Detained

Book 4: Beneath the Mask

by Luna Mason

Genres: Romance

Synopsis

A ruthless mafia boss, and a determined NYPD detective play a dangerous  and seductive game of cat and mouse, in this thrilling dark romance set amidst the brutal yet alluring underbelly of the New York City Mafia.

 
Frankie
I don’t have to hide behind a mask anymore. I rule New York. It’s time to finish what I started ten years ago—destroy the man who took my life. No one can get in my way. That is until I’m arrested for murder and have my first taste of Detective Zara O’Reilly. The woman is hell bent on ruining my plans. She thinks I don’t know she’s watching my every move, waiting to drag me back into that prison cell. She can pretend I’m the enemy all she likes. In reality, she craves me as much as I do her. No matter how much we fight it. My stalker becomes my obsession. She doesn’t realize the power she holds, not only over me, but the city. Together we will be unstoppable . . . if she lets me break her.

Release date: November 19, 2024

Publisher: Kensington Books

Print pages: 304

Sample

“You fucking did what?” I slam my fists down on the table as my asshole of a brother bows his head in shame. I told my father countless times Marco was not fit for the job. He isn’t a leader. 

Today has proven that. 

“I had no choice. You said we needed to get the Capris under control.” 

I can’t believe what I am hearing. My jaw ticks as I try to suppress some of this rage inside of me, so I don’t shoot him in the head. 

“So, you thought killing his wife would be the way to get him to back off our territory?” I spit out. 

“He hasn’t said a word since.” He shrugs, and my hands ball into fists.

I lunge over the table, grab him by the throat, and squeeze. His eyes bulge as he claws at my forearm. 

“You piece of shit,” I seethe.

Blue begins to tinge the edges of his lips before I release him to fall back in his chair, gasping.

Pulling out my phone, I watch him closely and dial Leila. 

The woman who’s had me wrapped around her finger since we were kids. My blonde beauty who is carrying our daughter. I came here to tell my brother we were leaving. Our flight is booked to Cuba to start our new life away from the mess he keeps bringing to our door. 

I don’t want my family anywhere near him. 

Holding the cell to my ear, I glower at him as it rings. “I swear to God, if anything happens to her, I will kill you. Blood or not, you will die.” 

His face pales.

Relief washes over me when I hear her sweet voice through the speaker. 

“Baby, I need you to get home, lock the doors, and wait for me.” I rush out my words. 

“I’m at Marco’s with Carla. We’re safe here, right?” 

I shake my head, my heart rate spiking. His protection is nowhere near the standard I would have over my family. 

“Fine. Stay inside the house. I’m coming to get you.” 

As I sprint out of the door, I jump in the car and put her on speaker. 

“Leila,” I shout into the phone. 

“I-I’m here. Do you want me to get Rosa and Eva inside?” Her voice shakes.

I press my fingers to my temple as I speed down the road. “Where are they? I need you and our baby safe, Leila.”

There’s a pause. “They’re playing in the garden.” 

My hands clench the steering wheel. “Tell them to come in, baby. Please, just listen to me.” 

“Y-you’re scaring me.” 

I bite my tongue before answering, ‘good.’ I know this life scares her. That's why I am taking her away. Why I never acted on my plans to take Marco out and assume his place as head of the family. 

It’s the reason I pretend to be a good man. For her. Anything for her. She doesn’t need to see the cold monster I am beneath this. 

“Sweetheart, it’s going to be okay. I just need you to listen to me. Meet me outside the house. I’m just around the corner.” I keep my tone calm, despite the fear running through my veins. 

Her rapid breathing grows quieter. “Girls, I need you to come inside!” she yells. 

“One second,” I hear my niece, Rosa, call back. I wish I could take her with us. 

“Now, Rosa. Inside. I am not asking again,” Leila shouts like an angry mom. She is going to make the best mother for our children. 

I turn onto Marco’s road. “Leila, baby, I’m pulling down the driveway.” 

