Page 109 of Captivated

“Why’s that?”

“Well, she already loves me, Joe. And while she may love you, she has to still love all of you, too. Even the parts that scare her. So yes, better you than me.”

“Sounds—”

“Lucian.”

Lucian glanced away from Joe at the Marcello enforcer that approached. “What, Jacob?”

“We have a problem.”

“What kind of a problem?”

“Giovanni called—let me know the boss gave him a shout when the lead he had tailing Rich went to shit this morning.”

Lucian stiffened in the chair. “And what does that mean exactly?”

Jacob swallowed thickly.

Dread colored up his gaze.

“Means we lost him, Lucian.”

For the first time in a long time, Joe felt something he hadn’t experienced in a long while. It felt cold, and heavy. Like strong hands wrapping around his throat, and choking him to death without concern or care.

Fear.

That’s what he felt.

Fear.

“Joe,” Lucian hissed, “there’s no possible way the man knows where Liliana was taken to. We made sure of that—you chose it for that reason.”

Could the man read his thoughts?

Or was his fear that visible?

Maybe it was just because it was her.

And he hid nothing for her.

Still, Lucian continued even through Joe’s haze of anxiety and fear. “I was talking to her an hour ago—she was fine.”

It didn’t matter.

Joe was already pulling out his phone, and dialing the number to his house back in Chicago. She should be there; he kept up with what she had been doing since she got into the city, although he had yet to call her.

He was still trying to keep disconnected.

Detached.

At least, up until now.

“Are you calling her?” he heard Lucian ask.

Joe gave a short nod, but nothing else.

It was all he could give.