The popular Mafia Dark-Romance short drama Bound by the Past from ReelShort is the seventh installment from best-selling author Cora Reilly’s Born in Blood Mafia Chronicles.

Released shortly after the success of its prequel (Bound by Duty), the sequel focuses on the events after Dante and Valentina confirmed their love. However, we recently found out that there’s more to what we’ve seen on the drama so far!

What made the Mafia Boss who swore loyalty to the cause betray his very own rules? Read about Dante’s five betrayals in Bound by the Past novel now.

• Part 1: What Is the Bound by the Past ReelShort All About?
• Part 2: What to Expect in Bound by the Past Novel?
• Part 3: Thoughts on Bound by the Past Drama and Novel
• Part 4: Is Bound by the Past Novel Worth Reading?

Part 1: What Is the Bound by the Past ReelShort All About?

The 31-episode of Bound by the Past on ReelShort tells the story after Valentina Cavallaro and Dante Cavallaro finally fell for each other. It includes their married life, the birth of Anna, and the challenges their family had to go through.

Bound by the Past Plot Summary

From the moment Valentina agrees to Dante’s contract marriage, she knows exactly what she’s getting herself into.

Born and raised in an equally dangerous environment, Valentina grew up sheltered and instilled that her only worth is to become a piece in a marriage alliance.

And despite all of that, she never regrets her decision.

Because this is a mafia dark romance, and apparently the fastest way to turn a dangerous criminal empire into a love story is to give the most feared man in Chicago one woman he would happily destroy the world for.

And the perfect female lead to start with is a stubborn woman who refuses to follow the traditions. Using her charm, a bit of her ability, and fifty percent of seduction, Valentina eventually convinced Dante to give her a position in the mafia.

Valentina eventually learns the ropes of being a mafia wife. Unfortunately, one of those ropes is apparently “get kidnapped because your husband loves you too much.”

Yes, once the other mafia dons realize Dante is hopelessly in love with Valentina, they immediately identify her as his weakness, the entry way to death in the hands of the Outfit Capo. Because why waste time attacking the heavily guarded mafia patriarch directly when you can simply kidnap his wife?

Remo Falcone isn’t the first person to attempt the kidnapping, but he’s the first one to succeed and hold out for several days.

He kidnaps Valentina. And mind you, inside the supposedly heavily guarded Cavallaro Mansion. And, predictably, Dante loses whatever remaining ability he had to think rationally.

To be fair, Dante’s reaction is practically mandatory in the mafia-romance handbook. The heroine gets kidnapped, the hero gets angry, someone mentions his wife’s name, and suddenly international diplomacy is no longer an option.

Valentina, meanwhile, is doing her best to survive without turning into the completely helpless damsel these stories sometimes love. Even while held hostage, she protects herself and her unborn baby and waits for Dante to come for them.

Dante launches an all-out attack against Remo and his men, unleashing the sort of rage that makes it very clear why nobody should ever mess with the mafia patriarch’s wife.

Mandatorily, Remo loses his men, loses his leverage, and eventually has no choice but to release Valentina and run. But he succeeded in his goal. He made Dante declare war between the Chicago and Las Vegas mafia.

Now Valentina is basically the classic mafia-romance heroine—the beautiful woman whose existence is enough to make powerful men start making historically terrible decisions.

Because in this mafia romance, love doesn’t just conquer all. Apparently, it conquers cities, destroys alliances, starts wars, and occasionally exposes the world’s most questionable mansion security system.

Find out what happens next in Bound by the Past. Stream the full episodes on ReelShort now!

Part 2: What to Expect in Bound by the Past Novel?

The success of the Bound by Duty short drama has made fans expect more from the sequel. The problem is, the series is only 31 episodes, too short for a normal vertical drama and an adaptation of a novel.

As such, this article is written to give you some insights into what you’ll be expecting once you finally decide to open and read the novel.

Dante’s Five Betrayals

Surely, a 2-minute short drama with 31 episodes wouldn’t be able to cover all the content of the Bound by the Past book. As we’ve found out while reading the novel, the story also tackles Dante’s past—his five betrayals.

As the Capo of the Outfit Mafia, he swore to prioritize the organization above all else. But there is more than one instance where he betrayed the cause all for the woman (women actually) that he loved. Talk about a lover boy mafia boss.

His first betrayal was when he was 19, and it was because of his first love. Two of his betrayals were actually for his first wife, which was tackled in the first book about Dante and Valentina.

The rest, they were for Valentina and his daughter Anna.

A More Interesting Depiction of Remo Falcone

In the novel, Remo Falcone is not just a madman eager for a war to prove something. Although the book doesn’t focus on him, fans become more interested in him, even labeling him as the most desirable man among the male characters in Cora Reilly’s universe.

Readers were comparing Remo’s modern thinking with the Outfit people’s narrow-minded and traditional mindset. Especially when the author gave a glimpse of Remo’s life with his family. He allows them to do whatever makes them happy. For him, creating a safe environment is the priority.

Unlike Dante, who chooses to lock and homeschool Anna to protect him. He might have protected his daughter, but at the cost of taking away her freedom.

Well, Remo might not be the best Capo, but he definitely owns the Best Dad and Lover Award.

Be Ready to Change Your Opinion of Valentina

We all love Valentina in the first season of her story. She’s the stubborn and smart woman who wouldn’t let any man demean her efforts. And as result, she got a position in the Outfit, something no one has ever done except her.

However, in the Bound by the Past novel, she becomes the very same kind of person she hated. In her own story, she refuses to be tied in a loveless marriage, so she did everything to make Dante fall for her.

Apparently, when it was her 8-year-old daughter’s turn for an arranged marriage, instead of refusing it like everyone expected a woman of her caliber would do, Valentina just agreed. So much for hating loveless marriage.

She’s lucky Dante fell for her and isn’t some kind of egoistic and abusive husband. But what about Anna’s soon-to-be husband?

Part 3: Thoughts on Bound by the Past Drama and Novel

Reading and watching both versions of Bound by the Past made us realize that it’s best to read the reviews first before digging yourself a hole. The drama version gives us a follow-up of Dante and Valentina Cavallaro’s life. Of course with additional drama and a comeback of the villains.

Although it was short and kind of derailed from the book version, the continuity is still there. Plus, the plot didn’t drag unnecessarily, unlike the novel.

While reading reviews, we found out that most scenes in the Bound by the Past book already happened in the past installments of the Born in Blood Mafia Chronicles. As a series, it’s expected for some plot points to cross over to other installments, but it shouldn’t be so long that it almost sounds like a retelling.

Though, this problem is just for long-time readers who have read Cora Reilly’s past books. But as for us first-time readers, the occasional loss of focus on the main characters is our enemy—and some lost context.

Part 4: Is Bound by the Past Novel Worth Reading?

If you’re more interested in Dante and Valentina’s romance, the ReelShort adaptation gives you the important arcs of their love story without requiring you to wade through the entire mafia universe.

But if Dante’s past, Remo’s character, and Valentina’s morally questionable parenting decisions have you curious, the Bound by the Past novel gives you considerably more to chew on.

Well, it’s for you to decide. But if you do read the book, let us know your thoughts. We’ll be happy to listen (to your rants).