“Okay. I’m just coming to the front door. The girls are walking towards the back.”

Marco’s mansion, coming into view, lightens the load on my chest. 

“I love you, Frankie.” 

I smile, entering the code to his gates. “I love you, too. Both of you.” 

The heavy iron barricades slowly open. I rub my hand over my short beard in frustration. Fuck waiting until tomorrow for a flight. We’re going tonight. Marco can figure his own mess out. I am done babysitting his ass. 

Racing down the long tree-lined lane, gravel flies as I skid to a stop before the wide marble steps as the front door swings inward. 

A loud boom has me jolting back in my seat. I brace forward, covering my head with my hands on the steering wheel as the vibrations rock through the car, shattering my windows around me, piercing into my hands. 

It falls silent, so I slowly look up towards the house. 

“No. No. No.” 

Before I can register what is happening, another bang goes off, flames dancing in my vision. 

This can’t be fucking real. 

Wiping my trembling hands over my face, I can barely see as the shock consumes me. 

Leila. 

I have to help her. 

I race out of the vehicle, towards the rubble and smoke. My heart feels like it’s been ripped from my chest. 

Only half of the house is standing. The thick air makes my eyes sting. I only have one thing running through my mind: my girls. 

Without thinking, I launch myself towards the rubble, pushing chunks of it out of the way frantically. 

“Leila!” I scream at the top of my lungs. 

Moving forwards, past the remains of the sofa and the sink, I can’t find any trace of her. Fuck. 

“Come on, baby. Where are you?” 

I keep going on my hands and knees, tossing the debris out of my way. With every second that passes in silence, my hope fades. 

There is no coming back from this. It isn’t possible. 

It’s my fault. I told her to stay in the house. 

My palm lands on something soft. Tugging on it, blood drips over my wrist. Looking down, my stomach rolls as I look at the severed hand in mine. 

“No!” I can barely speak. 

I choke on the knot that has my throat closing.

“Fuck!!” I roar, taking another look through my burning eyes. 

Her engagement ring. 

“Frankie, get the fuck out of there. The rest of it’s gonna collapse!” 

I swing around to see my brother, face streaming with tears as he looks at the devastation he’s caused. 

Reluctantly, I drag myself to my feet. The wall and ceiling groan and I hear wood break. A piece of plaster bounces off my shoulder, hurrying me to lunge out of the door before I’m crushed, dropping Leila’s hand as I do. 

Continuing past Marco, I can’t look at him. Anger builds within me so tightly, I might fucking kill him if I do. Each step crushes me as I walk away from her. 

A hollow ache wraps around my heart.

She’s gone.

Tears burn in my eyes, and my chest heaves as I sink onto the ground, wishing it would just swallow me up, too. 

The pain is almost too much to bear. 

“Frankie.” I can hear the despair in his voice as he approaches me. 

“Frankie, I know you’re hurting,” he repeats. 

I suck in a breath, white rage taking over. It’s a mistake to be vulnerable to him. To show him how badly this is ripping me apart. He’ll never let me forget this if he sees it.

My gun points at him before I turn.

“Don’t take another step towards me, or I will blow your motherfucking brains out.” 

He holds his hands up in surrender, tears rolling down his face. “My daughters. My wife.” 

My finger twitches over the trigger. But all I can see replaying in my mind are the visions of Rosa and Eva playing in the yard. That’s the last place Leila said they were. 

With a huff, I lower my arm. For them, I’ll tolerate his presence. I need to find my nieces. 

Let’s hope Rosa and Eva didn’t listen to Leila and stayed outside. 

Without a word, I head off, and he follows behind me as we skirt the remains of the house. The girls always played by the swings. The glass crunches under my shoes as we step around the corner. Marco rushes past me towards the two small bodies lying motionless in the grass. 

My knees sink into the soft earth as I pull a limp Rosa into my arms. Marco cradles Eva, and a low moan escapes his throat. I put two fingers to Rosa’s neck, searching for a sign of life. 

