All Chapters of Bound To The Kingpin: Chapter 1 - Chapter 3

Luna"Mr. Jenkins breathing has worsened," I told Dr. Morris as we hurried down the dimly lit hospice hallway. "He's struggling to catch his breath, and his oxygen saturation is dropping."Dr. Morris gave a short nod. "Was there any sign of distress earlier?""He mentioned mild discomfort, but it escalated fast. His daughter is with him—she's panicking."We reached Room 214, and the moment I pushed the door open, the sound of ragged, labored breathing filled the space.Mr. Jenkins lay against his pillows, his chest rising and falling erratically, his face pale and clammy. His daughter sat at his bedside, her fingers clutching his frail hand. Tears streaked her cheeks."Dad, hold on," she pleaded. "Please, just hold on."I moved swiftly to his side. "Mr. Jenkins, it's Luna. We're going to help you, okay?"His weak gaze met mine, his lips parted as he tried to speak—but only a wheeze came out."Let's get him more comfortable," Dr. Morris said. "Luna, increase his oxygen and check his m

Luna The morning light streams through the windows as I made my way down the hallway of the hospice. I stopped at the first patient's room, checking the chart on the door. Mrs. Alvarez—eighty-two, terminal, but still fighting. Her chart looks stable today, so I mark it down with a quiet nod and move to the next room.One by one, I visited the patients under my care, checking their vitals and reviewing their charts. It's a routine I've become accustomed to, the same one I follow every morning. There's something calming about the predictability of it all. The names, the numbers, the data—it's all I've ever known in this job. And it keeps me grounded.I gave a smile to Mr. Thompson, who's always asking if I brought him coffee. I didn't, but I promise him I'll bring some tomorrow. It's a small thing, but it keeps him going. Small moments like these remind me why I chose this career, why I keep doing it.Once the rounds were finished, I made my way to my office, my feet dragging a little.