Distance

Book 0: Beneath the Mask

by Luna Mason

Genres: Action & Adventure Romance; Romantic Suspense

Synopsis

Look Beneath the Mask with Booktok sensation Luna Mason’s scorchingly intense dark mafia romance series featuring elite criminal families, morally gray anti-heroes, and breath-stealing tension for fans of J.T. Geissinger, Sav R. Miller, Sophie Lark, Rina Kent, and Shantel Tessier.

Keller
From a poor, underground street fighter, I rose to fame as the world heavyweight boxing champion. No one knew I was also a monster who hunted in the shadows. Trapped in the mafia until my debts were paid. A simple deal held my freedom- unify my belts. It seemed simple until an enchanting British firecracker landed on my lap, knocking me sideways. Wanting her was dangerous for us both, but I took her anyway. Leaving me with the choice, fight for my freedom or hers. When the truth is unmasked, could she still love me? Would love be enough to battle our demons and come out on top?

Sienna
Newly single and focusing on building my life in New York, I’ve sworn off men for the foreseeable. No one had ever stuck around long enough to let me believe in fairytales anyway. That was until him. He tried to hide himself from me but I couldn’t stay away. When the mask shattered and the truth was revealed, could I still stay? Even if it meant my life was at stake. Could we get past our fear of love and fight for our Happily Ever After?

Release date: February 25, 2025

Publisher: Kensington Books

Print pages: 304

Sample

That’s it. Ten days is long enough for this pity party. 

My tiny bedroom is shrouded in darkness thanks to the wonderful invention of blackout blinds. I’m cocooned, snuggly in my duvet, surrounded by snotty tissues. The Salvatore Brothers being the closest I’ve come to human interaction. My life is just one disaster after another.

Ten days ago, I walked in on my fiancé–now ex-fiancé–balls deep in some leggy blonde as he bent her over the kitchen counter. My world was crumbling as my heart shattered. He was too busy entertaining his guest to notice me hurl my engagement ring at his head and storm out. I shudder at the memory.

The persistent prick is obviously now racked with guilt, as despite being blocked in every way possible, he continues to reach out.

During my ten days of avoiding sunlight and wallowing, the realization dawned on me. My sadness wasn’t for Jamie cheating, specifically. I think I was in love with the idea of him, rather than truly him.

Maybe I am just unlovable. I sigh, tucking the duvet up even tighter around my neck. Being abandoned by your own father and neglected by your alcoholic mother doesn’t muster much for self-esteem. Something my therapist and I are trying to hash out. Somehow, I’d let the illusion of love and needing a man cloud my judgment. All I wanted was for someone to show me I was enough.

I’d spent my whole life caring for myself before leaving my toxic family home in London. At eighteen, I uprooted my life for a sociology scholarship at Columbia University. That teenager I was then, with a spring in my step, would be pissed to see me in this state now.

I snatch my phone off the bare nightstand, the light from it almost blinding me. I have to blink through my teary eyes to focus. Twenty-four missed calls and three texts. I rub my temples, trying to ease the pulsating headache as I open up the latest onslaught of Jekyll and Hyde messages.

Unknown

Babe, please call me back. I am so sorry. It is not what you think.

Wow, I didn’t realize you could confuse watching his cock slide in and out of another woman. This one almost makes me chuckle.

Unknown

I need you, I miss you, please call me

Unknown

You know you NEED me, just get over it

Me

Fuck OFF.

Rage jolts through me as I hurl my phone to the floor with a thud. Tossing my head back with a huff against my pink fluffy pillows, the tears are now free-flowing down my cheeks. I was so almost happy, with a good steady paralegal job at a top ten law firm in Manhattan. It just wasn’t my dream job of working in social care. I had a fiancé. It wasn't an all-consuming passion and love, but I felt safe. I knew something was missing. I didn't want to face it because at least I had managed to run away from my old life in London. At least this was better.

It is always my problem. I crave more–more out of life, more out of relationships–and it has gotten me this far. I have a fire within me that tells me I can do better, so I work my ass off to not become my mother.

Just chuck me a bottle of vodka right now, though, and the resemblance is there. An absolute shit show.

“I will always choose you.” Damon’s deep voice booms through my room from the small flatscreen plonked on my dresser. Don’t we all secretly love a bad boy?

