Page 149 of Captivated

She only kept talking to—at the very least—keep Rich from shouting at her. She knew what his shouts would lead to, and it was nothing good for her. He was vicious, and unpredictable. All of this had taught her that, frankly.

Somehow, Liliana needed to get out of this place, and get out alive. So, if that meant she had to play along with Rich’s dumb fucking games for a little while, then that’s exactly what it meant.

Surely, she could play along.

Even if it killed her.

Liliana turned to glance at Rich, but was surprised to find he had already come to stand practically right beside her. In fact, his hand was reaching out to touch her. She had all she could do not to stiffen when his fingers drifted through her dirty blonde hair to sift the strands between his fingertips.

“I hated when you cut those few inches off your hair,” he murmured.

Jesus.

That was six months ago or more.

“I had some split ends,” she lied.

Really, she had just needed a change.

“You’ll let it grow out again for me, won’t you?”

Her throat tightened.

No.

“Of course, Rich.”

“That’s my sweet girl.”

Fuck you, you—

As though Rich could read her goddamn mind, his fingers grabbed tight to the hair at the base of Liliana’s skull before he tipped her head back, and forced them both to stare at one another in the eyes. She couldn’t look away from him while a snake-like smile slid over his lips, and his gaze drifted down her face, over her throat, and down her shirt where the neckline was cut with a deep V.

The disgust was back.

So was the rage.

The sting in her scalp made her eyes prickle with the promise of tears, but Liliana held them back. She wouldn’t even let this asshole see her eyes glisten. He would get too much enjoyment out of it, frankly.

“You need a good change of clothes, some time to work on that face of yours, and probably a shower, too,” Rich murmured.

Liliana nodded. “All of that sounds good.”

To say the least.

It would likely get her away from him, too. She was not going to complain about that, either. The more time she got to herself while outside of this damn room, the more likely it was that she could figure a fucking away out.

“That could be arranged if you continue to behave,” Rich said.

Liliana offered him a small smile.

It was the best she could do.

“Why wouldn’t I behave, Rich?”

“You know, when you look like this, I am almost willing to believe anything you say, Lilibet.”

That fucking nickname again. The nickname meant for a queen, but one she didn’t want at all. She had to swallow her desire to tell him to stop using it … again.