Page 28 of Silent Vendetta (Vendetta Duet)

“Once I let you go,” I said, my voice heavy with resignation, “police will have me dead to rights, and I’ll be stuck in a prison cell for the rest of my life. Before it’s all over, I need to do two things.”

She straightened, eyes sharp. “Which are?”

“One, I need to find my father’s killer.” I clenched my jaw, memories rushing back.

“You’ve been hunting for him for years. You may never find him.”

“I have to try.”

“You’ve been trying. You can’t hold me here forever!” She tried to keep her voice level, but terror crept into it on the last word.

“Not forever,” I agreed. “But I believe I have the right guy to find him. I just need a little more time.”

She took a shuddering breath in. “So let me go. You can hunt for him after you release me.”

“You’ll turn me in.”

“No, I won’t.”

I smirked, sensing her insincerity. “If I let you go and you don’t run straight to the police, you’ll be an accessory after the fact. I won’t put you in that position.”

“So, you’re what, my knight in shining armor, saving me from that? Seriously?”

“It’s in your best interest.”

“Oh, well, as long as it’s in my best interest, then by all means continue to hold me hostage!”

“I’m sorry, Luna. I’ll go as fast as I can.”

“You can’t keep me hostage. People will notice I’m missing.”

“One step at a time.”

Her mouth gaped open. “So that’s it? I just have to wait around while you have one last kill?”

I looked over at the piece of shit bleeding on my stone floor. The wooden chair creaked beneath his weight, the modest pools of crimson already starting to crust around the edges.

“Two, actually.” I returned his gaze to her. “But first, Franco says he has some information about your father’s case. I am going to find out what he knows.”

Her eyes flickered with both hope and caution. “And what makes you think he’ll tell you the truth?”

“I have my methods.” I cast a sharp look at the tools on my wall. “If there’s only one thing I can do for you before you walk away from me forever, I’m going to help solve what happened to your father, Luna.”

She swallowed hard. “Then what? Will you turn yourself in?”

CHAPTER16

Hunter

Franco, with sweat streaking down his pallid face, his shirt darkened by blood and perspiration, struggled against the raw, chafing restraints that held him. Each movement caused a faint rustle to reverberate through the chamber while the scent of his sweat merged with the metallic tang of blood and dirt.

Adrenaline surged within me, every nerve taut with anticipation as I plunged my knife into the meaty part of his thigh.

Listen to him squeal like a pig.Totally awake now, asshole.

Luna’s voice trembled with a mix of fear and determination. “You can’t do this to him.”

I’d blindfolded her and put on noise-cancelling headphones to shield her from the unnecessary trauma of witnessing this, but she pushed her ear against the pole, dislodging the headphones.

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