Page 132 of Silent Vendetta (Vendetta Duet)

“Not exactly,” Grayson said.

“What the hell does that mean?”

Grayson opened his mouth, but the door hinges creaked softly, and Detective Rinaldi stepped inside. Her aura was authoritative, her movements measured as her gaze scrutinized every detail about me.

Her eyes narrowed, skepticism etched in the furrows of her brow.

“Hunter,” she said. “I’m glad to see that you’re okay.”

But her tone wasn’t happy; rather, it was laced with suspicion.

A stone settled in my gut.

I glanced over at my brother and the stern expression he was camouflaging from strangers. The room was heavy with anticipation, the air sticking to my skin like a grim premonition.

“I need to ask you some questions,” she declared, her voice puncturing the silent room like a gunshot.

“Of course.” I tried to sound unconcerned and hoped I had pulled it off. “But,” I said, shifting and grimacing to make a show of it, “I’d prefer to do it a little later.”

“Afraid we need to do this now.”

“He just woke up,” Grayson said in annoyance.

She glared at him. “Most important time to get information. While it’s fresh.”

“He just underwent major surgery. Let the meds wear off a little first.”

Rinaldi’s jaw tightened. “Is there a reason you’re refusing to answer my questions?”

Grayson took a deliberate step forward.

“He just told you he’ll talk, but he’s in pain, and he’s groggy.”

“This can’t wait. There are some…discrepancies that need to be examined.”

“What discrepancies?” Grayson asked.

“If you could step outside,” she snarled. “I have some questions foryouas well.”

“I already gave you my statement.”

“I’m aware.”

They entered a staredown, but she had us backed into a corner, and she knew it.

I had no choice but to answer her questions. But how the hell was I going to do that without implicating Luna? And evidently, Grayson, though I had no idea what he’d done.

Was he referring to the guy he’d taken out and dumped into the lake? But how would Luna be implicated in that?

Grayson paused for several seconds before grinding his jaw and moving toward the door.

Where a blonde nurse came barreling in, oblivious to tension-fest. She wore her hair in some sort of clip that left a bird’s nest of it on her head, little stray hairs escaping down her high cheekbones.

“Mr. Lockwood.” She smiled. “How wonderful to see you awake.”

A subtle blush tinted her cheeks as her gaze settled on Grayson. She stilled and tucked one of those strands of loose hairs behind her ear, a grin widening to show her teeth.

“It’s nice to see you again, too,” she said in a higher-pitched tone.

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