“She has a pulse,” I call out to Marco, who nods. 

I cuddle her into my chest, cupping her bloodstained head as I carry her to my car. 

Carefully placing her on the backseat, a new wave of fury surges within me as Marco turns to face me. 

I pull out my gun from my shoulder holster and press it against his forehead. 

“Once I know the girls are okay, you won’t be seeing me for a while.” 

Pressing the barrel harder against his skin, he gulps. I can’t believe my brother would do this to us.

“I’m letting you live so you can care for my nieces. But, don’t mistake that for anything more. They don’t deserve to be orphans; they need you. Just know that I will be coming for you. I will make you pay for what you’ve done. You will die for this, Marco. And so will Romano.” 

I’d take them if I could, but they’re safer without me. But when the time is right, I will be back for them. I’ll make sure of it.

“I’m sorry, Frankie.” 

“No. We’re done. Enjoy the time you have left with your family, because I will end it.”

My life has been ripped from under me. I have nothing. 

I will hold on to this searing pain and use it for my revenge. 

Today I watched my future go up in flames, and I left myself in the ashes.

I duck under the yellow police tape and head over to my lieutenant, Alex. Forensics is busy sweeping the scene around us. 

A female, late twenties, throat slit, ditched on the driveway of a house owned by Dante Capri. We watch in silence as they zip the pale body into a bag. I turn my nose up as I look at the dried blood covering her neck. 

“Let me guess, mafia?” I ask Alex. 

He looks at me warily and gives me a sharp nod. 

These assholes think they own the streets. It’s been escalating rapidly the last few weeks. 

There was a shooting at a church. Warehouses burned to the ground. I’ve seen firsthand the destruction they cause. 

My dad, the commissioner, works with Luca Russo, the head of the Russo family. Recently, I have been keeping tabs on the whole organization to report back to my dad. It’s why I am here today. I can still see the piles of men outside the church. It seems now they’ve reduced themselves to killing women. 

“Are we making an arrest?” I don’t know where to start with this mess. 

Alex stands from where he was examining a bloody handprint. “We have to now. It was called in by the public.” 

I hide my smile. I’ve wanted to bring one of these criminals in for months. My dad always dismisses the idea to keep the peace. 

“Why would they just leave her here in broad daylight? Seems pretty dumb to me.” I gesture at the row of suburban homes facing us. It is completely out of character for this tight-knit family. 

He rubs a hand over his face, his tattooed forearm peeking out from his jacket.

“Probably to make a statement. If I’m correct, the stiff is Romano’s daughter. This is her brother’s home. They think they’re above the law. With your dad on their side, they are the law.” 

Monsters. All of them. My fists clench as my heart picks up a gear. “So, this guy will actually get put away?” 

He shakes his head, which deflates me. 

In the six years I’ve been doing this job, no matter what their crime seems to be, they always get away with it. 

Staring at the body bag as the guys lift it and carry it into the van, I wonder what she did to deserve such an end? 

I wrack my brain, trying to think of who we can bring in for this. Years of cases, I almost feel like I’m on a first name basis with the big players. Luca, the big boss, is certainly a no. Keller and Grayson are his right-hand men, but their alibis are always flawless, covered by their lackeys from their gym. There is always one name that sticks out to me, an anomaly for the group. Frankie Falcone. He’s a ghost. Long distance, grainy pictures are the best I’ve seen of him. Maybe he’s my weak link. 

As I look back at Alex, I see him wiping away the large handprint. 

“What the hell are you doing, Alex?” I hiss. 

“What I have to.” His dark eyes peek over his sunglasses. 

You have to be kidding me. 

“A woman dies and the cops cover it up–fucking perfect.” I nod over to the body being wheeled into the back of the van and glare at Alex. 

He sighs. “They’ll all end up killing each other, anyway. It’s only a matter of time.” 

He rubs his hands together and heads off to his car, just as a bunch of cops walk onto the scene. 

