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CHAPTER 11
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2024-12-09 03:40:11Related chapters
Bound by Gun (Book 1) CHAPTER 01
A gunshot ripped into the dark silence, its sound so harsh and sudden it made the air quiver. Catalina De Luca stopped in the doorway, her throat seized. Her fingers clutched the wooden frame, keeping her upright while her big, scared eyes locked on her father. He stood shaking, his lofty form silhouetted against the starless heavens. Smoke rose from the gun still grasped in his hands, the smell of gunpowder curling into the salty breeze. Catalina didn’t recognize him. Once he held the world on his shoulders, but now he felt empty, his suffering leaking through gaps nobody could heal. The bullet was merely a cry into the emptiness; it was not meant for anybody. At least, that’s what Catalina believed. She had to believe it. “Dad,” she said, moving forward, her voice as delicate as the evening around them. Her arms hung in the air, unsure what to do, as if they might hold him together somehow. “Kindly put it down. Please..." Her father didn’t move. His eyes, lined with unsh
Last Updated : 2024-11-25Bound by Gun (Book 1) CHAPTER 02
The city roared with the shattering of car windows, a whirlwind of vibrant neon lights, and shadowy streets that seemed to exist in stark contrast to the serene sanctuary of Catalina’s home.Her heart quickened as she relived the whirlwind of moments that had led her into this haunting reality. The unforgiving leather seats dug into her back, a stark reminder of the unyielding nature of her life. Inside the car, she was surrounded by an oppressive silence, heavy and binding like chains.Catalina clenched her trembling hands, her nails digging into her palms. Despite the turmoil in her heart, she was determined not to let it take control. Her father’s face—filled with fear and despair—haunted her thoughts, and a haunting vision seared itself into her memory. She felt utterly helpless as they took him from her, dragging him away into the unknown.Now, she found herself pulled into the depths of peril, her heart racing with a mix of fear and longing. But why must it be this way? What cou
Last Updated : 2024-11-25Bound by Gun (Book 1) CHAPTER 03
Matteo Moretti’s gaze nearly brought Catalina to her knees. His words echoed in her mind, each phrase sinking like stones into a bottomless well: You shall pay for your father’s sins. Though her whole body shook, she forced herself to breathe, to stay calm. Every instinct screamed at her to flee, but there was nowhere to go. The doors had closed behind her, trapping her in this gilded prison under the watchful eye of the man ruling this empire of shadows. Matteo regarded her like a predator sizing up his prey. The silence was unbearable, stretching taut between them. Catalina felt as if she were teetering on the edge of a cliff, ready to fall. When her voice finally surfaced, it was no more than a whisper. “Please,” she pleaded, desperation breaking her words. “It was a mistake. My father didn’t mean for any of this to happen.” Matteo’s eyes narrowed, and the faintest flicker of something—contempt, perhaps—crossed his face. He stepped back slightly, putting space between them, thou
Last Updated : 2024-11-25Bound by Gun (Book 1) CHAPTER 04
Every stride Catalina took down the hall brought her closer to Luca Moretti, the reason she was here. Her heart thudded in her chest, mixed with remorse and fear. The young woman who had come to retrieve her led the way in silence, her countenance still gentle but hesitant, as if she was cautious of allowing problems onto herself by speaking too freely.They moved along a sequence of passageways, each more lavish than the next. The splendor felt to Catalina like suffocating. Though the mansion was beautiful, yes, it also felt like a maze meant to make her feel small, helpless, and absolutely out of place.She tried to concentrate on her breathing, to calm her anxieties, but nothing could untangle the fear coiling in her gut.At last, they stopped outside a door less grand than the others. It was painted a beautiful, peaceful blue, and a little wooden sign bearing the name “Luca” was hanging on it, surface etched with care.Turning to Catalina, the young woman gave a comforting smile.
