Detonate

Book 2: Beneath the Mask

by Luna Mason

Genres: Action & Adventure Romance; Romantic Suspense

Synopsis

Under the bright lights of New York City, a dark romance simmers between a boxing trainer-turned-mafia hitman and the seemingly innocent young woman he can’t stay away from.

Grayson
Seven years ago, I left the special forces and my home after a tragic betrayal. I carefully constructed a new life in New York. A boxing trainer by day. A Mafia hitman by night. Free to live in the darkness to do what I was trained to do—to kill. But one kiss was all it took to bring it all down. The one woman who hated my guts scaled the walls I built around my black heart. I know how far I’m willing to go to fight for her. But can she truly love someone who could never give her the fairytale she deserves?

Maddie
I was sick of being the family disappointment—the one who could never get a man to stick around. So, I kissed a lot of frogs to try and find my Prince. Instead, I fell for the villain. The last man on earth I thought I could ever love. He might call me sunshine, but I crave his darkness. I wasn’t meant for his world, but he took me anyway, and I never want to leave. Sometimes life doesn’t give you a choice. Even if loving me puts us both in danger.

Release date: May 27, 2025

Publisher: Kensington Books

Print pages: 304

Sample

August 2015

 

Ten years, I’ve breathed, survived, and lived the war.

It’s all I know.

Hunt, shoot, kill.

I walk toward the derelict building. Intel confirms the two terrorist fuckers we’re hunting are in here. I tighten my fingers around my M4 Carbine as I trudge in the scorching heat of Afghanistan.

Casper, my lifelong best friend, follows on my left.

We joined the Marines and climbed the ranks together. Hell, if it wasn’t for us constantly getting in fights when we were teenagers, our parents would never have shipped us off to the military. I have him to thank for that. Where else would I embrace my overwhelming need to outlet my anger? Legally, anyway.

The wooden door hangs off its hinges. Two of our guys, Chase and Paul, are coming in fast from the opposite side of the building. 

These terrorists are responsible for the Kabul airport bombings, which killed hundreds of innocent people. They have been off the grid for the past three years since the attack. 

Kicking open the door, I aim my gun forward as I take in my surroundings.

To my left is a set of rubble stairs, and to my right, is what remains of this shithole. Pieces of foam flatten under my feet from the shredded remains of a sofa in the room. There’s paper scattered everywhere, busted books, and debris of destroyed household appliances.

How the fuck has anyone been living here for so long?

“We have heat markers live upstairs,” intel confirms in my earpiece.

“Copy,” I respond, pointing up at the stairs to Casper. I edge up the stairs and lean around the corner to scope out the area. When I get to the top of the stairs, the overwhelming stench of a bathroom nearly makes me gag. There’s only one closed door. That must be where they are.

With a signal to my friend, I smash it open.

In the right corner of the room, a frail-looking woman cradles a small child to her chest. Their screams ring in my ears.

Something isn’t right. What is this—a decoy?

Shit. 

I pace around the room, checking for any hidden spots, but nothing.

Shit.

“Out! Now!” I bellow to Casper, who stands on guard by the doorframe. 

Where the fuck are Chase and Paul?

Casper sprints down the stairs, and I follow behind. As soon as the realization hits me, I shout, “Casper, Stop. Don’t go out th⁠—”

The gunfire drowns out my words. I duck under the hole in the wall. More gunshots echo, and one whizzes past my head and strikes the crumbling stone behind me.

Movement in white catches my eye across the room. I crouch and make my way over to the far end of the room, past the ruined sofa, and wait. One of them is bound to come out soon. The M4 has a visual of a man in a white robe carrying a firearm.

I pull the trigger, and the fucker collapses on the ground.

Chase and Paul peer round the corner. They motion for me to go back as more gunshots ring out.

Casper…I need to find Casper.

I crawl toward the entrance, keeping the gun ready to fire.

The sunlight blinds me when I step outside. It’s a desert. I haven’t had fun like this in a while, and I love a good hunt.

My world crashes around me when I spot my friend lying in the sand with a pool of blood spilling out from his stomach. His hands compress over the wound, and he struggles to lift his head up.

I run to him and drop to my knees. 

