Firebrand: Mason Regero, #2

By Arielle Alia

Mason Regero is a vigilante who finds justice for people who has been wronged in life. He knows how to fight and survive in a dangerous world.

 

But he doesn't know how to get away from Raegan.

 

Raegan, after discovering she has fallen in love with Mason is playing a dangerous game in order to make him love her.

 

In order to win in this game of love, she left her tears and innocence behind, and began to change herself. She is determined to become a strong and independent woman capable of standing beside Mason even when he confronts death itself.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Arielle Alia
• Release date: Feb 2, 2021
• ISBN: 9781393950974

Book preview

CHAPTER 1

Montresuil-Sur-Mer , France

The land Calais bought for Mason in this part of France was 458 meters by 462 meters in size and near a protected forest. The place was quiet, isolated and offered complete privacy. It also couldn't be found on regular maps. Their nearest neighbor was located two miles away, and it would take thirty minutes to drive to town.

Calais had a two-storey chateau built on the land. The chateau had a white and dark grey motif. The garage on the left was also painted with the same colors. Four large windows could be found on the first and second floor. Positioned between the four windows on the first floor was a large wooden oak door. A chimney jutted out on the left side of the roof while a hanging terrace was on the right side, in front of one of the windows.

Whenever Mason wanted to relax and escape the world of men, he would retreat to his chateau. Only a few people who he considered as friends knew about his private sanctuary.

From the terrace of his chateau, Mason watched Raegan ran around the large yard.

She's still like a child, commented Calais. Mason turned and saw his friend carrying a tray with biscuits and a pitcher of cold juice.

A wild child, he retorted. Maybe more like a jungle girl. Jean seemed to be more at home among trees and plants than in the city.

Raegan, Calais corrected him. Raegan is not a wild child, Mason. She is just free spirited. If you want her to become a sophisticated lady, you should bring her to Madame Dominique. The madam could teach her how to become one. She could turn Raegan into one very classy woman in weeks. Calais carefully set the plate of biscuits and the pitcher of juice on the small table in front of Mason.

She would just give Dominique a headache. Raegan is not like Shandra. Shandra is a kind and obedient girl. Raegan is her total opposite!

Calais chuckled. Mason studied his friend and butler.

You have been treating Raegan like your daughter, Calais, he commented.

I know. Somehow, she reminds me of Pradelle. She is quite innocent.

What she did back in the Philippines was something innocent girls do not do. She asked me to kill her!

Why didn't you kill her?

Mason glared at Calais.

What kind of a man do you think I am?

I mean, killing her could have solved your problem. You wouldn't need to take her here and train her.

What are you really up to, Calais? He cast a suspicious look at the grinning butler. And don't even attempt to deny that you had nothing to do with Raegan being able to accept the truth about me. You said something to her. The woman I brought to Ferrer's house became horrified and afraid of me after she realized what my job was. She looked at me like I was a monster. But the woman who went back to our hotel suite was no longer afraid of me. She even dared to blackmail me again! he grumbled.

"I didn't do or say anything to Raegan to change her mind regarding your personality, mon ami, insisted Calais. Mason didn't believe a word. But if you are going to ask me my personal opinion as to why her perspective of you changed from that of being a monster to be feared to that of a man simply dispensing justice, maybe it was because she had begun to understand and accept who you truly are."

You are talking a lot of nonsense! he snapped.

Mason, she challenged you. She put her life in your hands when she came to our hotel suite. She even asked you to kill her so she could no longer become a witness against you. By your actions and words, you showed her that she had nothing to fear from you. And that the only one's in danger from you are the criminals and evil people. If there was anyone who changed her mind and who convinced her that despite the kind of job you do, deep inside you are still a good person, that's you, Mason. Not me.

Damn! Crazy girl! blurted Mason.

She's just different. She is unlike any of the other women we have met. And I don't think we would ever see a woman like her again. She's unique and extraordinary. If you ask me, I think-

I am not interested to hear what you think.

Are you sure you no longer find her attractive?

No. Got over that.

Are you really going to train her?

Mason sighed and nodded.

It seems to be the only way to get rid of her.

Do you really want to get rid of her?

What are you trying to say?