Last Updated : 2024-11-25Bound by Gun (Book 1) CHAPTER 05
The Moretti mansion’s dining room was a great expanse of dark mahogany and crystal chandeliers, each element painstakingly chosen to highlight wealth and authority. Feeling little and out of place among the austere grandeur, Catalina sat at one end of the long dinner table.Luca, across from her, his small shape minuscule against the high-backed chair. His large, inquisitive eyes brimmed with a blend of innocence and a sort of wisdom gleaned from only surviving suffering.Matteo Moretti ruled over the table like a monarch. Watching over his son, he was a solemn, authoritative presence with sharp lines of jaw set in a grimace. Quietly and quickly, servants laid out dishes of precisely cooked food.But even with the lovely dinner in front of her, Catalina lost her appetite. The room had obvious, stifling tension.Catalina attempted to concentrate on Luca and gave him a little, real grin. In this dark, perilous universe she had been dragged into, he was the sole lighthouse. Her heart con
Last Updated : 2024-11-25Bound by Gun (Book 1) CHAPTER 06
Catalina’s POV. I was making Luca’s bed nice and neat, gently smoothing out the sheets while he was in the bathroom. The room was so still and quiet, which felt really different from all the thoughts racing around in my head. While I folded the blanket and set it neatly on the edge of the bed, I couldn’t help but notice the vanity table nearby. A piece of paper was there, a bit crumpled, with its edges curled from being held tightly. Feeling a bit curious, I picked it up and took a closer look at the drawing. A little boy with dark hair was holding hands with a blonde woman who had a bright, warm smile. A sleek black Maserati stood out in the background. My heart felt heavy. “Is she his mother?” I quietly said to myself. It was clear that she was everything to him. At his age, not having a mother’s love can really hurt, leaving a mark that might take a long time to heal. It makes sense that he held on tightly to every memory he had of her. “That’s my mom,” a soft voice whispe
Last Updated : 2024-12-09Bound by Gun (Book 1) CHAPTER 07
Matteo’s POV.It was well past midnight when I made my way back. The burden of the week hung heavy, a silent chain pulling me down with every move. The hallway lay in a heavy silence, the air thick and unmoving, interrupted only by the relentless ticking of the clock. The scent of home lingered in the air—leather, a whisper of pine, and something delicate, something I couldn’t quite place but recognized as hers.The coat fell from my shoulders, draping itself over the nearest chair without a care. The tension in my neck demanded relief, yet the sight of the door slightly ajar down the hallway held me captive, unyielding. A narrow beam of light crept out, casting a faint glow on the shadowy ground.I had no desire to see it. But my feet moved me ahead regardless, silent and deliberate, like a hunter closing in on its target. I cracked the door just wide enough to take a look inside.And there they stood.Catalina lay on the bed, her arm wrapped around Luca, a silent guardian in the sha
Last Updated : 2024-12-09Bound by Gun (Book 1) CHAPTER 8
Catalina’s POVThe sun rises; its soft golden fingers streak along the walls through the blinds. I slowly opened my eyes; Luca’s warmth was replaced by absence. My chest is knitted tight with panic.Where is he?I sat upright as I could feel the chill of the sheets where he was. My heart was drumming against my chest. I flung my legs out onto the cold hardwood floor at the side of the bed, laced up on my toes. My buzzing mind had me moving as I walked on padding feet out of the room.The clinking was what drew me, and I walked into the kitchen.I could feel the relief pouring into me as I looked into the room and saw him sitting at the table. Little hands clasped daintily around a spoon, bright eyes fixed on eating his breakfast. Not for long. My eyes left him to settle on the man by the counter. His back was turned toward me. Broad shoulders and tensed posture made my skin shiver, and even the air around him looked frozen.Matteo.The way he held that steaming coffee mug was tight en
Last Updated : 2024-12-09
Latest chapter
Bound by Gun (Book 1) CHAPTER 11
