Detained (Beneath the Mask, #4)

by Luna Mason

“No one else matters. They will have an empire to run.”

“You really want this?” My voice is a squeak, heavy with doubt. In one swift motion, he yanks me flush against him, my hands pressed against his chest, feeling the frenzied pounding of his heart. “I have never been more sure of anything in my life.”

“I’m not marrying you until you get down on your knees and do it properly.” ...

“The baby–all you had to do was ask,” I say, looking back over my shoulder at him. I hear him growl behind me. “Don’t fuck with me.” His tone is gruff, setting pulses straight to my core. “Me? Never.” I hold my breath. If he wants to play games, then so will I.

“You will wear my ring. You will be my wife. You’ll see.” I want both of those things, his last name and his baby.

I gasp as the cold metal of the ring presses against my throbbing clit. My body starts to shake as he circles the diamond against me. “Maybe you can’t have it all,” I reply, my breath caught in my throat. His jaw ticks. “Wrong answer.”

“Come for me, dolcezza,” he pants out, upping the pace and squeezing my throat. “Now!”

“Is that really how you’re going to put a baby in me? A quickie against a wall?” “Oh, Zara. You have no fucking idea what I’m going to do to you.”

“I’m so fucking proud of you.” I pull Zara’s slim body into mine and kiss the top of her head. Between her and Enzo, they have managed to track down three of the missing girls in just a matter of days.

She was so focused, I had to drag her out to make sure she was eating. Once she gets something in her head, there is no stopping her.

“I need another drink.” She looks up and grins at me. “Won’t be long before you can’t have any more of those,” I whisper against her lips and she blushes instantly. “Let’s hope.” She presses a kiss to my lips

“What was that for?” I tease. “I’m just happy.” I steal another kiss. “Me too, bella. Me too,” I mutter.

For the first time in ten years, I truly mean those words. With her by my side, I am happy. I can see a future, one that exists outside of hunting my enemies.

“Anything you want in the world, it’s yours, dolcezza. You want me to shut down the entire city for you, I will.”

“You can’t kill him, Frankie.”

“We have babies to make.”

“Text Keller, then you can do what the hell you want with me.”

“You drive a hard bargain, future Mrs. Falcone.”

And there it is, that stunning diamond ring, slipped back on my finger. Like he does every damn day. “I told you, I’m not keeping it on until you get on your knees, sir.” I try to keep my face stern. “And I told you, there is only one of us on our knees here, dolcezza.”

“Well, looks like dolcezza will always be my name, Mr. Falcone.”

“You know the rules. Now get texting. I’m so fucking ready for you.”

“Wow, Zara is looking smokin’ tonight, boss.” I look up at him, grinning ear to ear and blink a few times at his stupidity. “Jax, one day he is going to knock you the fuck out,” Kai says to Jax. He’s a smart boy. “I’d listen to him, Jax,” I warn.

Stubbing out my cigarette in the ashtray, I watch as his eyes roam her body and anger boils through me. I might not be able to kill him, but I’ll certainly make this hurt.

Giving James a wave, she turns and looks up at the monitor and winks. She knows I’m watching.

“I’ve heard you used to be quite good at sharing at the club.” “That was different.” She raises one of her elegant eyebrows. “Oh, really?” “Yes really. Those girls were never mine to be possessive over. You, however, are all mine. And I don’t share. At all.”

I’ve never been a jealous person, but, for Zara, I’d kill someone for looking at her the wrong way.

“I’m only yours, sir. Always.”

“I could be your worst fucking nightmare,” I say through gritted teeth. I release my grip and tap his cheek. “Or I could be your savior.”

“Breathe a word, I’ll kill you. Buy more girls, I’ll kill you. I’ll have men watching your every move, tracking every fucking call you make. You can’t escape us. No matter where you are. Remember that.”

“You have no idea how much this means to me, angel.”

I want to be next to this man and the power he has for the rest of my life. I want our kids to see their dad rule the world.

“I have a good idea, handsome,” I whisper, stroking his cheek. “You’re mine, Zara. Mine forever.” His words make butterflies erupt in my stomach. “That’s all I want.”

This changes everything but also nothing at the same time. I never had any intentions of having kids again. I wasn’t looking for it. She is the only reason I wanted a baby, because it’s her.

She yawns and stretches out. Even like this, with mussed hair and tired eyes, I’ve never seen a woman more beautiful than my Zara.

“I’m scared.” She looks up at me with her big eyes brimming with tears. I won’t tell her, but so am I. I imagine for completely different reasons.

“Is this even a safe time to have a baby with what’s going on?” She sniffles as I stroke her face with my thumb. “Baby, no one will ever get close enough to our child to harm them. They will be the safest person in the city. I promise you that, dolcezza.”

Zara and our baby will always be my priority.

When she flips it around, two pink lines stare back at me. Without thinking, I lift her into my arms, hiding my face in her neck as she sobs against me.

I never got the chance to be a father, to be a husband. I’ve spent the last ten years running from these thoughts. I buried those dreams the same day I lost them. And now, they’re creeping back and it hurts as much as the day they died. Like a fucking spear through the heart.

The only thing that stops me from spiraling is Zara. Yet, I’ve never felt so out...

“We’re having a baby, Frankie. We are really fucking do this. Are we crazy?” “Yes, we are crazy,...

Now she really can never leave me. I can’t shake this feeling, this voice screaming at me that we can’t have this. I don’t deserve it. And maybe I don’t. That won’t stop me from taking it, anyway. It only gives me the determination to finally e...

“Fuck. Zara.” The way my name rolls off his tongue as he loses control catches my breath.

“All I ask is don’t take unnecessary risks. Okay?” His hand dips under my top and splays on my stomach. “I can’t lose either of you, baby.”

“You know I’ll do everything I can to keep us safe, Frankie. I promise you.” “I know, angel,” he whispers into the top of my head.

I can honestly say for the first time in forty years, I felt pure terror.

“Sit. On. My. Face.”

“That’s it baby, ride my mouth. Show me how much you need this.”

“I told you to sit on my face. So why the fuck can I still breathe?”

“She’s fine, angel.” With a shake of her head, she pulls back. “How do you know that?!” she shouts. I raise my eyebrows at her to remind her who she is talking to.