Jamie was sweet, reliable, and secure. Three things I thought I needed, not wanted. He pushed me to find my job for financial security to build a base to pursue my dreams. He took me on dates. He asked how my day was when I would get home from work. But there was always something missing. There was never that spark. That’s one thing I’m relieved about. I’ll never have to fake an orgasm with him again. He wasn’t a bad partner in that department, he just wasn’t enough. After asking him to grab my throat, he stopped and looked at me like I had two heads. It’s safe to say I never bothered asking him for anything else again, sexually speaking. Boy, did I fantasize about finding a man who would. 

He’d open doors for me with a cute smile, but never slap my ass on the way through. I don’t crave sweet affection; I never really got so much as a hug from my mom on my birthday. I crave the feeling of being claimed, owned, and used. It might be wrong, being so fiercely independent in every other aspect from such a young age, but this one part of me, I needed to be brought to life.

Maybe one day. 

Now don’t get me wrong, I have read my fair share of romance novels. But not the sweet swoony type, with a perfect happily ever after. I read the darkest of the dark. You know, the kind where her alpha hole lover sends her the enemy’s hand in a parcel with half the book smothered in dirty kinky smut. Maybe I’m getting this whole romance thing wrong.

The apartment door crashes open, followed by the clang of keys being hurled into a glass bowl. The clicking of stilettos on the oak flooring echoes throughout the apartment, becoming louder and louder. Shit, I promised Maddie that today is the day I get my shit together. My current position looks the exact opposite of that.

“SIENNA ANDERSON, I swear to God, I better not be hearing Damon Salvatore on that TV coming from your room or so help me!” Maddie bellows from down the hallway, and I cringe. I must be the worst roommate in history.

I pounce to the bottom of the plush double bed, rifling through the insane amounts of decorative pillows piled there, frantically searching for the TV remote. Suddenly, my eyes burn from the stream of natural light as the door flings open. Christ, maybe I am turning into a vampire.

I bring my gaze up to my best friend and give her my best please forgive me pout.

“Nope. You are done, Si. I can’t watch you do this to yourself any longer.” She stomps over and snatches the remote from under a pink frilly pillow.

“Don’t you dare turn that off, Maddison,” I growl, yes growl, trying to make a ninja move to snatch the remote back, but it is no use. The silence is almost deafening.

Maddie glares at me, her brows furrowing.

“Sienna, I know you have had a shitty time, but please, I need you back. I need my best friend, and most of all, you need to stop punishing yourself for Jamie’s mistakes.” Her face softens as she perches at the foot of the bed.

“Ha! Shitty is one way to explain it, Mads. I mean, look at the state of me!” I exhale, throwing my hands up. “What is wrong with me? Why don’t I deserve to be loved?” I’m sniffling now because just hearing Jamie’s name feels like I am being speared in the heart.

“Look, Jamie is and always was a douche-bag. Now, walking in on him fucking some blonde, snorting cocaine off her tits, was not ideal, but you need to realize that you deserve so much more.”

I wince at her words. Not only had I been cheated on, but I was also clearly thick to not realize he was an addict. Sweet and predictable Jamie wasn’t who I thought he was at all.

Maddie’s silky hair spills over my shoulder as she rests her head there, offering me comfort.

“Please tell me you are done with this wallowing now. You absolutely fucking stink. The room is covered in snotty tissues, and you have not seen sunlight in over a week.”

Peering down at her, I grin and sniffle my nose. “It has been ten days, actually,” I sarcastically respond with a smirk. She’s right though. I am a fighter, and I wouldn’t let this knock me down. I can’t.

I nuzzle my head into Maddie’s shoulder, taking in her warmth and the smell of her signature sweet floral perfume. As if noticing my body relaxing, she flies back up off the bed, knocking me backward. Her grin is so wide, it creased her eyes.

“Exactly!! Get the hell out of bed, get in that shower, and glam yourself up. You have exactly one hour before the birthday eve events begin!” She’s saying this while tossing her curly platinum blonde hair over her shoulder and quickly turning on her heel to leave, not waiting for my response. “Love you, Si,” she excitedly giggles, already down the hallway.

Maybe a girl's night out is just what I needed.

* * *

An hour later, I have a clean room, my collection of snotty tissues in the trash, the bed perfectly made, and I no longer smell like crap.

