Page 136 of Bound By Her

Kaydon shook his head. Jonathan gave a nod to his goon. Crest had always been inhumanly large, but seeing him next to Kaydon, the size difference was startling. Bullwhip in his right hand, Bryson watched in horror as Crest raised the handle above his head. The belly of the whip falling behind him. With a full pull of his arm, Crest brought the weapon down, delivering a punishing blow to Kaydon’s back.

The sound was deafening, and any patrons still talking were now jolted into a forced attention.

While the first hit had to have felt like a knife to the chest, Kaydon did not cry out. Bryson had to bite down onto his tongue to keep himself from speaking when the second slash was delivered.

And then a third.

Bryson tried to catch Eric’s eye, but it seemed he was no longer in the room.

On the fourth strike, the sound of Kaydon’s strangled voice filled the room. It was less of a cry and more of a moan. A sound of distress and pain. Bryson’s body broke out into a sweat.

Jonathan was fast, shoving the device in Kaydon’s open mouth. Bryson watched as the object was secured with deft precision.

Bryson moved, or, he tried to; cold steel pressed against his temple, halting him.

Click.

“Not another move, slave.”

The girl with pink nails gasped softly, pushing away from him. Murmurs stirred around the table, uneasy ripples spreading through the gathered guests. It was, Mathew, one of Jonathan’s enforcers. But Bryson barely heard them. His ears were ringing.

Jonathan was unzipping his pants.

Kaydon was thrashing against the restraints, saying things that would probably get them all killed. But thankfully the gag seemed to swallow the worst of it.

Jonathan’s voice was casual. “With this device, you can have total control—without the fear of retaliation.”

Bryson’s vision blurred at the edges. His eyes found Seth’s across the room.

A gun was trained on him, too.

Bryson gave a single, sharp shake of his head.

Don’t do anything.

Seth stilled—but for how long?

For how long could he stay still?

Then Jonathan moved—and Bryson’s reality shattered.

Kaydon gagged. Jonathan rocked into him mercilessly, forcing himself down Kaydon’s throat.

Bryson’s fingers curled into fists. His chest ached. Kaydon was struggling, choking, his body convulsing against the restraints.

Relax, Bryson begged silently.

Just relax, Kaydon. It'll be easier if you relax.

Jonathan’s eyes found his. And Bryson understood. This wasn’t punishment for Kaydon.

It was for him.

The rage inside him burned like a dying star, collapsing into something deeper—darker. Adria’s words echoed in his head, “You are going to get us all killed.”

He had asked his brothers to do this. He had told them it would work.

He had wanted to win.

---