The Bonds We Break by Becca Steele

A Quick Recap

*Contains spoilers for the first four books in the Four series*

Winter Huntington moved to Alstone in order to investigate her father’s mysterious death, moving into an apartment on the campus of Alstone College, which she shared with Kinslee Stewart, who would later become her best friend. When she arrived in Alstone, she reconnected with her estranged mother, Christine Clifford. Christine was now married to Arlo Cavendish, one of the three founding families of Alstone Holdings and a powerful man.

Arlo had two sons, Caiden and Weston, who lived with their two other best friends, Zayde Lowry and Cassius Drummond. Collectively they were known as the Four. All sexy, tattooed, girls falling at their feet…you know the type.

While Weston was friendly enough to Winter, Caiden hated her. Or so he tried to tell himself. This all stemmed from the fact that he despised Christine, who had been having an affair with his dad. During their affair, Caiden’s mother had committed suicide (a fact that Caiden and Arlo took care to keep hidden from Weston, to protect him. Instead, they’d told him that she’d passed away from a brain haemorrhage).

Then came the story of boy meets girl, boy hates/lusts after girl, girl is confused, oops we kissed, we kissed again, my dick slipped into you, some fireworks, and yay we actually like each other!

Alongside all that, the investigations continued, and Winter and the Four drew closer to the answers. Weston was a computer genius, and with the help of his hacker connection (codenamed Mercury), he was able to procure information that would help them. At a party at the Cavendish residence, Winter met Cassius’ younger sister, Lena, for the first time, later finding out that Lena was there to investigate an illegal dog fighting ring, which was being live-streamed in one of the side rooms at the party. She later helped Winter and the Four, becoming a friend to Winter in the process.

There was a situation involving Winter’s friend James Granville, ending up with Caiden jumping to the wrong conclusions and telling Winter it was over between them. Unfortunately right after that happened, Winter ended up being knocked out and taken by the Belarusian gang that were working with her mother, and when she was eventually found, things were a little awkward between her and Caiden.

Circumstances kept them apart (i.e. Caiden needing time to come to his senses), and at a masquerade ball, they finally reconnected, although they’d both been coerced into attending with other dates. Winter with Cassius, and Caiden with Jessa De Witt, who was the daughter of Lars De Witt, a businessman who was negotiating an important deal with Alstone Holdings. She had known the Four for years, and had previously been with both Cassius and Caiden, and along with her friend Portia, was jealous of Winter’s new importance in the lives of the Four.

There was more fun/stress, some more sex, an argument or two, and then Joseph Hyde (James Granville’s cousin and a complete asshole) cornered Winter on New Year’s Eve. It wasn’t pretty, but Zayde and Caiden saved the day.

Winter went rogue, and found out that the Cavendish butler, Allan, was also involved. It eventually came to light that he was even more involved than they’d originally thought.

Winter and Zayde decided to get help from Credence Pope, aka Creed. He was one of the most powerful men in the country, and his connections were far-reaching. Thanks to him, they ended up with a surveillance van and all sorts of fun things, culminating in the interception of a meeting between Christine, the Belarusian Strelichevo gang, and the Hydes. Shit went down, Winter nearly got caught, but they managed to capture Joseph Hyde and Allan. It was time to get some answers.

Answers were forthcoming, but Christine was one step ahead. She’d managed to kidnap Jessa De Witt thanks to her mistaken belief that Jessa was Caiden’s girlfriend, and she blackmailed Caiden to release Allan and Joseph in order to set Jessa free.

It was time for the showdown at Alstone Docks. Christine went full-on villain, and revealed that she’d not only had Winter’s dad killed, but she’d been behind Caiden and Weston’s mother’s suicide. She was planning to take over Alstone Holdings, and get rid of the rest of the Cavendish family.

She shot at Winter, and Caiden pushed her out of the way to save her, getting himself shot in the process. His lifeless body fell to the floor, and it broke Winter. In the ensuing chaos she stabbed Christine, Arlo turned up and shot Christine, and Allan was killed.

Later in the hospital, Caiden woke.

They gradually managed to start rebuilding their lives, and Winter became a permanent member of the Four, and her relationship with Caiden went from strength to strength.

As for the true cause of Caiden and Weston’s mother’s death? Caiden and Arlo had planned to tell Weston, together.

Unfortunately, Weston found out before they could tell him. Chaos ensued, as he was hurt and betrayed. He turned to Lena Drummond, his best friend’s sister, who was secretly in love with him, but unfortunately for them both, she was also hiding her own secret from him. She had a secret identity…she was his hacker connection Mercury, and he had no idea until he accidentally found out. More drama, some sexy fun, an investigation of an illegal dog fighting ring, and then true love conquered all. All was well in Alstone again.

Until now…