Page 105 of Silent Vendetta (Vendetta Duet)

Stanley stared at me blankly, like his soul had died long ago and the only thing that remained was a lifeless zombie. Regret sagged his shoulders, and after several tense seconds, he whispered, “I shouldn’t have killed him in front of his child.”

CHAPTER46

Hunter

Iwasn’t expecting the shove. That’s why it knocked me off-balance. That’s why Stanley was able to gain the upper hand. And regained control of the weapon as he placed it beneath his chin again and said, “I’m sorry.”

I shoved my shoulders into his torso and pushed him back.

Stanley spun off me and aimed the gun at me.

“Get out of my house.”

“Why did you kill my father?”

“Leave, or I’ll shoot you!”

“Why did you kill him? Why did you do it right in front of me?”

“Last warning.” He pressed the barrel against my chest, right over my heart.

My skin prickled with an electric mix of fear and adrenaline, each heartbeat echoing loudly in my ears, a cruel balance between existence and oblivion. As I stared into the haunted eyes of the man who held the power of life and death.

Just as he did all those years ago.

“What kind of monster slashes a guy’s throat right in front of his kid?”

A flicker of shame came across Stanley’s face, a flicker of humanity returning.

“You weren’t supposed to be there,” he said.

“How did you know that?” I was supposed to leave with my brothers and my mom so my dad could work, but I had gotten sick and stayed home.

Stanley looked at the gun. Looked at me.

One squeeze, and I would break my promise to Luna.

“How did you know my dad was supposed to be home alone when you killed him?”

“I can’t talk about any of this.” A hint of fear danced through his words.

“You were about to put a bullet through your brain. What difference does it make if you answer my questions first?”

“They could come after my other son! Look what they did to Payne when he was finally set free.”

I bet I could grab that gun, and yank it from his hand before he could pull the trigger.

“What exactly do you know about Payne?”

“The guy finally got out of jail. Finally. And what happens to him? He gets killed before he could even get into his car.”

“You knew he was innocent,” I realized.

“Course I knew. You know what that’s like? Living with that, knowing some guy is in jail and you didn’t stop it? I never thought he would get convicted.”

“How do you know Payne was innocent?” I demanded.

“Because I know what really happened!” Stanley’s eyes shimmered. When he spoke again, his brokenhearted tone was softer. “I know what happened to my boy.”

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