“Fuck, Casper.” I grab the trauma kit from my vest.

Paul and Chase surround me.

Paul stays on guard while we help Casper. 

“We have three confirmed kills. No movement spotted,” Paul reports.

I rip open Casper’s jacket in search of the source of the blood. My hands tremble as my best friend struggles to breathe his last.

“Grayson, don’t,” Casper whispers through ragged breaths.

I take off his black balaclava to help him breathe.

“Casper, we’ve got you.” 

He shakes his head, his brown eyes piercing into me, tears spilling over, almost pleading with me to stop.

“Grayson, I-I’m so f-fucking sorry. I h-hope… hope you’ll f-forgive me. I l-love you, brother.” 

Sorry? Fucking sorry for what? 

“Don’t be sorry. You aren’t dying on me.” My voice cracks at the end.

He starts coughing and blood splatters out of his mouth.

I rest him on my lap.

“I’m s-sorry,” he tries again.

“Sorry for what? Everything’s going to be ok.” 

“For fucking Amelia.” 

A wave of anger rolls my leg away from his head, letting it thud to the ground. His confession stabs into me as I’m faced with the raw reality. 

All those nights where my best friend and wife were coincidently too busy to be with me. But Casper doesn’t even have the decency to give me the time to hate him.

“No, no, no, no!” 

My entire world starts to spin.

I scoot back, away from him, the dust scratching the inside of my nostrils as I sit there, watching the only friend I have take his last breath. His final words still ring in my ear. 

My best friend. Who’s been fucking my wife for God knows how long.

* * *

“Get the fuck out of my way, Amelia,” I shout at my whore of a wife.

She keeps flapping around after me, in hysterics, grabbing on my sleeves, begging me not to leave her. It’s taking every ounce of strength I have not to send the woman flying across the room.

I pack every item of clothing I own. 

“Grayson, please. Don’t leave me, I promise I’ll never do it again. You don’t have to worry. Casper is dead anyway.”

I rip the drawer’s handle out and throw it against the opposite wall. 

What a fucking fool am I! This woman is vile. Revolting. How did I fail to see that before? Casper my best friend, the brother I never had, and they fucking ruined everything. 

I prowl toward her with clenched fists. She backs into the wall with a fearful expression.

“This is the last time you will ever see me, and don’t you ever say his name again. You don’t fucking deserve it. Now get the fuck out of my sight. You disgust me.” 

She sinks on the floor in a crying fit.

Pathetic.

I head to the airport, ready to start my new life, leaving the darkness where it belongs. I’ve said my goodbyes to my best friend. It was the only thing keeping me here. 

In New York, I’m gonna set up a motherfucking boxing gym. Hopefully, there will be enough fighting to release some of this anger. 

My new rule: No women for more than one night



. 

January 2022

My eyes flutter closed and my fingers trail to the hem of my panties. The only way I get off now is imagining Grayson and all the deliciously wicked things he can do with his mouth. 

My fingers slide up and down my slit as I take myself back to the day Grayson saved my best friend. 

We pull up outside Sienna’s ex-fiancé’s apartment, the asshole that kidnapped her. Keller had carried Sienna into the car and they were on their way to the hospital. Nico, her moody Italian bodyguard, informed me that her condition was bad.  

The rain pelts against the car window as I stare at the entrance to Jamie’s apartment. Men swarm the building from all angles. 

Grayson stalks out of the building, his face expressionless. He runs a hand across his face, smearing the blood that drips from his hair. His white shirt is stained in crimson. 

Relief washes over me when I realize he is ok. Despite the past few months of constantly bickering with him, I never wanted him to get hurt, but I never want to stop giving him shit either. It’s amusing to rile him up.

Why the hell do I care so much about him? 

All these months, his existence has irritated me. But right this second, the only thing that matters is his well-being.

Luca shouts at him from behind, and Grayson turns, revealing the silver gun in his hand. 

I grab the handle of the car door and pull, but it doesn’t open. The urge to run to him takes over. I need his comfort. I need to know if Sienna is ok. I need to know what happened. This is all my fault. 

“Nico, open the door!” I shout, urgency taking over. 

“It’s not safe, Maddie, I shouldn’t have even brought you here. Boss will kill me.” 