After what I’ve seen the last few weeks, one of these assholes needs to pay for this. Alex is clearly hiding something. It looks like I can take matters into my own hands. 

I call over Chad as I make my decision. 

“We need to make an arrest, okay?” I ask.

“Well, yeah.” He rubs the back of his neck. I bite back my grin. 

“Get all units out. This has Mr. Falcone’s name written all over it.” 

He stares at me blankly, registering my words. 

“Frankie Falcone. Call it in.” I press. Alex won’t, but Chad, as far as I’m aware, doesn’t work alongside my father.

I was told we need to make someone pay, and Frankie Falcone seems like the perfect fit.

* * *

I cross my arms over my chest and sit back in my seat with a huff. “I’m not letting him free.” 

Just because my dad is the commissioner of the NYPD, doesn’t mean I won’t stare him down. 

“Zara, how many times do you want me to explain this? You don’t have a choice, sweetie.” 

I turn my nose up at his nickname for me. We both know that's far from the truth. 

“Okay, so tell me, did he do it?” 

He chuckles, running a hand through his gray hair. “Zara, you need to understand something: you do not mess with the mafia. This isn’t a request, it’s an order.” He raises his eyebrows. 

“He killed that woman and dumped her in a driveway. You saw the pictures on the crime report, right? Not only that, but the guy is rumored to have murdered his own brother, for Christ’s sake! It’s so easy to pin this on him!”

He shrugs, sliding the report I had slammed down away from him. “Mafia business is mafia business. We get paid well to turn a blind eye. I’m not prepared to risk myself for the sake of one body. You just arrested the new fucking mafia boss, Zara. Now you need to clean up your mess!” 

“And where do we draw the line? When they start killing kids? Innocent people on the streets?” My arms fly out in exasperation.

His lips go thin. “This isn’t up for discussion. I am your commissioner, and I’m giving you a damn order, Zara. Now suck it up, go in there, and release him.” His coffee splashes as his arm jerks into a point.

I stand and rest my palms on his oak desk. “This is the last time.” 

It’s becoming more and more. I thought to start with he just turned a blind eye, after seeing Alex at the scene, and now this outburst, I’m not so sure.

“With Frankie Falcone,” he chuckles. “But this won’t be the end of it.” 

“I thought Luca was the head?” I sneer.

“Luca handed the reins over to Frankie after the wedding fiasco. He asked me for this favor, and I don’t have a choice. We have to stay on the winning side here.” Pulling a napkin from his drawer, he dabs at the brown droplets on the cover of the report. 

“Hmm. I suppose this is where the money is coming from for Mom’s new fancy treatment?” I know Mom needs treatment for her heart. I’ve seen the way she’s deteriorated over the last year and it breaks my heart. But at what cost is my dad paying to do this?

For a man who has berated me for the last six years for what I did, when he’s no better than me. He made me become a cop to sort myself out and drag me off the path I was on. Or basically, to keep an eye on me, so he doesn’t have to clean up anymore of my problems.

I watch as he balls his fists and his eyes narrow. Taking a step back, I straighten my jacket. “I am doing what I have to do to keep your mother alive, Zara. Now, roll down your sleeves. No one needs to see those god awful tattoos of yours, either.” He drops his head back to focus on the paperwork in front of him, dismissing me.

Slamming the door shut, my middle finger sticks up as I leave. He has no clue about half of the ink that covers my body under these suits. 

Storming towards the questioning room, I get there just as the door opens. 

“You need to stay out of this,” Alex warns, running a hand through his mop of dark hair. 

“I got the message,” I snap. 

He leans against the wall, nearly blocking the narrow hall. “You sure you want to go in there on your own?”

“Why shouldn’t I?” One of my hands lands on my hip.

“He’s a dangerous man, and he’s going to be pissed at you.” His lips thin as he watches me.

“Is that so? Then why are we releasing him?” I straighten my spine. If one more man tries to tell me what to do today, I am going to scream. I hate this fucking place. 

He stands in front of the handle as if to block me.

