Page 131 of Captivated

Not because she wanted to, but because she needed to keep Rich’s attention away from him for now. That much she was most sure of. On a fucking cellular level, Liliana knew she was in trouble, and so was Joe.

So much trouble.

Bad all the way around the board.

“Rich,” Liliana greeted.

Kindly, too.

Although how she managed, she wasn’t sure.

He looked the same—still tall, lean, and handsome. His dark hair was a bit more disheveled than usual, but his suit still looked like he pulled it out of a fucking magazine somewhere. His grin seemed warm and welcoming, but Liliana wasn’t so stupid to let that trick her. She knew what overlooking this man could do and bring her way.

He could not be trusted.

But hell, that’s what good looks, money, and a charming smile could do for a fucking monster. It could turn him into someone else entirely—someone the best of people didn’t recognize for what he truly was.

“Step out with me,” Rich said.

He didn’t pose it as a question.

Not an offer, either.

Liliana didn’t move. “You need to leave.”

Rich tipped his head to the side, and that slow smile morphed into something else entirely. Something far more cold, and terrifying. The sneer made her feel like a block of ice in an instant, and her hand on the door tightened in preparation to slam it.

It would give her a second to lock it, maybe.

A moment to do—

“Close the door on me, or make a sound, and this will get far worse. I have people waiting. I will take you by force, and him, too. Make it easy on me,” Rich said like he was offering her something sweet to take between her lips and taste, “and I will leave him here alive. Consider it, Liliana. It’s just you two here—your family isn’t going to protect you today, and certainly not that father of yours.”

The way he said father, like he was spitting it from his mouth, made Liliana cringe. She felt the fear fighting its way up her chest like bile spilling onto the back of her tongue. Not one single part of her wanted to go with him, but what she didn’t know terrified her more.

Did he have people?

It wasn’t just her and Joe to consider, either, because the hotel was full of other guests. How many innocents would be harmed in Rich’s effort to get her away from Joe?

Although, Joe was the most important to her. And nothing was worth him being hurt.

“Also know that should you make this difficult,” Rich added, “I have plans for him, too. Starting with having him watch me fuck you, and depending on how he takes that, we’ll go from there. Good torture takes patience, and skill, after all.”

Rich’s gaze cut back to Liliana, cold and detached in a blink. “So, surprise me, Lilibet, and show me what you’ve learned since our time apart. I’ve been very patient, you see. Waiting for this … don’t disappoint me.”

Jesus.

Liliana stepped out of the hotel room, and closed the door behind her. The form that rushed her from the side the moment the door was closed had a scream rising in her throat. It died in the hand that covered her mouth, and the sharp prick that found her neck.

A needle.

Coldness slipped through her veins. Blackness found her soon after.

“Drink.”

The bottle of water was pushed into Liliana’s hand when she refused to take it from Rich. She squeezed the water tight, and despite her throat being so dry it was protesting in pain, her desire to drink from the straw sticking out of the bottle was little to none. He handed it to her opened, after all.

Who knew what the bastard put in it?