Catalina’s POV.The door shut with a soft but final click; the sound echoed through my ears like a gunshot, making me shudder.I slid down the doorframe, my legs no longer able to hold me up. Sobs wracked my body, my shoulders shaking with each ragged breath. My fingers rose to touch my lips—the same lips Matteo had ravished with a hunger that left them raw and tingling.The feel of his mouth, his hands, his heat—all of it—was branded into me like a scar that could never be washed off.Why had he done this?The pain of his hard kiss pulsed like agony across my lips. I licked salty tears as they fell, mixing with the lingering smell of whiskey and smoke that clung to me. My heart pounded within my chest, each beat a mix of fear, confusion, and something far more dangerous—a spark I refused to name.He was drunk.That was the only explanation. I kept repeating it like a mantra. Matteo was drowning in his anger, frustration, and the alcohol-fueled fire he couldn’t control.But the look i
Bound by Gun (Book 1) CHAPTER 10 (18+)
Matteo’s POV The whiskey burned down my throat. A trail of fire danced with the rage simmering within me. The glass in my hand was chilled to perfection, but nothing seemed able to curb the heat rising from within my chest. Smoke curled around me, a mist of frustration and fury. A half-smoked cigarette dangled between my fingers, the glow between my curled, stiff fingers the only warmth in the dimly lit sala. I took another long drag, letting the smoke sear into my lungs before slowly blowing it out. My head was a battle zone, images of deception flashing like gunfire: Victor and his sneer, poisoned wine, and the audacity of men who believed they were more clever than me—better or more worthy of what I’d earned in blood and steel. The business world was a more deadly version of an unloaded pistol with the safety off. Deals sealed with a handshake could explode like grenades. Survival was more than just pulling a trigger; it meant knowing when to pull it, who to aim at, and making
Bound by Gun (Book 1) CHAPTER 9
Matteo’s POV Smoke and tension clung to the air like a wet shroud. The subdued hum of conversation and clinking glass were nearly inaudible in a place where one came to hear oneself think. The crystal chandeliers hung in the air like shards of stars, casting fractured light on the velvet-lined booths. I sat back in my chair, slouching my arm across the leather top, fingers tracing patterns no one else knew. I fixed my gaze on the man seated opposite me. Victor Ramirez. He wore a suit that looked like something a wannabe potentate would wear, slicked-back hair, a glint of gold on his wrist from his watch, and a smile so fake he could have sold it in a promise-filled pitch. Business partner. In my world, trust was a currency that far exceeded the value of gold, and right now, the market is crashing. I took a slow sip of whiskey. The burn traveled down my throat, anchoring me in the moment. My instincts buzzed subtly, every nerve on edge. The noise—chatter, laughter, the clinkin
Bound by Gun (Book 1) CHAPTER 8
Catalina’s POVThe sun rises; its soft golden fingers streak along the walls through the blinds. I slowly opened my eyes; Luca’s warmth was replaced by absence. My chest is knitted tight with panic.Where is he?I sat upright as I could feel the chill of the sheets where he was. My heart was drumming against my chest. I flung my legs out onto the cold hardwood floor at the side of the bed, laced up on my toes. My buzzing mind had me moving as I walked on padding feet out of the room.The clinking was what drew me, and I walked into the kitchen.I could feel the relief pouring into me as I looked into the room and saw him sitting at the table. Little hands clasped daintily around a spoon, bright eyes fixed on eating his breakfast. Not for long. My eyes left him to settle on the man by the counter. His back was turned toward me. Broad shoulders and tensed posture made my skin shiver, and even the air around him looked frozen.Matteo.The way he held that steaming coffee mug was tight en
Bound by Gun (Book 1) CHAPTER 07
Matteo’s POV.It was well past midnight when I made my way back. The burden of the week hung heavy, a silent chain pulling me down with every move. The hallway lay in a heavy silence, the air thick and unmoving, interrupted only by the relentless ticking of the clock. The scent of home lingered in the air—leather, a whisper of pine, and something delicate, something I couldn’t quite place but recognized as hers.The coat fell from my shoulders, draping itself over the nearest chair without a care. The tension in my neck demanded relief, yet the sight of the door slightly ajar down the hallway held me captive, unyielding. A narrow beam of light crept out, casting a faint glow on the shadowy ground.I had no desire to see it. But my feet moved me ahead regardless, silent and deliberate, like a hunter closing in on its target. I cracked the door just wide enough to take a look inside.And there they stood.Catalina lay on the bed, her arm wrapped around Luca, a silent guardian in the sha