“Move, Alex. I have work to do. I am quite capable of dealing with Mr. Falcone on my own.” 

He throws up his arms and slides out of my way. 

I hold back rolling my eyes as he slips away, and I stroll into the questioning room, shutting the door behind me. 

My feet stop moving when Frankie swivels in his seat to face me. His icy gray eyes burn into mine. 

Okay. This part of my investigation I appear to have brushed over. I’ve always kept my distance when keeping tabs on these men. I’ve missed one key detail.

The fact this man is drop dead gorgeous. 

I don’t know what I expected from the low-quality surveillance photos. All I’ve ever seen has been a partial profile or the back of his head. 

Sitting at that table, handcuffed in a navy suit, is probably the sexiest guy I’ve laid eyes on. His dark chestnut hair is slicked back, and a tidy beard frames his chiseled jaw. With that moody, yet mysterious, look in his eye that tells me he could fuck me seven ways to Sunday. 

I need to get a grip, not imagine the murdering asshole in front of me touching me in any way. 

Dammit.

I tug on the chains connected to my handcuffs and lean back in my chair. There’s just the meticulous ticking of the clock to keep me company. Whatever Luca’s plan is to get me out of this questioning room needs to speed the fuck up. 

The longer I’m in here, the more time Romano Capri has to retaliate. The police are right. I sliced his daughter Maria’s throat and had her dumped at his son’s place. You take one of mine, I take ten of yours. In fact, we’ve murdered all three of his kids. Although, I didn't bank on some of our new recruits missing some brain cells and leaving her body in plain sight. 

I tap my handcuffs impatiently on the metal table in front of me. The cops were called out of the room thirteen minutes and twenty-three seconds ago. The fury in their eyes told me all I needed to know. They won’t be keeping me here much longer. 

The commissioner wants Romano out of New York. Well, that means he has no choice but to let me free to rid the world of that bastard. 

The door creaks open and a grin twitches on my lips. I twist my head around as soon as I hear the clicking of heels on the tiled floor. A woman. Interesting. 

Her dark green eyes meet mine and I’m faced with a scowl. “Are the cuffs really necessary?” I hold up my hands. 

She ignores me and storms past the table, her dainty fingers grabbing hold of the seat in front of me. I cross my ankle over my knee and study her. Her silky black hair sits just on her shoulders and her plump lips are shining under the lights. The power suit that tugs her in so perfectly at the waist that I can see the outline of her breasts. Without even witnessing it, her curves tell me she has a perfectly round ass. 

“You murdered Maria Capri.” Her face remains stern. The woman has balls. She knows exactly who I am. The same as I know her. Miss Zara O’Reilly. Only daughter of commissioner George. Rose through the ranks of NYPD with an immaculate record, on her own accord. She’s a force of nature here according to her stats.

I shrug. I did the world a favor, and it got me one step closer to my end goal. 

“Why?” she presses. Any other cop would have just come in here, set me free without so much as a word. But not this pretty little thing. 

My elbows rest on the table as I lean forward. “Do you really think I’m stupid, Detective?” I drawl out the last word. 

Her eyes form into slits. “To kill a woman, the only daughter of the biggest crime boss in Europe. Yes. I think you must be pretty dumb, Mr. Falcone.” 

The way she says my last name has my cock twitching, imagining the way she would moan out “sir”. I shake my head to try and free myself of the image.

“I didn’t realize you were an expert on the mafia, Miss O’Reilly. Now, if you don’t mind, I am a busy man, as you well know.” I wink at her and hold up my wrists. 

She pulls out a key from her pocket and leans over the table, just enough to give me a peek of the top of her full breasts hiding under her shirt. “Nice tattoos.” I barely hold back a grin. 

It’s not often I get the opportunity to rile a woman up like this. I’m used to them doing exactly what I say. Zara is a new kind of game. 

Her chin tilts down, and I let a smile play over my lips, watching her realize the button is undone. She doesn’t rectify it; she just shakes her head and continues unlocking my handcuffs. 

