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

tried.”
    Colonel Black shakes his head, protesting fiercely, “A word, Kyle.”
    The scathing look Colonel Kyle Parker shoots his friend is one so scorching that I’m damn sure if it was anyone else other than Colonel Charles Black they’d have cowered in fear, tucking and running as fast as they could. However, Colonel Charles Black isn’t one to back down, and that man has a reputation for having balls of steel. Although, at this moment, I don’t envy him going up against Kylee’s dad because I’m pretty damned sure the anger and tension rolling off that man alone could kill a person.
    “Not now.” His voice is firm.
    “A word in the other room. It won’t take but a moment.” Colonel Black’s tone leaves no room for argument.
    Nodding, Colonel Parker turns his attention back to us before saying, “We’re going to take a short break. Grab some coffee and we’ll resume in a few minutes.” Turning, he marches out the door with Colonel Black hot on his trail. Shutting the door behind them, it’s not long before their booming voices carry from the room next door into ours.
    “Dammit, Kyle. You need to stay back and let Delta do their job,” Colonel Black protests fiercely.
    “Don’t start with me, Charles.”
    “See reason, Kyle. They’d love nothing more than to get their hands on you and try to torture information out of you.”
    A deep, dark laugh rumbles from Colonel Parker’s lips. “As if they could break me. You know I’d die first. But nothing . . . and I repeat nothing will keep me from bringing her back safely.”
    “Goddammit, Kyle! She means just as much to me as she does to you. I’ve watched that little girl grow up from a tiny little thing into an amazing woman. You’ve got to be smart about this, dammit.”
    My gut clenches hearing the two friends go at each other, arguing over my Goddess. It’s clear from the interaction that this friendship goes deeper than the two let on. Fuck, it’s killing me not being able to fix this right away. Standing, I start pacing the room while the two Colonels go at each other, figuring their shit out. A few more moments pass with low, menacing rumbles from the other side of the wall before the door is thrown open to the briefing room. Colonel Black angrily marches in with Colonel Parker trailing closely behind, a smug grin fixed upon his face.
    Muttering under his breath, Colonel Black turns, leveling me with his dark gaze. “Don’t fuck this up. There’s a lot riding on this mission, Captain.” Cutting his eyes back to his friend momentarily, he gruffly says, “You know what you have to do. Find her, bring everyone home safely.”
    If only he knew how true that was. So much is riding on the success of this mission. This team, my team, could and would extract her safely. It’s what we do. We just have to find her first. Acknowledging the Colonel with a nod, I respond, “Yes, sir, understood.”
    Colonel Black claps his friend on the shoulder, whispering something in his ear. Keeping eye contact, they both nod before breaking away, the tension between the two draining. Darting his gaze back to the rest of the room, the commander we all know is swiftly put back into place. Authority laces each word as he commands, “Keep me apprised at all times.” Squeezing his friend’s shoulder one final, time he turns on his heel, exiting the room.
    The beat of my heart thrums in my chest as anticipation coils, wrapping itself around me like a snake ready to strike. Angling my body toward the table, I face my team, determination inscribed in every line, crevice, and shadow on my face. Speaking low, each word is clear and unambiguous as I say, “All right, boys, we’ve got a job to do. Let’s find our girl and bring her home.”
    Turning all attention to the Colonel, my voice is just above a growl when I say, “Sir, we’re gonna need everything you have on Sang-hyun.”
    Anticipation shines brightly in his eyes as he replies, “I thought you’d