Page 31 of Detained

And I’m going to try and do what I can to make that happen.

13

FRANKIE

She seems to have stuck to her word and stayed away for a whole twenty-four hours. Yet, I can’t seem to get her off my mind. I admire her strength, however reckless some of her decisions may be. There aren’t many women who stand up against me like this.

She intrigues me because she isn’t scared of me. Quite the opposite, actually.

I shift in my seat, pressing down on my semi-hard cock. It’s the same every time I’m near her, or when she invades my thoughts. I can’t fucking stop myself.

It’s for the best that I sent her away. She’s liable to get herself killed. I saved her ass last time, and I’d do it again in a heartbeat. That’s what concerns me. I’m distracted and I can’t afford to be. We are so close to taking down Romano, it’s just a matter of time before he steps foot back in my territory.

Letting Zara too close to me opens up another weakness. Something he can exploit. Kicking up my feet onto the coffee table, I start scrolling through Zara’s social media and try to delude myself that this will be the last time.

I groan as I open up the most recent post, from ten minutes ago. Her in a tight red corset with a leather skirt, revealing all of those intricate tattoos on her porcelain skin. Fuck, she’s beautiful.

The phone slips from my fingers as the front door crashes open. A red-faced Grayson, with a flustered Enzo following closely behind, push into my office.

I try to keep my expression neutral as they crowd into my space. “Well, hello. Come in, why don’t you?”

Enzo sits down beside me and immediately opens up his laptop.

I shoot Grayson a questioning look. “Either of you care to tell me what’s going on?”

“We have a big fucking problem, boss.” Enzo ferociously jabs his fingers on his keyboard.

My patience is wearing thin.

“Spit it out,” I say through gritted teeth.

“Here.” Enzo turns the screen towards me, and I lean closer, looking at a page of numbers and some women's faces.

“What the hell am I looking at?” I rub my beard, shaking my head.

“It means this isn’t the first nor the last shipment of women. It seems New York isn’t their end goal. We need to dig deeper. The girls are coming from Russia, with George’s involvement. It has to be Romano.”

He leans back in the seat, looking pleased with himself.

“Well, continue,” I say, bringing the computer onto my thighs.

Enzo shifts to face me. “We need to get to George. He must have some information on the end buyer.”

I rub my hands over my eyes. “Why the hell would a commissioner be doing this? It makes no sense.”

“What about that other detective, Zara?” Grayson asks. I straighten my spine at the mention of her name.

Her reaction to the shipment made it obvious she had no idea. No one can act like that, let alone put herself at risk like that, with no back up.

I shake my head.

“This isn’t her, G.”

She did everything I asked. She might be the only person in that force that isn’t completely against us.

Shit, she could be deeper in this than even she realizes.

Enzo pushes his long black hair out of his face and lets out a long breath. “I agree.”