It wouldn't be terrible if you get yourself a partner. Batman has a Robin.

You are my Robin.

"Excusez-moi, I'm just a butler. I am good at gathering information. But when it comes to rushing toward danger or fighting hand to hand, I am completely unsuited. Calais pursed his lips toward Raegan. The woman had already reached the small hill near the protected forest. She, on the other hand could be your sidekick. She's fearless and adventurous like you."

Stop acting like a matchmaker! Mason warned the Frenchman.

Calais tried to control his amusement. But Mason could still see the laughter in the butler's eyes.

CHAPTER 2

T his will be your bedroom, explained Miss Millicent in her English accent. The housekeeper of Mason's chateau used to live in London before settling down in France. I cleaned this room when Mr. Raspail called, but I never changed the decoration. If you want to change the wallpaper or bring in new furniture, just tell me. Some of the things here belonged to Miss Shandra. You can use them since she would no longer need them.

Even before Raegan came to the chateau, Calais had already told her about Miss Millicent. Miss Millicent used to be a battered wife. Mason and Calais enabled her to get a divorce from her abusive husband. Calais didn't elaborate on the kind of help they had provided the housekeeper. So Raegan wasn't sure if Miss Millicent's ex-husband was still alive or was already dead.

Since Calais and Mason were always out of the country, Calais decided to hire Miss Millicent as their housekeeper. She would clean and take care of the chateau whenever the two men were gone. She would also help around the house when the two men were around but she never stayed overnight. She preferred to go back to her house in the town proper of Montresuil-Sur-Mer.

Who is Miss Shandra? Raegan asked. Calais failed to mention about her.

She is Mr. Mason's ward, was the brief answer Miss Millicent gave her before leaving her alone in the room.

Raegan found Miss Millicent snobbish and aloof. She also reminded her of those old spinsters in the movies. She had tried to lighten their conversation by inserting some jokes but Miss Millicent's face remained stony. She had ignored her small talk. The housekeeper made Raegan feel unwelcomed. As if Raegan wasn't worth her time. She was the complete opposite of Mrs. Mendoza who had driven Raegan to irritation due to her constant intrusion into everything she did.

Raegan began to wonder why Miss Millicent's attitude toward her was like that. Could it be because she wasn't the first woman Mason had brought here? And those women never stayed very long therefore not worth the housekeeper's time and effort?

Raegan sat on the bed and began to study the room. It was a very feminine room with a pastel-colored motif. And according to Miss Millicent, this room used to belong to Mason's adoptive daughter. That surprised Raegan since she never once thought Mason had a daughter.

It seemed there were more things to discover about the man. Based on what she knew by far, Mason Regero lived by his own rules and his own sense of justice. He was also dangerous. He wasn't afraid to kill or to be killed. But it was also clear from his actions and decisions that Raegan had nothing to fear from him. She became certain about this when Mason passed her test when they were in the Philippines. Raegan had put her life in his hands and dared him to kill her to stop her from going to the police. Mason never laid a finger on her. And she never sensed her life in any danger even though he continued to glare at her during that time. It was proof enough that he wasn't a cold-blooded killer.

Without thinking, Raegan found herself touching her lips. She again remembered Mason's kiss. He had never kissed her again after that. Even his teasings and seduction prior to their kiss had ceased. In fact, Mason had stopped showing any interest in her as a woman!

Had Mason lost interest in her because she was a lousy kisser? Because she didn't know how to properly kiss or to pleasure a man?

She was shocked at her thoughts! Why was she even thinking about such things? She went with Mason because she wanted to learn how to defeat her uncle and get her rights and inheritance back from him! She needed to be strong! And Mason and Calais could help her become the woman she needed to be to survive in this world!

Raegan reminded herself that she didn't come here to get Mason's attention! Mason killed people for a living! He would never be husband material! And only a stupid and crazy woman would ever allow herself to fall in love with a man like him!

She fell back on the bed and continued scrutinizing the whole room. It was clear that this room was built for Miss Shandra. The woman must have been very important to Mason. Raegan wondered where she was now.

When dinner came, Miss Millicent had gone home. Mason was also absent. Only Raegan and Calais had dinner together.

Raegan took this opportunity to ask Calais about Miss Shandra.

