All Chapters of Bound to the Capo: Chapter 1 - Chapter 10

TWO DAYS EARLIER VAL My gaze shifted to the clock on the wall as the razor slid across my jaw, scraping away the last traces of shaving cream. I had at most an hour or two to beat the storm, and this was an important meeting I couldn’t miss. On cue, my barber wiped my face dry and stepped back with a respectful bow. Getting to my feet, my valet was already approaching, tuxedo in hand, moving with a sense of urgency I appreciated as I raced against the elements. The robe fell from my shoulders, and I put on the tailored blue pants he handed me. My shirt came next, and as he rushed forward to adjust the cuffs and buttons, my thoughts drifted to my brother, who needed to brief me quickly before I left. As if he had read my mind, he walked in just as I shrugged into my jacket. I waved my hand for everyone to get out, and they all scrambled out while I turned to my brother, who whistled and smirked. “Look at you,” he teased. “I think I just wet myself.” “And here I thought yo

VAL Opening my eyes, all I saw was complete darkness, but not in the way that one associates with night. This was closer, tighter, as it pressed in from all sides, and I blinked quickly as panic crept into my throat. I tried to recall the events that had led me to this point, but I couldn't. My vision gradually adjusted, and a faint gleam above me brushed against the metal, letting me know I was surrounded by steel. It was narrow, like a drawer, and right then, the cold hit me. It was freezing, but I wasn’t uncomfortable. My breath hitched, except it wasn’t breathing. It was just… movement, a gasp without the warmth of air, and that’s when I realized I couldn't move either. Except for the cold, I couldn’t feel anything. I couldn't feel my limbs. I called out instinctively. “Is anybody there?” There was nothing, and I tried again, louder and desperate. "Anyone here?” But there was absolute silence, and that’s when I registered something else: my chest was hollow, there was n

SEVEN DAYS LATER WIREMONT CITY MAKENA Groaning, I checked the time, which was 7 a.m. I was usually on my feet by now, but I had not been sleeping well since that day in the morgue. A week had passed, and we had not seen our savior since. But every night, we awoke to his scent lingering in the air, as if he had been in the room, and the last thing he said to me played over and over in my mind. “No one will ever hurt you again. Not while I breathe, not while I exist." Following the attack, I awoke in a hospital bed, my savior nowhere to be found. Dr. Miles explained that I was unconscious upon arrival, and my rescuer left without waiting. The hospital notified my family, and my mother arrived moments later to take me home. My mate's memories haunted me the entire way home. Before my mother told me about the scene in the morgue where my attack occurred, a part of me had begun to believe that I had hallucinated the entire thing, or at least the part of being saved by my mat

MAKENA Opening my eyes, I slowly raised my head, taking in my surroundings as the events of the previous night came flooding back. I sat up, pulling on the jacket I woke up in while my mind raced with thoughts of how and when I fell asleep. Snow and I were terrified when our mate collapsed in our arms. We had no idea what to do, and I even considered running out there to get him some help before Snow pointed out how dangerous that would have been. He was not a wolf, so we couldn't just take him out there. Especially if he was what we thought he was, it would have caused chaos and likely resulted in his death. Our only hope had been that he was still alive. Snow and I could feel it, despite his lack of a heartbeat. Plus, it was said that when a mate died, you felt it, so I had pulled his head onto my lap and hummed to him all night, trying to provide whatever small comfort I could. I hoped Snow and I had not made a mistake by not risking everything and taking him out there. S

MAKENA “What? Why?” Erika asked, staring at me with wide eyes, obviously taken aback by my request. But I was in a desperate situation. I couldn’t go to Brindle. “Because I need it. Please, get it.” “No! I can’t do that. Why would you ask me to poison you?” “Because I'm desperate, Erika.” “Desperate for what? I don’t understand. What could make you want to kill yourself?” “Kill myself? I'm not trying to kill myself. I just want to get sick... sick enough not to go to Brindle.” “Why?” “Erika, please. I'm running out of time. Just do what I say," I begged, placing my hands on her shoulders, but she turned away from me. I began to tell her that I knew it was a big ask, but she interrupted. "I could get killed." "I know, but nobody will find out, I promise." She asked what if I became too ill, and I assured her that I would not, even though I had no idea, but I needed her to come through for me. I told her she could give me a small dose to induce a mild fever. "Please,