Page 74 of Captivated

“What do you have, Cory?”

He forced his tone to be pleasant.

It was the best Joe could do.

“Well, nothing concrete.”

“Then why are you calling me? Because I am pretty sure you told me it was going to take a week or more to get any kind of useable info, so if you’re just calling to fuck me around, then don’t bother. I have better things to do, man.”

Yeah.

There went his pleasantness.

“First, I figured it was going to take that long. Second, cut the attitude. New York is a twelve hour drive, but I know a guy with a jet on standby, so I can be there even quicker to beat your ass.”

“You could try.”

“Knock it off, Joe.” Cory sighed. “It’s not concrete because it’s not on actual, official paper. But it’s rumors, and we all know what people say about those.”

“It all starts somewhere, and usually with a grain of truth.”

“Exactly. But, uh …”

“Spit it out.”

“The rumors—the stories, or whatever—they’re concerning.”

Okay, now he had Joe’s attention. Despite the way his head ached even more, he sat up on the bed, and kicked the comforter off his legs.

“Talk to me,” Joe mumbled.

“Seriously, were you drinking last night?”

“A little.”

“A little doesn’t make you sound like vomit is on the back of your tongue, Joe.”

“Yeah, well, are we talking about the info you found, or my hangover?”

“I’d like to talk about both.”

“Well,” Joe replied, “I’m only offering my conversation skills on one thing today. Sorry to burst your bubble.”

“You’re seriously an asshole.”

“And you don’t get to pick family, brother. You’re stuck with me—shitty luck for you, I guess.”

“Fine—the info,” Cory grumbled. “Liliana was definitely involved with Rich Earl, although I can’t say it was for very long.”

A hot ball grew in Joe’s gut.

Jealousy, likely.

Fuck.

Not the right time.

“What makes you think it wasn’t for very long?”