligence Service of South Korea.” The breath I was holding rushes out with a loud exhale. She waits, allowing me to gain my composure.

“What does that mean?” I probe, desperately trying to wrap my head around this whirlwind of events.

“It means that I am an undercover agent. There has been an open investigation on the five heads of the Kkangpae for years. However, it wasn’t until we noticed someone inside was leaking information to North Korea that we decided to become involved.”

Scrunching my nose in confusion, I let out an agitated sigh. “I don’t understand what you mean by ‘leaking information’ to North Korea. Look, I teach fourth grade to a bunch of rambunctious ten-year-olds. Yes, I understand military life and politics. Nonetheless, I do not keep up on current events, so you’re going to have to be a little more specific than that and get to the point.”

A sincere smile stretches across the strong lines of her face. “I like how candid you are. We were able to determine someone within the organization was giving information to North Korea. They were providing them information that directly related to NIS missions. We were not able to determine who it was or which of the five sections of the family they were from, which is why agents were sent to infiltrate each of the five families. The idea was to get close to them and extract as much information as possible. It is incredibly dangerous for North Korea to have NIS secrets. It not only threatens our military and our national security but our people’s livelihoods. Which is why . . . I need your help.”

Reeling at her words, my head snaps back, eyes growing enormously wide. “Me?” The question leaves me on a breathy gasp. A heavy feeling settles in the pit of my stomach. I’m left wondering where this unexpected turn is about to lead me. Nodding vigorously, Nari’s smile is still etched into her lips.

“Yes, you,” she replies.

“H-How do you expect m-me to help you?” Nervously, I stammer the words, barely making it around the chattering of my teeth.

Placing a calming hand on my leg, her expression softens as she says, “You’re going to be the head of this family. You will be in a formidable position of power. Someone who can control the flow of information. Someone on the inside who can help wield the instrument that delivers the killing blow . . .” Her remaining words are left unspoken. She watches attentively as I breathe deeply.

The purr of my heart whirs in my ears, drowning out everything around me. Doubt creeps into my mind as I consider the possibility of Nari’s suggestion. Thought after thought tugs along the seam of my consciousness. Will I truly be a woman that is in a position of power? Am I capable of wielding anything to bring down such a strong vindictive family? Let’s face it, I don’t even know the first thing about them.

Wincing internally, the worry I have over the current path I’m hurtling down tears away at the carefully constructed wall I’d used to harness my emotions. A deep sigh leaves me as the first tears begin to rain down my cheeks. Quietly fusing my lashes together, I silently offer up a prayer to God. A prayer that no matter what I decide to do in the future, that he will please keep my baby safe.