Maddie was right. I smelled like a cheap burger, and when I caught my reflection in the mirror, I hardly recognized myself beneath the red puffy eyes and greasy, limp hair.

In my little pity party, I’d completely forgotten today was our birthday eve celebration. These were always mine and my dad’s tradition. Since he decided to pack up and desert me over fifteen years ago, I continued the tradition with Maddie.

Giving myself a final once over in the mirror, I finish the look off by dragging my favorite red lipstick across my plump lips. Being all dressed up, I can’t stop Jamie’s words from taunting me.

“Is that really what you are wearing, Sienna? It’s a bit fucking tight.” My grip on the lipstick gets tighter and tighter, remembering it.

Making my way into the living room, Maddie clocks me a genuine smile that lights up her features.

“Fuck me. Sienna was still in there somewhere. I knew it,” Maddie taunts, wiggling her eyebrows. She’s clearly overjoyed by her sass.

I roll my eyes and waltz straight past her, bee-lining to the fridge, where I bend down to grab the crisp bottle of rose that’s calling my name.

“Is that dress short enough, Si?” Maddie laughs from behind me. “I can see your asshole near enough from here.”

I quickly straighten my spine as I tug on the hem of my dress, shooting her a glare. Until recently, I had never been self-conscious about my appearance. I work hard to keep my figure in check whilst eating and drinking whatever the hell I want. I am, by no means, model material. My love for food and wine wouldn’t let me. I definitely don’t have the height or the long legs for days, unlike Maddie. What I do have is a mighty fine ass and a good pair of tits to flaunt. Looking down to check the length of my dress, I quickly snap myself out of that. Weeks of Jamie subtly gnawing at my confidence clearly have taken its toll on me. But damn, I look smoking hot tonight.

“Well, what do you think? Good enough to get some free shots tonight?” I ask, giving her a 360 spin of my final look.

“Oh, hell yes. You look totally fuckable. Maybe just ask me if you need to tie your stilettos up in the club.”

“Piss off.” I can’t help but laugh. This dress is short, but it’s staying on.

Catching a glance of myself on our floor-length mirror in the living room, my make-up gives me the smokey-eyed temptress look, highlighting my icy blue eyes. My lightly tanned skin is glowing thanks to a dab of bronzer, and I’ve painted my lips in a deep maroon to pop against my short black dress. My hair sits just above my bra line. I recently added some caramel highlights to contrast against my natural chocolate brown locks, which are more visible with these bouncy curls. My hair was so greasy earlier that I couldn’t even see them. Maddie was right. I look like a totally new person.

I lean over the white marble counter, grab two large wine glasses, and aimlessly stare at the liquid pouring in. It made that glugging sound that always reminds me of my mother and thereby makes me wince. Taking Maddie’s glass over to her, we lift our drinks to toast.

“Cheers to being single and sexy!” she giggles, giving me a wink, and tosses her head back, downing the whole glass of wine.

“The Uber will be here in five. Get your shit together and down that wine,” Maddie announces, frantically pacing around the apartment, collecting her coat and bag.

“Mads, where are we actually going tonight? Am I going to need my entire week's wages?” Knowing Maddie, it’s going to be somewhere high-end, full of corporate assholes for her to bat her eyelashes at.

Basically, a room full of Jamies. Just what I need.

“The new nightclub on 10th Avenue. Have you not been on social media in the last week, Si?” She lifts an accusing eyebrow. “It’s called The End Zone. Apparently, it’s owned by some sexy, mysterious, unattainable boxer, according to a New York magazine’s most eligible bachelor article. The opening night is tonight, and I managed to nab us tickets from a client at work.”

“That actually sounds really cool.”

I grab my phone out of my clutch and look up The End Zone. As I predicted, it’s high-end yet sexy, so I best master my best flirty smile for those barmen and free shots tonight. With a newfound spring in my step, grabbing my leather jacket, we make our way out of the flat and off to my first night being single in the City.

My legs bounce erratically up and down in the Uber all the way over to 10th Avenue. I try to quiet the noise going on inside my brain. This is the start of my new life, again. I’m free.

I failed to mention the darker details to Maddie–the recent nights when Jamie would have complete breakdowns, shouting and smashing the apartment up. After days upon days of reflecting on our relationship, the realization dawned on me I had completely lost myself.

