Page 101 of Silent Vendetta (Vendetta Duet)

CHAPTER43

Hunter

“How is she?” Grayson asked.

The gentle breeze from Lake Michigan ruffled the edges of my shirt as we stood in the backyard of my ivy-clad mansion. The faint scent of grass mixed with the rich earthiness of the surrounding gardens as I watched a white sailboat drift along the cobalt water.

“She’s grieving. Looking for any distraction she can. She took two weeks off work, so at least I can keep her safe inside for a while, while I figure out this mess.”

Grayson nodded, and ran a hand through his hair, his charcoal-colored T-shirt stretching from the movement.

“You still haven’t explained what happened a couple of weeks ago,” Grayson said. “With them questioning if you’re the Windy City Vigilante.”

I licked my teeth.

“I’m not asking if you’re the Vigilante,” Grayson clarified. “I won’t ask you that.” He shoved his hands into his pockets. “What I’m asking is, do they have enough evidence for this to be a problem?”

I studied my mysterious brother. These were the things he said that made me wonder who he really was. Grayson would always have my back, without question, but he wouldn’t grill a family member who’d just been accused of being a serial killer?

His only question was if I’d get caught?

There was an odd comfort in knowing he’d stand by me no matter what, but a nagging question remained. Why wasn’t he pressing for answers?

“You heard the evidence,” I said. “That’s all they have, and it’s flimsy.”

We walked in silence, save for the birds chirping around us as if an almost-confession wasn’t lingering in the air between us.

“Listen,” I said. “The reason I called you here is because I need some help.” I spotted the security guard only a hundred feet from us. Probably a safe distance away, but I jerked my chin in the direction of the north side of the property, motioning for Grayson to walk with me.

Along the back of the property, a stone path etched its way through colorful gardens that my mother had planted. I made sure the landscaper kept up those gardens, because it was the last thing I had living of my mom. Pinks and yellows weren’t my vibe, but she loved them, and when I was a kid, I’d often see her attending to her flowers with a sun hat and a smile.

“Why do you keep looking around?” Grayson asked.

“I’m looking for any hidden police.”

Grayson’s eyebrows rose. “Aren’t they here for your and Luna’s protection?”

That’s what they claimed, yes—protecting us from the guy who shot her father, and Franco, of course, who still hadn’t been found.

“They pose a complication.”

“Is this about the Vigilante shit?” Grayson asked.

“Not exactly.” I mean, yes, they werehere,in part, to keep tabs on me. But my leaving wasn’t about the Windy City Vigilante. “I need to sneak out. Undetected.”

Grayson swiped his nose with his thumb. “Do I want to know why?”

“I’ll get to that in a second, but when I leave, I’d like you to meet with Barry. Finding the gunman is a long shot, but see if there’s anything you can do, anyone you could talk to, to help him get to the bottom of it.”

My brother looked at the stone pathway.

“And what will you be doing while I’m off chasing a dead end with Barry?”

“It might be a dead end with the cops, but with you and Barry, it could be a different story.”

“Any shooter that good at evasion and brazen enough to kill someone outside of a courthouse swarming with law enforcement—and not get caught—is probably a hired professional. You and I both know that if they haven’t found the shooter by now, they likely won’t.”

I sighed. “I know. But we need to try.”

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