“Open the fucking door, otherwise I’ll kill you myself,” I snap. 

The click of the locks fills the car as I swing open the door. In my haste, I only threw on a white shirt and jeans. The rain hammers against my skin, soaking me completely. I run over to Grayson, and he freezes when he spots me. Blood and rain drip off his face; his sandy hair now dark from being drenched. Even now, he’s gorgeous. His tall, powerful frame instantly makes me feel safe. I know nothing will happen if he’s here. 

I launch myself into his arms and nuzzle my face into him. 

“Sunshine, what are you doing here? It’s not safe,” he whispers. Tingles spread throughout my body as his warm breath hits my throat.

“I needed to make sure Sienna was ok, that you were ok. This is all my fault. I should never have left her. I didn’t know what was happening,” I croak out. 

His fingers stroke my hair, soothing me. 

“Shhh. She will be ok. I promise, I’m fine. This is not your fault.” 

Our noses brush. Desire courses through me for this sexy, tattooed, protective giant. The one I’ve secretly, desperately craved. 

His gaze flickers to my lips, then to my eyes. 

To hell with it. I want this man. 

I slam my lips to his, and his body goes rigid. Embarrassment washes over me as I pull away, turning my head away from him. 

“Fuck it.” With that, he grabs the back of my head and devours my lips. A metallic tinge of blood mingles into our kiss. His hand pulls the back of my head even closer into him. His tongue dances with mine.

It’s the kiss that makes my pussy throb and my toes curl. 

The kind that steals all my breath away. 

“Grayson, we need to go. Now!” someone barks behind us. 

He breaks the kiss, shakes his head, and brings his forehead to mine. 

“You need to go, Maddie.” He sighs.  

“Fuck,” he mutters as he turns his back and storms away. Leaving me in the rain with swollen lips. Without even so much as a glance back, he gets into a black Mercedes and drives away. 

I muffle my moans as my climax builds, biting down on my forearm. I’m still not used to living on my own and not having to hide my orgasms. In my head, the kiss doesn’t stop there; he takes me home and fucks me into next week. 

And this is my problem. I can’t stop picturing Grayson fucking me. 

Even though Gregory the accountant kissed me earlier. 

I’d been expecting that toe-curling, life-altering kiss that Grayson and I shared last year. 

As soon as Gregory’s lips touched mine, my brain shot right back to that day. The day that seems to have cursed my dating life since, leaving me incredibly sexually frustrated. No one can get me going anymore. Every damn time, all I see is Grayson’s piercing blue eyes and his face smeared in blood. Hence, my date tonight with Gregory in a bid to move on.

Now that he’s gone, loneliness and frustration consume me for another night.

* * *

Sienna’s happiness is so contagious. But damn, I am sick and tired of being a third wheel.

I sigh into my glass of white wine whilst leaning over the breakfast bar in their extravagant midnight blue kitchen. Keller wraps Sienna in a tight embrace. They assume I can’t hear the dirty shit he’s whispering into her ear. Their four-month-old daughter—Darcy—is nuzzled into Keller’s side. A precious little bundle of light. 

“Come on, guys. Some of us single, lonely people over here don’t need to witness this!” I say, faking a pout.

“Oh, Maddie, what about Gregory?” Sienna asks, leaning back into Keller’s arms.

“We’re just keeping it casual and seeing where it goes.” I know where it’s going. Fucking nowhere, but I don’t want to lose him just yet. He’s nice, we get along well, but as friends. 

“And Grayson?” Keller chimes in, trying to cover it with a cough. Sienna elbows her tattooed husband in the stomach. “What?” he questions Sienna, raising his eyebrow. 

The mention of his name is enough to fill me with frustration.

Grayson Ward, the complete opposite of everything I need. Mr. Playboy, who gets on about every one of my last nerves. He has done that since the moment I met him last year at Keller’s night club, The End Zone. We’ve just wound each other up. That was until the kiss that I shall never talk about ever again. He’s avoided me since then. 

“Maddie?”

Sienna calling my name breaks me out of my Grayson spell.

“What?” 

“I asked if you’d heard from Grayson recently?” Sienna says with a soft smile.

“Nope. Why would I?” I shoot Sienna a glare, hoping she shuts up.

