Page 112 of Captivated

“I would say that where I push my brother to be a little less controlled in literally every aspect of his life, he reminds me why it’s good to be responsible, too. Or, something like that. He thinks he’s keeping me busy and out of trouble with all these businesses we keep opening up together, but truth is, maybe it’s me who’s making him get out of the house a little more.”

Liliana laughed.

Cory smirked, and shrugged. “But we won’t tell him that, will we?”

“Suppose not.”

It amused her to no end how these two brothers clearly liked to mess with the other, and at the very same time, take care of one another.

She was glad Joe had Cory. And his sister, too. Monica clearly adored her big brothers. That was before Liliana even got in to Joe’s parents who also seemed to love their kids more than the sea, earth, and air combined.

“Are you going to ask about that?”

Liliana’s brow furrowed. “Huh?”

Cory pointed at the journal she had closed, and sat down on the island countertop as the two of them talked. “The journal. Are you going to ask about it? Snooping is a bad habit, you know. Should quit that before you find something scary.”

She scoffed. “Nothing scares me anymore.”

Mostly.

Or, that’s what she kept telling herself.

“Besides,” Liliana added quickly, “Joe told me to snoop when he called the other day. So, I think it’s fair game for me to … look around.”

“Oh, that’s what you’re calling it?”

“Yep.”

“I see,” Cory murmured. “So, are you?”

“What?”

“Going to ask.”

Liliana picked up the journal again, and weighed it in her palm. She opened the front cover, and flipped through a couple of the pages. Something about the fact Joe was carefully logging something made her think maybe it wasn’t any of her business, or rather … she should ask the source, not his brother.

“Not really,” Liliana said.

“What does that mean, exactly?”

She set the journal aside. “It means, I don’t want to ask about that, but I do have other questions you might be able to answer for me.”

Cory sipped from his coffee again. “Shoot.”

“I’ve been here a few days. When is he going to get here?”

“Don’t know.”

Liliana frowned. “Do you know what they’re doing right now?”

“Who is they?”

“Joe, my dad … people in New York, I guess.”

Cory cleared his throat. “I know just enough to tell you I can’t say anything because it’s not my place, or my business. I’m reckless, not stupid.”

Fair.