Miss Millicent told me that my room used to belong to Miss Shandra. Where is Miss Shandra now?

"Mademoiselle Shandra is currently training under Madame Dominique."

Shandra is still studying? How old is she anyway? Reagan continued to pry. She wanted to know who Shandra really was, and her real relationship with Mason.

Hmm, she must be eighteen years old by now.

Eighteen? Raegan wasn't expecting Miss Shandra to be younger than her! Could it be that Mason preferred younger women? Teenagers? At twenty-one years old, Raegan could no longer be called a teenager.

Is she really Mason's adoptive daughter or is she his lover?

Calais chuckled.

As far as Mason is concerned, Shandra is like a little sister to him. But Shandra, like most girls, have fallen in love with my employer. And if Shandra would be given a chance, I am quite sure she would do everything she could to make Mason fall in love with her. She would make Mason realize that she is no longer a girl but a woman. Mademoiselle Shandra has also become a very beautiful woman. And no sane man would be able to escape her charms once she decides to use them.

Raegan felt panicked. Or was she jealous? Nonsense! She wasn't about to compete with any woman for Mason's attention!

By the way, where is Mason? Why didn't he join us for dinner? Did he go somewhere?

Calais nodded but chose to continue eating rather than answer Raegan's words. Raegan felt Calais was trying to avoid telling her where Mason was. Or maybe he wanted her to directly ask him where Mason was right now?

Did he visit Shandra? Raegan blurted her suspicion.

Calais grinned.

You are quite perceptive, Raegan.

Raegan felt cold. She suddenly lost her appetite. She noticed that Calais Raspail's grey eyes were studying her! She felt embarrassed.

"Whenever Mason visits Mademoiselle Shandra, they often go out for dinner," Calais informed her.

Dinner date?

Yes.

And after that dinner date, does Mason stay with her through the night?

Mason would bring back Miss Shandra to Madame Dominique's house. Their relationship in spite of Miss Shandra's feelings remains platonic. But that is as far as I know. I don't know if that has changed since Miss Shandra became a full-grown woman.

Raegan felt something heavy in her chest. She was having a hard time breathing.

Does Mason consider me like a sister? Or as a problem?

To be very honest, Raegan, when it comes to what Mason feels or thinks about you, I have absolutely no idea! You are like an anomaly. I have never met any girl or woman like you that has this effect on Mason.

Raegan blinked.

How do I affect him?

You are the only woman who had ever discovered who he really is. Mademoiselle Shandra still sees him as some sort of knight in shining armor. Mason always makes it a point to hide his true personality from all the women he meets.

Maybe he didn't tell Shandra about his job because he didn't want to disappoint her, murmured Raegan as she began to play with her food.

Have you ever seen Shandra? asked Calais.

Raegan wasn't sure if she was interested to see the woman. But Calais didn't wait for her answer. He stood up and left the table. When he came back, he was holding a photo album.

Since Mason and I are always away, Miss Shandra always sent us letters and pictures of her. Calais put the album on the table and began flipping through the pages.

Raegan's mouth fell open when she saw Shandra's pictures! She was indeed very beautiful! She could win the Miss Universe contest! She had brown, round eyes with long eyelashes. Her nose was straight and her lips were full. Even her body was perfectly shaped. She had breasts that would instantly get men's attention. Whether she was wearing a simple sleeveless blouse and shorts or a pretty dress, she looked amazing and sexy! And every inch a feminine woman.

Shandra was the epitome of those beautiful fairytale princesses. Raegan knew she couldn't compete with her. She would pale in comparison to Shandra's beauty. No wonder, Mason only teased her. The man clearly taught her a lesson when he kissed her. Mason simply showed her that he could easily seduce a woman like her. And if he wanted to, he could take her to his bed and she wouldn't argue or fight back.

Raegan finally understood that someone like her could never compete with the kinds of women that Mason often met and interacted with. She could never be like Shandra who was all woman while she was a tomboy.

Raegan stood up.

I am already full, Calais. I am also tired from our long flight so I am going to bed now. My body needs to sleep.

Despite her words, Raegan found herself unable to sleep. Her mind kept creating these stupid scenarios where Mason and the beautiful and alluring Shandra were together. And there was even this scene where the