Bound by Gun (Book 1) CHAPTER 06
Catalina’s POV. I was making Luca’s bed nice and neat, gently smoothing out the sheets while he was in the bathroom. The room was so still and quiet, which felt really different from all the thoughts racing around in my head. While I folded the blanket and set it neatly on the edge of the bed, I couldn’t help but notice the vanity table nearby. A piece of paper was there, a bit crumpled, with its edges curled from being held tightly. Feeling a bit curious, I picked it up and took a closer look at the drawing. A little boy with dark hair was holding hands with a blonde woman who had a bright, warm smile. A sleek black Maserati stood out in the background. My heart felt heavy. “Is she his mother?” I quietly said to myself. It was clear that she was everything to him. At his age, not having a mother’s love can really hurt, leaving a mark that might take a long time to heal. It makes sense that he held on tightly to every memory he had of her. “That’s my mom,” a soft voice whispe
Bound by Gun (Book 1) CHAPTER 05
The Moretti mansion’s dining room was a great expanse of dark mahogany and crystal chandeliers, each element painstakingly chosen to highlight wealth and authority. Feeling little and out of place among the austere grandeur, Catalina sat at one end of the long dinner table.Luca, across from her, his small shape minuscule against the high-backed chair. His large, inquisitive eyes brimmed with a blend of innocence and a sort of wisdom gleaned from only surviving suffering.Matteo Moretti ruled over the table like a monarch. Watching over his son, he was a solemn, authoritative presence with sharp lines of jaw set in a grimace. Quietly and quickly, servants laid out dishes of precisely cooked food.But even with the lovely dinner in front of her, Catalina lost her appetite. The room had obvious, stifling tension.Catalina attempted to concentrate on Luca and gave him a little, real grin. In this dark, perilous universe she had been dragged into, he was the sole lighthouse. Her heart con
Bound by Gun (Book 1) CHAPTER 04
Every stride Catalina took down the hall brought her closer to Luca Moretti, the reason she was here. Her heart thudded in her chest, mixed with remorse and fear. The young woman who had come to retrieve her led the way in silence, her countenance still gentle but hesitant, as if she was cautious of allowing problems onto herself by speaking too freely.They moved along a sequence of passageways, each more lavish than the next. The splendor felt to Catalina like suffocating. Though the mansion was beautiful, yes, it also felt like a maze meant to make her feel small, helpless, and absolutely out of place.She tried to concentrate on her breathing, to calm her anxieties, but nothing could untangle the fear coiling in her gut.At last, they stopped outside a door less grand than the others. It was painted a beautiful, peaceful blue, and a little wooden sign bearing the name “Luca” was hanging on it, surface etched with care.Turning to Catalina, the young woman gave a comforting smile.
Bound by Gun (Book 1) CHAPTER 03
Matteo Moretti’s gaze nearly brought Catalina to her knees. His words echoed in her mind, each phrase sinking like stones into a bottomless well: You shall pay for your father’s sins. Though her whole body shook, she forced herself to breathe, to stay calm. Every instinct screamed at her to flee, but there was nowhere to go. The doors had closed behind her, trapping her in this gilded prison under the watchful eye of the man ruling this empire of shadows. Matteo regarded her like a predator sizing up his prey. The silence was unbearable, stretching taut between them. Catalina felt as if she were teetering on the edge of a cliff, ready to fall. When her voice finally surfaced, it was no more than a whisper. “Please,” she pleaded, desperation breaking her words. “It was a mistake. My father didn’t mean for any of this to happen.” Matteo’s eyes narrowed, and the faintest flicker of something—contempt, perhaps—crossed his face. He stepped back slightly, putting space between them, thou