Maddie was concerned enough about me already, which is why I needed to concentrate on breathing to calm the rising panic coursing through my body. I promised her, her bubbly best friend would be back, and that is what she will be getting.

I tap my fingers on my wrist, trying to ground myself to the present. Despite the freezing temperatures outside, I notch down my window a couple of inches and take a deep breath. The cold air makes my nose run. The fumes of the traffic almost choke me.

Facing the window, I close my eyes and continue to breathe, calming my thoughts. My body instantly starts to relax into the leather seat. I can control my anxiety if I catch it quickly enough, like right now. It’s always there in the background, waiting to creep up on me.

“Si, are you ok?” Maddie whispers.

I place my hand on top of hers and let out the deep breath I had been holding in.

“I will be, promise. Just need to get my head in the zone and get ready to party with my bestie.” I flash her the best fake smile I can muster. She seems to sense this as she slowly nods, not wanting to press me any further.

Maddie was the first person I met when I moved here seven years ago. I remember tiptoeing into my new dorm with just a small pink suitcase of all my belongings. Not wanting to disturb anyone in the middle of the night. Maddie leaped straight out of bed screaming with excitement, wrapping me up in the tightest bear hug I think I had ever had in my life. I knew in that moment we were twin flames. They do say every Scorpio needs an Aquarius in their life.

The Uber coming to an abrupt stop shakes me from my thoughts. “Thank you. Have a good night,” I say, as I open the car door, the cold air almost taking my breath away.

“Mads, hurry up! It's fucking freezing. I need a better alcohol blanket,” I shout over the Uber as I wrap my arms around myself to keep from shivering. Also partly to hide the fact my nipples are way too obvious in this dress. Ugh, my brain is starting to sound like Jamie. Shut up, shut up, shut up.

“Well, it’s a good thing I got us VIP passes, so we don’t have to stand in that.”

Her perfectly manicured finger points to the queue of people winding along the sidewalk. Maddie steps in front of me, her high heels clicking against the tarmac, and links her arm through mine. “Let’s go get our party on,” she shouts for the whole street to hear. A laugh escapes me. She is always the party starter.

“Too right.”

We head towards the red carpet leading to an oversized gold door. Excitement is jolting through me. God, I need a shot of tequila, pronto.

We breeze past the queue of people freezing their butts off, waiting to gain entry into the club. The place is buzzing, and the music is filling the streets. We pass the big burly bouncers our ID cards. The bald older man snatches it from my hand, stealing a quick glance at it, then my face. With a grunt, he thrusts my ID back out.

I flash him a big smile and walk through the entrance, following the red carpet. The warm misty air of the club wraps around my body and stops the shivering. With Maddie’s arm still linked through mine, we hand our coats to the barely legal woman chewing on a pen in the booth, and she passes over our tickets without even so much as a glance in our direction. I shoot Maddie a side eye as we turn on our heels and make our way through the next set of glass double doors.

The beat of the music hits me first, almost taking my breath away as the bass slams through my body. We stand on the sidelines of the club and I take it all in. Yep, this place is faaancy. But not in a pretentious, boring way, no. This place is exciting and sexy. This place is wow.

The walls are painted a deep red, with massive crystal chandeliers reflecting the strobe lighting. The dance area is in the center of the room. Black flooring, speckled with glitter, surrounded by black leather booths with gold tables–solid gold, I would bet. This place is dripping with wealth. It is filled with unimpressive, mostly dark-suited men with hooded eyes that are standing by the dance floor, watching, like lions hunting their prey.

My glance quickly darts around the room, zoning in on the most important part of the club: the bar. I snatch Maddie’s hand as her gaze travels the room, the excitement bubbling on her face.

“Wow, Sienna, this place is incredible, and have you seen how hot all these men are? I have not seen one who isn’t a complete sex God yet.”

Looking at, or even thinking about, men is the last thing on the planet I want to do tonight, but I’m not below plastering a smile for a shot or two.

“Let’s get this party started, shall we?” the DJ announces from the tall, mirrored booth in the corner, as Eminem’s Real Slim Shady now blasts through the speakers.

I turn and give Maddie a cheeky grin, and her eyes light up in amusement. “Shall we?” I say, as I hold out my hand to her.

