Page 7 of Punished
Yìchén's nostrils flared in his rage as his chest heaved. He snatched the knuckles from Chen's hand and slipped them on his right hand. “Don't you touch me again,” he snarled.
“Follow my orders, and I won't have to,” Chen warned.
Yìchén wanted to say more, but too many eyes were on him, judging him. He'd already been made a fool of once; he couldn't take being laughed at or looked down on. Especially not by the men who worked for his fucking family. He turned to his Uncle Wang, who was smiling at him, mocking him with a shit-eating grin.
“Did your balls finally drop, boy?” Wang asked, then laughed.
“Shut up!” Yìchén yelled, then swung. His brass-knuckled fist connected with Wang's jaw, making the man grunt a little.
Wang groaned, then spit blood onto the floor. He turned back to his nephew. “Is that all you're made of? I’ve had whores smack me harder when riding me,” he taunted.
“Put more of your back into it,” Cheninstructed. “I thought you knew how to fight. That's what you told me, and yet you can't even throw a proper punch.”
Yìchén yelled and swung, but it wasn't on Wang. Chen took the blow against his jaw, the impact making him take two steps to the side, but he didn't waver. He caressed his jaw, then smiled, his gaze turning back to Yìchén.
“Oh, I'm going to have fun training you,” Chen said and the predatory stare in his eyes was full of so many emotions he felt. He wanted to claim the boy, to make him feel pain, to break him down and build him back up again. He started to have his way when he caught a glimpse of Da Han's furrowed brow in his peripheral. Immediately, his shields snapped back into place. For a second, he'd fucked up and let his mask fall off. For in that moment, everyone in the room, if they were paying attention, saw what lay beneath his cool, calm exterior. His beast.
“Are you all right?” Da Han asked.
Chen nodded. “Yes, sir. I'm fine. Like Wang said, it lacked strength.”
“You son of a bitch,” Yìchén cursed.
“Yìchén!” Da Han snapped, gaining his son's attention. “You're disappointing me.”
“Just have one of your men do it,” Yìchén begged.
“You are one of mine,” Da Han snapped back.
Chen stepped up to Wang. “Pay attention,” he told Yìchén, then punched Wang hard, using the muscles in his body to deliver a blow that sent two of Wang's teeth scattering across the floor along with splatters of blood.
Wang Mujin groaned and coughed, his entire head throbbing from the pain of that powerful blow. He looked up at Chen. “You... always... were an asshole,” he said between pants.
“Hithim like that,” Chen said, ignoring Wang's insult. All of his focus was on training Yìchén.
Yìchén took a deep breath because he knew if he didn't, his father would punish him, and being cut off from the wealth and luxury he grew up with would be unbearable. He punched his uncle again, hating the fact that he had to hurt someone he'd once loved and trusted. The person who would sit him on his lap and tell him stories as a child. He punched him again and again, and each time, his anger rose because he was forced to do it. But more so because his uncle had put him in this predicament.
Wang Mujin's face was covered in blood, more teeth were broken or knocked out, and his nose was also broken by the time Da Han called it off. Yìchén's clothes were decorated with the blood of his enemy, just the way Da Han wanted. Yìchén's rage was beyond the call of their voices as he wailed blow after blow. Chen had to pull Yìchén back from attacking Wang.
“Fuck you!” Yìchén yelled at his uncle as he thrashed in Chen's powerful embrace.
“Calm down,” Chen told him as he held the young man close to his chest, limiting his movement with a technical hold.
Eventually, Yìchén began to settle, his rage-filled curses fading as he slumped against Chen's chest. All of his adrenaline draining away.
“That's it, calm down. You did good,” Chen praised.
Something clicked into place in Yìchén’s mind hearing the compliment coming from the man who had him conflicted. One part of him was terrified of Chen and wanted nothing to do with him. The other part wanted to be consumed by that terrifying man until there was nothing of him left. He looked up at Chen, his eyes glazed over as if he was still in a daze.
Chen nodded. “Very good, Yìchén. For this is how youdeal with your enemies. No matter who they are. Your hands should be covered in their blood. There's hope for you yet.”
“Hope?” Yìchén whispered.
“Yes,” Chen said, then released him, but made sure Yìchén was steady on his feet before he completely let him go. “Now, observe.” He turned Yìchén around so he could see what was going to happen next.
Yìchén turned to see Jun De walking over toward Wang. Da Han had given his bodyguard a command during the time Chen had been dealing with him. Yìchén stood back beside Chen to do as he was told. He looked down at his hands covered in blood, his clothes as well, and a wave of dizziness washed over him and he stumbled.
Chen caught him, then let him lean against his body. “Do not fall,” he whispered in Yìchén's ear. “Lean on me.”