“Just wondering. Keller said he’s been acting weird since the whole kidnapping thing.”  

“The whole kidnapping thing…” I laugh nervously. “You mean, the day you nearly died, thanks to your crazy ex-fiancé?” A day that still haunts me. If I hadn't left her alone, it might never have happened. 

“Oh, Maddie. Look, we’ve never been happier, we are all safe and ok. Please stop blaming yourself. I’m just glad he never hurt you.” She rushes over and wraps me up tight. 

She is the strongest woman I know. They’re a match made in heaven, true twin flames. Proof that love conquers all. She even accepted that her now-husband and his brother were running the mafia and took it all in her stride. That shit is wild.

“Anyway, why would Grayson’s mood have anything to do with me?” I ask, desperate to change the conversation. I wish I hadn’t told Sienna about the kiss with he-who-shall-not-be-named. 

It’s been four months since I last saw him, the day I met baby Darcy. The same day he spat his beer out and stormed out without even giving me a second glance after Sienna asked about my date with Gregory. I don’t understand him. 

“Don’t you two have to go get ready? The taxi is going to be here in an hour,” Keller announces, breaking the awkward silence that fills the room.

I nod and guzzle the contents of my glass. The smooth bubbles sliding down my throat are giving me the buzz that I need. It’s Sienna’s first official girls’ night-out since she gave birth and I’m sure as hell going to give her a night to remember.

“Yes!” she squeals, grabbing my hand, and pulling me away from the counter. “I really need you to give me a make-over, I look like such a mom,” she pleads with puppy eyes, running her hands through her fuzzy hair. I laugh as she drags me down the hall. “That would be because you are one, Si. A damn good one.” 

A small smile stretches her lips as she wraps me up in a tight embrace. 

I return the hug and sigh into her shoulder. I miss having her around every day. 

“Thank you, Maddie. I don’t know what I’d do without you.”

“I told you before, you’ll always have me. Love you, bestie.”

“I love you too.” 

We make our way to the master bedroom. This girl has a dream house. It’s just too cute that Keller bought this place for her, for them to turn into a family home. It’s gorgeous and can fit all those ten kids they’re aiming for.

While she hops into the shower, I quickly change into my gold sequin dress that I brought with me. It hugs my figure in all the right places. Then, on her dressing table, I spread out my supplies.

By the time I’m done, she is out of the shower. I swipe on a deep red lipstick to finish my look. I look fuckable, to be honest. 

“Wow, Maddie, you look stunning!”

“Aww, thanks, Si. Now go dry your hair so I can get you glammed up.” I grab my phone and then settle on her bed, sinking into the mattress. Shit, this must be the comfiest bed I’ve ever laid on. Now all I want to do is lie here and scroll aimlessly through Instagram.

“Have you seen your parents lately?” Sienna asks. 

I can’t resist the eye roll at the mention of my mom. 

“Eurgh, no. Not for a while, thank god.”

“Oh god, Mads. Is she still on her you must get married before you’re childbearing days are over warpath?” 

“Oh, of course. She’s desperate for me to find a date to bring to our family Valentine’s meal. I swear she does this every year to remind me that I’m single. I mean, nothing I ever do is good enough. Unlike Eddie, my perfect-ass brother with his perfect wife and perfect job.” 

“I hate that she’s like this with you, Maddie.” She sits on the edge of the bed next to me. “I have no doubt you will find the perfect man. Don’t let her force you into anything.” 

I wish I didn’t feel this need to please her. I’m even avoiding my dad now, even if I miss him. I just can’t handle my mom’s uncomfortable judgment about everything in my life. Even my weight, for god's sake. 

“Yeah, maybe.” It’s so embarrassing. “I just want someone to make me feel safe, to love me, you know? I don’t seem to click with anyone. No matter how many dates I go on.” 

“Well, maybe you’re looking in the wrong places.” She nods, tapping my hand before getting off the bed and heading back into the bathroom. 

What does that mean? 

A knock at the front door booms through the house. Sienna flips on the hairdryer, so I get off the bed. 

The knocks get incessantly louder as I pad toward the staircase. Jesus, someone’s eager. If they wake Darcy whilst Keller’s putting her down for a nap, he will kill them.