“Oh, we shall.”

The nights we spent reciting his every lyric whilst downing wine were about to pay off.

We beeline to the center of the dance floor, shaking our hips, our hair flowing around us as we recite every lyric word for word. Clearly, most of these women are of a higher class than us because they all fade away to the sides of the floor, giving us ‘the look’ as they do, obviously not knowing a word of this filthy rap song.

We might be completely out of place here, but we don’t care. Thrusting our hands up in the air, we let out the last verse, both erupting into a fit of giggles as the DJ moves on to the next song. I slam my hands to my knees and bend over, trying to regain my breath. My lungs are burning from shouting over the music.

“Mads, we need to get some booze down us. That wine has worn off now.” She giggles in response, her cheeks flush.

“Si, I forget how British you are, and then you go and say shit like that.”

I roll my eyes and spin on my ridiculously high stilettos toward the bar behind me.

My legs start to wobble. These damn heels. The world goes in slow motion as the bar comes closer to view. My ankle folds from underneath me and I start to tumble sideways. Squeezing my eyes shut, I shoot out my hands and brace myself for the inevitable impact of the floor. Pain radiates from my ankle.

My fingers jab into something rock-hard in front of me.

An electric jolt passes through my body as a strong hand cups my left ass cheek, creating a burning sensation beneath. The air crackles around me, and a strong musky aftershave assaults my nose. I squeeze my eyes tighter, not wanting to face the utter embarrassment. I can feel his chest rise and fall steadily beneath my hands. Bar the squeezing hand on my ass, he is still.

I trail my left hand slowly down, blindly searching for something to grab onto to hoist myself back up. My hand settles and grips onto the hard bulge I’m assuming is the table. I take in a deep breath, ready to make my exit, and feel him hiss. No wait, that feels familiar. Realization dawns on me and I am 99.9% certain I am grabbing a rock hard penis, a fucking massive one at that.

I’m as still as a statue, not wanting to make this scenario any worse for either of us.

Okay, Sienna, we needed to get this over with. Rip that band-aid off and run away, far, far away, and never return. With all the courage I can muster, I squint out of one eye, trying to assess who I’m dealing with. My hand is still tightly wrapped around a now throbbing cock.

I scan my way up his dark tux, his body a mountain of muscle. My gaze is met with the face of a man who could literally have jumped out of one of my smutty books. His liquid dark eyes search mine. I’ve never seen eyes so dark; it’s like they are piercing into my soul. I can’t stop staring, mesmerized by the hottest man I have ever laid eyes on. His jet-black hair is just long enough to grab a fistful of on top, and shaved short on the sides. A chiseled jaw is emphasized more by the dark angel wing tattoo that spans up his entire neck. I hold in a breath and open my eyes completely. I need to get a proper look. As I do, he clears his throat. This quickly slams me back into reality, the one where I still have my hand on his cock, which is aggressively pulsating in my hand.

I snatch my hand back as if I had been scolded and push myself back. The grip on my ass only tightens as he tips me forward, bringing his lips down to my ear. His breath tickles against my sensitive skin, leaving goosebumps. My whole body shudders in response, heat creeping up my cheeks.

A fire ignites within me as his lips smile against my cheek. My eyes flutter closed, and a small moan falls from my lips.

Fuck.

Fuck me, how much longer of this charade do I have left? I glance at my Rolex. Three hours and counting–great. I tap my fingers on the solid gold table in annoyance. If I have to make small talk with one more of these pompous twats tonight, I’m going to end up punching someone in the jaw.

Tonight is the opening night of my new nightclub–well, that’s what this façade is to the media. To me, it’s another step in paying my debt to Luca. I smirk just thinking about this arrangement. My foster brother turned leader of the largest mafia organization in New York, had the bright idea of faking to the mob that I am taking legitimate steps to repay my debt to them. The small debt for saving my fucking life.

No longer am I Keller, the street rat boxer, scraping a life prison sentence for almost killing someone underground. Enter, instead, Keller ‘The Killer’ Russo, lined up to fight to become the undisputed heavyweight champion of the world. I live and breathe fighting. Nothing beats the euphoria of releasing my inner beast and pummeling the shit out of my opponent. It’s all I’ve ever known. Only now, I get to do it for multimillion-dollar deals.