She steps back as they drop on the table. I rub my wrists and raise myself from the stiff confines of the chair. She stands her ground as I walk towards her. “Will it make you sleep better at night if you truly knew the monster you are releasing?”

When she takes a step back, I take one forward. I want to fuck with her. I like a challenge. Ideally, I want this detective on my side. But, it’s not a necessity. I’m sure the commissioner can keep his daughter on track. 

The blush spreading up her chest tells me what I need to know. 

“You’re free to go, Mr. Falcone. For now.” She mutters the last part under her breath. 

I lean down, my nose brushing against her cheek. I almost expect her to clock me in the jaw, but she doesn’t. “I slit that bitch's throat and let her bleed out on the concrete. I laughed as I watched her take her last breath. And I will do the same to anyone who gets in my way.” 

She sucks in a breath and leans back, looking me dead in the eye. There isn’t an ounce of fear there. 

“Clock’s ticking. You might have the commissioner on your side, but not everyone listens to him. Now get the fuck out of my personal space.” She juts her chin defiantly.

I tilt my head and bite my bottom lip. Fuck, this woman. She struggles with control. She clearly isn’t happy with her father’s orders to release me. 

“The clock’s only just started, sweetheart. We’re in a new reign.” 

I step back, despite my body not wanting to. I want to bend her over the table and spank her for speaking to me like this. I could fuck this defiance out of her in no time. 

But I won’t. I know my limits. 

“You think you’ve got it all figured out, don’t you?” Her sweet voice has my full attention, even if it is laced with venom. 

“Hmm?” I respond, watching the color deepen on her neck. It’s either from stress or my presence, or both. 

Why is she still speaking? 

“I’m sorry, I’m free to go right? I don’t have to explain myself to you, detective. Now I suggest you run along back to your father to collect your next order.”

I keep my expression stern and watch as her hands ball into fists, so tightly her black glitter nails dig into her skin. 

“Fuck you,” she spits back.

Instinctively, my hand shoots out and my fingers lace around her throat, pressing her into the wall behind. I feel her swallow against my palm. 

“Silence. Much better.” I can’t believe I’ve listened to this woman for the last five minutes, no matter how beautiful and intriguing she may be. No one speaks to me like that. 

The fact there's a speck of desire in her eyes behind the fury has me tightening my grip. She needs to learn her place. Clearly, she’s more of a loose cannon than I first thought. 

“Your kind are no better than mine. I don’t hide who I truly am, while you all cower behind a badge. But you’re different, aren’t you, detective? Under this tight uniform, those tattoos, and that defiance against your controlling father. I can smell your desire from here. You want to fuck.” 

I loosen my hand to allow her to speak. 

“I want to fuck.” She rubs her neck, her gaze landing on my cock straining against my pants. The red marks around her throat are not helping the situation. 

Her fingers pull my tie to tug me back towards her. Our noses nearly touch as she bites down on her lower lip with hooded eyes. 

Those full lips brush the hairs on my jaw as the heat of her breath washes across my ear. “Anyone on this planet, other than you.” 

A smile teases the corner of my mouth. It’s cut short when her knee slams into my balls. 

“What the fuck,” I mutter under my breath as I struggle not to bend over. 

“I’m probably not your usual type. Let me guess, quiet and submissive. ‘Yes sir, no sir. Oh, Frankie, please’.” She fake moans the last part, and I have to stop my lips twitching into a grin. 

This fucking woman. 

She makes me murderous and turned on at the same time. My brain and dick are currently fighting a battle for blood. 

“Now, get out. Touch me again, I will cut off your hands.” She stomps over to the door and opens it, while flipping her dark hair over her shoulder. Gesturing me towards the hall, she wears a carefully polite expression.

I shake my head and follow her out. “You’re crazy,” I whisper. 

She shrugs, keeping a fake smile in place. The lieutenant, Alex, from earlier watches our interaction from the corridor.

“I’ll be. . .