Page 60 of Captivated

Yeah …

That’s what Rich’s name invoked.

Liliana had taken great pains to teach herself not to react outwardly, though. Especially not when it came to Rich fucking Earl. The man did a lot of things, but she refused to let him terrify her for one more fucking minute.

What he had done once was enough.

No more.

“Sorry,” Lucian murmured quickly. “I didn’t mean—”

Shit.

“I thought I was getting better at it.”

Her father cocked a brow. “Pardon?”

“Hiding how he … bothers me,” she said dumbly.

Lucian shook his head, and wrapped an arm around her shoulder. In a blink, she found herself dragged close into her father’s comforting, warm embrace. It was safe there—nothing ever hurt her there.

Just like she was a girl again.

Resting his chin on the top of her head, Lucian said, “You do hide it well, and that’s admirable. But I’m also your father, Liliana, and I can see when things are affecting you in a bad way. Although, I’m sure it pissed him off like nothing else that he didn’t get a reaction out of you when he approached you. We both know how men like him enjoy seeing the hell they cause.”

Liliana swallowed the ball of emotions in her throat. “Maybe—I don’t know. I just wanted him to get the fuck away.”

“But why didn’t you tell me?”

“There was nothing to tell. He hasn’t approached me since, and Gordo was made aware that he shouldn’t be allowed back into any showings. What else can I do, Daddy?”

“Tell me.”

The pain in her father’s voice mixed heavily with his anger. Liliana knew the anger wasn’t for her, but rather, at a man who had not yet gotten what he deserved for the things he did.

“And what would you do?” Liliana asked. “You tried to do something once, and it—”

“This time is not the same.”

Liliana stiffened, and glanced up at her dad. “What does that mean—what are you doing now?”

Lucian shook his head. “It’s not for you to worry about.”

“I think maybe—”

“If he approaches you again, I need to know.”

“How did you know this time?”

“Someone who saw what went down from afar, I suppose.”

Liliana only struggled for a couple of seconds to put together who exactly that might be. There was, after all, only one person she knew who had been at the show that night. Only one person who would have contact with her father.

Joe.

But why would he be giving Lucian information?

And how much did he know about Rich?