I run my hand along the plush leather headrest of the booth next to the dance floor, tip my head back and close my eyes. Just three more fucking hours, I think, as I take a deep inhale. The bass of the music thuds throughout my body. I take a drawn-out sip of scotch, letting the burn draw deep inside my throat, and then I survey the room. The place is filled with desperate women and these corporate assholes pining over them.

A cackle of women stops and crowds next to my booth, giggling to try to get my attention. I roll my eyes and keep my focus forward, ignoring their advances. I’m not in the mood tonight.

They obviously didn’t read the latest bullshit article about me. New York’s most eligible bachelor is off the market. Or even better, they did, and they just don’t give a fuck. I am off the market, but not for the reasons they think.

The bad boy rags to riches story really gets them going; trying their luck to be the woman I finally let my guard down for and fall in love with. Just the thought makes me shudder. Most women use my wealth to fund their lavish lifestyle, pretending to be happy whilst I disappear into the night, hunting in the shadows for the mafia and sticking my cock in the first available hole after. The only women I am interested in are the ones who scream my name while riding my cock and then make a swift exit, never to be seen again. Simple transaction, no drama, and absolutely zero feelings.

Although, I suppose that’s one way to speed time up. My office is upstairs and yet to be christened. Maybe that’s something I can change tonight. That polished oak desk would look good with a woman bent over it. The thought has me shifting uncomfortably. Fuck, I just need to get out of this booth. I might have designed the place, but standing at 6 foot 5, there is nowhere near enough leg room under the table to sit here all night waiting for Grayson.

The club is pulsating, bodies grinding on the dance floor. I can smell the tequila oozing from their pores. The lights fade, giving the room an erotic vibe. I knock the rest of my scotch back in one and slam the tumbler on the table. If Grayson’s gonna be late, then I am going to have to find other ways to pass the time.

This fucking tux–it’s making my skin crawl. Even when tailor made by the best in New York, it’s hard to squeeze my bulked out frame into. I undo the button under the bow tie, instantly becoming less claustrophobic.

Icy air brushes against the back of my neck, causing my jaw to clench as I whip my head round. Fucking useless bouncers. Last entry for gold VIP was half an hour ago. I clench my fists and shuffle to the edge of the booth to go lay into them. I come to an abrupt halt and all the air barrels out of my lungs.

Holy fuck.

The room stands still as I watch her flit through the door, arm-in-arm with a leggy blonde. The kind I can imagine gives you a fucking headache after being around for an hour.

I can’t drag my eyes off this goddess.

I watch bouncer dickhead number two smirk and stare at her ass as she walks by, winking at dickhead bouncer number one. Just that alone makes my blood boil, and I want to rage over there to smash their ugly mugs together.

My gaze instantly lands back on her. She is stunning, like no woman I’ve ever seen. Women rarely spark immediate interest from me; I make them work for the privilege. But this one–just one look and my dick is twitching.

Rubbing my cock under the table, I try to tame him. Nearing thirty and I’m sitting here with a hard on over a stranger. Perfect.

Her dark hair bouncing around her face is a perfect length to wrap around my hand. Which would give me perfect access to pull her head back to expose her slender collarbones.

Even from this distance, her bright blue eyes are captivating, piercing straight into my chest. Her frame is toned in all the right places, with an ass I’m itching to grab. That tight black dress is teasing me. Just the thought of ripping it off and seeing what is underneath sends electric shocks straight to my dick. Fuck, I need to get a grip. I groan into my hands as I rub them down my face.

I need to stay the fuck away from this woman. I don’t know what she has done to me, but it fills me with unease. I squeeze back into the booth and re-adjust myself under the table, abruptly whipping two fingers up, signaling my bartender to get me another drink. I need to drown this out now.

Two more scotches later and my head is back in the game. Grayson the late prick is on his way, thank fucking Christ. I need the distraction. I can’t stop my gaze from finding her in the sea of people; I’m mesmerized by her passionately rapping to Eminem with absolutely no shame, right in the middle of the dance floor. From this angle, I am getting a front-row seat to one of the best shows I’ve seen. Her perfectly round ass has been taunting me for the last half an hour. Fuck Broadway, this is the best seat in the fucking house. I could watch her all night.

I am clearly not the only horny fucker to notice her. Every man watches her, admiring something th. . .