Page 54 of A Hunter for Luna

I shrugged, my mind racing with possibilities. "Maybe. Or maybe he's just running scared, like the coward he is. He mighthave other enemies, too. Rich men don’t get that way by random kindness."

I tried the window, surprised to find it unlocked. With a grunt, I heaved it open, the hinges creaking in protest.

"After you, my lady," I said with a mocking bow, gesturing for Luna to enter.

She rolled her eyes but climbed through the window, her movements swift and silent. I followed close behind, my senses on high alert for any sign of danger.

The house was eerily quiet as we moved from room to room, our footsteps muffled by thick carpets. The air felt stale, as if no one had breathed it in days.

"Look," Luna said, pointing to a half-packed bag on the floor. "He must have left in a hurry."

I nodded, glancing at a desk in the corner. One of the drawers was slightly open, papers scattered haphazardly across the surface.

What were you working on, Lucardi?And why did you leave it behind?

I rifled through the papers, scanning the words in search of anything useful. Most of it seemed to be mundane business correspondence, but one letter caught my attention.

"Luna, look at this," I held up the letter. "Someone had warned Lucardi that we're onto him."

Luna was already moving to the next room. "We need to keep searching. There might be more clues."

I followed her, my frustration mounting with every empty room we encountered. It was clear Lucardi had been thorough in his departure, taking anything that might incriminate him.

Damn it. We're always one step behind.

Luna placed a gentle hand on my arm, her touch sending a jolt through me. "We'll find him, Benedetto. We just need to keep looking."

I met her gaze, surprised by the determination I saw there. She was stronger than I gave her credit for.

"You're right," I took a deep breath. "Let's keep moving. Lucardi can't hide forever."

We made our way to the rooftop, the cool night air a welcome respite from the stuffy confines of the mansion. The city stretched out before us, a glittering tapestry of lights and shadows.

I took a moment to orient myself, then pointed to a nearby rooftop. "That way. We can cross over to the next street and circle back to the house."

Luna nodded, hiking up her skirts without hesitation. "Lead the way."

We leapt from one roof to the next, the tiles clattering beneath our feet. The wind whipped through my hair, carrying with it the faint scent of jasmine from the gardens below.

I glanced back at Luna, expecting to see her struggling to keep up. But to my surprise, she was right behind me, her movements graceful and sure.

She'd been holding out on me. Where did she learn to move like that?

Luna caught my eye, a small smirk playing on her lips. "Surprised?"

I shook my head, turning my focus back to the rooftops. "Just impressed. You're full of surprises, aren't you?"

She laughed, the sound carrying on the wind. "You have no idea."

We reached the end of the row of houses, and I paused to catch my breath. The city was quiet now, the only sounds the distant barking of dogs and the soft rustle of leaves in the breeze.

We needed to regroup. Lucardi was gone, but there had to be a way to find him.

I turned to Luna, ready to share my thoughts, but the words died on my lips. She was standing at the edge of the roof, her cloak billowing behind her like a pair of dark wings. The moonlight cast a silvery glow on her face, highlighting the determination in her eyes.

She was beautiful. The realization of that thought hit me like a punch to the gut. And brave. And far too good for this life.

I shook my head, pushing the thought away. There was no time for distractions, not when we had a mission to complete.

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