Page 152 of Captivated

“Be careful,” the man said at her back, “because he won’t appreciate you saying something like that. I’m sure you already know this considering the bruise I just watched you spend an hour covering on the side of your face.”

Liliana’s heart stuttered.

Yeah.

There was that, too.

This was going to be harder than she thought.

The guard—who Liliana couldn’t even be bothered to ask his name—directed her through the long hallways of the mansion, and down two flights of stairs. They were headed back through a hallway she recognized from first arriving that would lead to the dining room. The voices filtering down from the space made her slow in her steps a bit.

The guard didn’t seem to notice.

Thankfully.

“This is concerning,” someone said. “Why aren’t you listening?”

“I am listening,” Rich barked, “but it’s not enough for me to think there’s something happening, or—”

“Trevor isn’t answering calls, and your mother? She hasn’t made a statement in days. Something is happening, or it already has, Rich. You’re messing with the wrong people, and I warned you. I fucking warned you.”

“Then leave,” Rich said simply.

“I beg your pardon?”

“Leave. Heed your empty warnings, and leave.”

“Boss—”

“Leave.”

Liliana stepped into the entryway of the large dining room at the same time a man she hadn’t seen before rushed out of it. He knocked into her on his way out the door, but mumbled a quiet, quick apology under his breath before he beat it down the hall.

“Fucking idiot,” Rich grumbled under his breath. And then, at the sight of Liliana in the entryway, his wide, welcoming smile returned. All lies. “And look at you.”

Liliana suppressed her shudder at the way his eyes raked over her. “Good evening.”

Her gaze drifted to the window to see the sun was setting. Evening seemed appropriate.

Rich looked past her to the guard standing behind Liliana. “Thank you for making sure she wore a dress, and you can go now.”

“You sure, boss?”

“Leave us.”

With two words, the guard scattered.

Rich waved a hand at Liliana, and then gestured at the table where a spread of food had been set out. Her stomach threatened to revolt on her at the sight of the food. Like she was so fucking hungry that just the sight of the food was enough to make her get on her knees and beg like a foolish girl.

No.

She wouldn’t.

She refused.

Rich smiled again. “Would you like to eat?”

“I could eat,” she replied quietly.