Page 46 of Detained

Cupping my elbow, he begins to lead me out of the room. “Come on, let’s go.”

I look up at him and frown. “Go where? What about Chad?” I can’t just leave him here in my apartment.

“I have a clean-up crew coming to take care of that. You are coming home with me.”

I step out of his hold, crossing my arms across my chest and shake my head. “No.”

He steps forward, and I take one back.

“I don’t need protecting. I’m capable of looking after myself.” I gesture to the dead body on the floor.

He chuckles, towering over me.

I swallow as he leans down, running his mouth along my neck. Just from that touch, I’m on fire and I really shouldn’t be. Not right now.

“Oh, Zara. We are far from finished. You just signed yourself over to me.”

I close my eyes as his lips press against my jaw. “You made your choice when you called me, angel. No turning back now. You will be coming back with me, and you will be under my complete protection, capiche, dolcezza?”

He is my only way out of this, and that smug smirk on his annoyingly handsome face tells me he knows exactly just that.

I am his now.

Squeezing my thighs together doesn’t quell the flurry of excitement. It won’t be the worst thing in the world. I’ve had a taste of what he can give me and I want more. And, while under his roof, I can learn everything there is about him. Maybe I can still take my dad down.

“I want my own room.” My bag is already out; time to pack.

A low rumble comes from his chest. “Let’s see how long you last with that arrangement.”

I swallow. I could live to regret this.

19

FRANKIE

Closing the door to Zara's room, I let out a long, exhausted breath. She’s sound asleep, so finally I get some peace. I need her under my roof and my protection, otherwise I can’t think straight. That little demon is clawing her way under my skin, and I can’t do a thing to stop it.

If I don’t do something now, her kill count is probably going to go up and land her, and me, in a lot of shit.

Reckless doesn’t even begin to cover her, but I’m damn proud of her. Once she gets in tune with who she really is, she will be a force to be reckoned with. She doesn’t fully trust me, which I don’t blame her for. Everyone is turning against her.

Soon she will realize I am not her enemy, far from it.

I pour out a generous measure of scotch, feeling the smooth glass in my hand as I slump back on the sofa and pull out my phone. I’m waiting for Mikhail’s proposal for our alliance. If what I saw in that book is correct, there is another shipment of women somewhere in Vegas. Not only can I save them, it could lead me to Romano.

As I scroll through my phone, the soft glow illuminates the dimly lit room. The clinking of ice cubes echoes as I raise my glass of scotch to my lips, taking a long, smooth sip. With a sense of anticipation, I tap on the message from Enzo, feeling a slight buzz of excitement tingling through my fingertips.

Enzo

Miki’s first offer- $500k cash plus a joint venture on the arms shipments. 25%.

With a laugh, I shake my head while typing my reply. Mikhail is new to the States. Just because he’s taken down the other mafia families in Vegas, doesn’t mean he can come up against my army. He knows that.

F

I don’t think so. Try again.

The phone rings immediately after, and no surprise, it’s Enzo.

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