Page 67 of Captivated

His thoughts were something else tonight. Punishing and cruel. They were giving him all kinds of hell for being such a fuck up, and frankly, he deserved it.

Slipping in behind a group of too-loud guests at the event, Joe found Liliana with her mother and father just a few steps away. Cella—one of Liliana’s younger sisters—joined them soon after, too.

Joe was in just the right spot—slightly hidden by the group of people, and half in the shadows the cascades of lights created against the backdrop of silk draperies hanging from the walls and ceilings. He wasn’t a huge fan of the way the organizers had decorated the place, but what did it matter about how he felt?

If anything, the way it was set up gave him ample room to move, and yet, stay out of sight at the same time. He knew—at the very least—Lucian had to know Joe was there, if only because the man was the entire reason why Joe knew about the event, and had the ticket to get in the door.

Although, Joe entered the less conspicuous way through the back entrance, and had his ticket snipped there.

The clang of silver against crystal echoed through the speakers strategically placed in the venue, and brought the attention of the very rich guests to the front of the ballroom. A woman standing on the raised platform at the front—where the band had been playing for a good majority of the night—set her glass aside so she had a better grip on the microphone in her hand while she spoke.

Joe wondered why she had to clink her fucking glass into the microphone instead of just speaking into it to begin with.

Who knew why people did what they did. Certainly not him, anyway.

What was this charity event for again?

Women’s shelters, and domestic violence awareness, he thought. Joe couldn’t be sure, but he was pretty sure that’s what all these people had gathered for. His part there wasn’t really to do anything regarding the event, but just keep an eye on Liliana from afar—especially considering Lucian could only get a couple of men inside the place for the night.

Lucky Joe got one of the short sticks on the draw, apparently.

Here he was.

Joe’s gaze drifted to Liliana as the woman at the front began to speak. He could have been over there … with her. She probably wouldn’t be feeling like a discarded piece of trash—yeah, he saw that look of shame and embarrassment she tried to hide the night before. And she certainly wouldn’t be wearing a semi-permanent scowl, either.

“The silent auction in the connecting room will be open in five minutes!”

Shit.

Less people would be around for Joe to use to blend in and hide himself as the guests moved between the ballroom, and the next room for the auction. He didn’t want to risk blowing his cover to Liliana. He didn’t think she would appreciate seeing him there—even if he could excuse it with a lie—after refusing to come with her.

The universe was having a good laugh at his expense.

Or … God.

One of the two.

The quiet conversation happening just a few feet away drew in Joe’s attention for a moment. He had a couple of minutes before he had to find another way to make himself scarce, anyway, so he listened while he could.

Punishing himself more, clearly.

“Why are you in such a shitty mood tonight?” he heard Cella ask.

“Leave her be,” the Marcello wife replied.

Jordyn, Joe knew. The woman’s name was Jordyn. Lucian’s wife, and Liliana’s mother. Although, Joe had never gotten a proper face to face with the woman, or even had a conversation with her. It didn’t matter—he could easily see where Liliana took the majority of her features from, the shape of her eyes, to the high cheekbones, and pretty bow-shaped lips. Those eyes were all her father, though.

“Oh, wait—is this about that guy?” Cella asked.

Joe stiffened.

So did Lucian.

“What guy?” Lucian asked.

Liliana gave her sister a look that silently screamed for her to shut up.

Cella only shrugged. “My bad.”