Page 53 of Captivated

He then flashed his phone in the air, saying, “I get a text every time they move to a new spot, and I know exactly where she is at all times. She’s fine.”

“I know she is,” Lucian murmured.

Joe swore the man almost fucking smiled, too.

“I hate it when people doubt me,” Joe said.

Lucian shrugged. “Not my problem. What can I do for you?”

Yes, that.

The whole fucking reason why Joe was here to begin with.

“Rich Earl,” Joe said, trying to keep his tone as level as he could. He also failed like a fucker because he knew something was fucking up, now. “Son of George Earl—you know, the politician you want me to kill.”

Lucian folded his arms over his chest, but otherwise, kept his face impassive and unreadable. “What about him? Most men George’s age have families, Joe. I’m not sure why you’re looking into the personal details and lives of your mark. That’s not typical, is it?”

“What I do for my job is none of your business,” Joe said, tossing the man’s words back at him.

“On the contrary—I’m the one paying you.”

“Dante, actually,” Joe countered.

Lucian smirked. “On the surface, maybe.”

What?

Joe decided Lucian’s word games weren’t all that important right then. He had something else he needed to deal with. “I want to know why one of the sons of my mark approached Liliana on opening night of The Sleeping Beauty?”

That was what did it.

That was what made Lucian’s calm façade crack.

“Excuse me?”

Lucian moved a step forward—a calculating step if Joe ever saw one. It was like suddenly the man’s body was a coiling snake readying to strike, and Joe very well might be the target it came to kill.

“Rich Earl—approached Liliana during opening night of the show. I saw from the background, and didn’t step in because even though she seemed uncomfortable with him around, she had it under control. Also, I didn’t want to expose myself being there. She didn’t know. I didn’t want to freak her out or anything.”

“And you know who he is how, exactly?” Lucian asked, reverting back to the calm tone.

“I thought he looked familiar.”

“That tells me nothing.”

“I made some calls, and had some information pulled.”

“And what did you find?”

Joe’s gaze narrowed. “Why are you questioning me?”

“Because I can!”

Jesus.

“I found what I wanted to know—who he was, and because of that, how he’s related to this job considering he’s Earl’s son. Now, could you answer some fucking questions of mine, Lucian, or no?”

“He approached her?” Lucian asked.