“Hang on, I’m coming.”

I can’t wait to rip this asshole a new one.

The constant buzzing in my pocket distracts me from dousing the warehouse in gasoline. I glance over to the three men who are tied up and gagged. Their blood mixes with the tears streaming down their faces. 

Yes, I’m a fucking monster. Get over it. 

I stop pouring for a second, as the fumes burn my nostrils. The pure adrenaline rush, knowing you’re about to burn a whole building to the ground, is enthralling. 

I pull out my phone from my back pocket and Keller’s name flashes on the screen. He’s the one I’ll always answer the call for, no matter what. 

“Frankie, I gotta take this. Carry on pouring,” I shout over to Frankie, holding out the can of gasoline to him. He’s busy moving the drugs into the car. He didn’t want to get any mess on his new fucking navy suit. Luca’s newest recruit. Apparently, he was a bodyguard for the Capri family in Italy. He needed to come back to New York for some family shit. 

Frankie walks over, rolling up his sleeves. 

“Let’s set these fuckers alight.” His deep Italian accent is like music to my ears. His gray eyes flash with a darkness that mirrors mine as he turns and starts throwing the liquid around the room. 

I chuckle and answer Keller’s call. 

“Mr. Killer himself.” I can’t help but mock his famous boxing name. Keller ‘the Killer’ Russo being chanted by thousands of fans to an actual killer, a mafia hitman. Well, not anymore, since he’s Mr. Family Man now and I’ve never seen him happier. 

When he stepped out of the darkness, it paved a way for me to enter. Luca, the Boss, gave me an outlet for all this pent-up rage. Beneath the carefully constructed life I portray, the boxing trainer to the stars, the playboy, the billionaire. It is all a mask to the real me. The darkness that consumes me. 

I’m trained to kill. 

It’s what I’m good at. 

Now I get to keep up the cool, professional façade that I created when I turned my back on my life in Chicago and moved to New York. That day, I saved Sienna, when I killed the five men holding her without blinking an eye. Luca witnessed the rage in me and recognized my potential. He now uses it to his advantage. And, well…mine too.

Since that day, I haven’t looked back. 

“Grayson, what are you up to?” Keller asks. 

“You don’t wanna know, Keller, you might get jealous.” 

“Oh, I don’t think so.” He chuckles, then adds, “Do you wanna come over for a beer? Sienna’s going out with Maddie tonight and Darcy is just off to bed.” 

Maddie…Fuck. My cock twitches just at her mention.

I can’t help the visions that flood my brain of her when she ran toward me outside Jamie’s apartment. She launched herself into my arms and wrapped me in a tight embrace, her ass resting perfectly in my hands. I was so stunned that the woman I thought couldn’t stand my entire existence jumped into my arms. Then when she slammed her lips down onto mine, everything changed. 

She was the first woman I’d kissed in seven fucking years. 

And fuck, it was the hottest kiss I’d ever had, and ever will have. 

I haven’t been able to get it out of my brain, no matter how many cold showers I take. 

So, I did what I always do after I’ve been with a woman. I ghosted her. 

Except, this little ray of sunshine doesn’t seem to be going away. She’s here to stay. Smothering me in her rays while I thrive in the darkness. I don’t crave the light. But I can’t get her out of my mind. 

We aren’t compatible. I just can’t shake this burning want to consume her. Whenever she’s near me, all I want to do is bend her over and fuck her until she shuts up. 

I can’t help it. 

She’s intoxicating. Out of bounds. 

“Sure, I’ll be there soon. Make sure those beers are cold.” 

“Yeah, yeah,” he says and hangs up. 

I retrieve the lighter from the inside of my suit jacket, then take one last glance of the warehouse. The place is falling apart anyway. I’m helping them out. Well, minus the three bodies.

The Falcones might think they’ve one-upped us by taking our shipment, but they don’t realize how easy it was for us to take it back and kill their men. Stupid fuckers. 

Smiling at the men, I flick the zippo, and the flame dances before my eyes. I toss it onto the floor next to them, and the angry flames start to cover their bodies. That’s my cue to leave. 

Frankie follows closely behind me, chuckling. 

I slide into the driver’s side of my white . . .