Page 134 of Silent Vendetta (Vendetta Duet)

“Now listen. Here’s the story.”

CHAPTER70

Hunter

“So, you told your guards you’d search inside, but you ended up outside?” Rinaldi’s tone was heavy with suspicion and condescension. Her bun was pulled so tight, even her hair looked pissed.

“Like I said, I started inside, but then I thought I heard something coming from the woods on the north end of the property.”

Here’s the super-cool thing about massive blood loss: it can legit cause temporary amnesia. When it came to specific details,I don’t rememberbecame my mantra. I steered her questions back time and time again to the pieces of the puzzle that I could explain away.

But I wasn’t sure it was working.

The quiet scratching of her pen against paper broke the silence as she jotted something down in her little notebook.

“You know, it’s strange,” she said. “Luna’s femoral artery had been nicked. Judging by the shape you were in, you suffered significant blood loss as well. Yet there wasn’t as much blood as you would expect where we found Alexander’s body.”

“We were all over those woods,” I lied. If this were just about me, I would come clean, to be the bigger man and all that for Luna. But this was about her.

I would protect Luna with everything in my arsenal. Physically, emotionally, and legally. She had been the one to come up with the story, and if I came clean, it would implicate her in lying to law enforcement, interfering with an investigation, faking a crime scene, and destroying evidence. Among other things.

I would lie until I burned in hell if it meant saving her.

“If you comb through every leaf and speck of dirt in those woods, I’m sure you’ll find whatever you’re looking for,” I said.

Her lips thinned even more until they all but vanished. She knew as well as I did that the odds of finding every droplet of blood cast across such a wide net were slim to none.

Still, if she came up empty, she would grow more suspicious, but what other explanation could she come up with?

“We didn’t see much of a struggle anywhere in those woods,” she countered.

“What are you suggesting?” I asked in a stern tone. Anyone in my position would be offended by her implication, and I needed to play the role of the innocent person being accused of something I didn’t do. “We weren’t climbing trees and breaking the limbs off,” I said. “So, I’m not sure what all you expected to find.”

Her chest puffed in offense.

“Strange how you had a team of your trained security guards scour the property and they couldn’t find her. Yet, you did. So quickly.”

“Lucky is more like it. She was minutes from death.”

Rinaldi ran her tongue over her teeth and tried to hide the annoyed shake of her head.

“Where were you today when Alexander showed up at the mansion to find Luna all alone?”

A flare of irritation ignited in my chest. “She wasn’t alone,” I reminded her, trying to keep my voice steady. “I had security guards positioned outside.”

Not that it helped. I’d never forgive myself for that.

“That’s not what I asked.”

“Okay, that’s about enough.” Grayson pushed off the wall. “He’s lucky to be alive, and so is Luna. They both almost died and are recovering from significant injuries. We just learned our uncle tried to kill her and that he’s dead. So, process the scene, but if you have any otherquestions, you can talk to our family attorney.”

Rinaldi glared at Grayson. “Hostility often looks suspicious to law enforcement.”

“I don’t give a crap,” Grayson said. “A detective as smart as you can appreciate how offensive it is when the victim is facing accusatory questions. So, if he’s not under arrest, there’s the door.”

Rinaldi licked her lips and glared at me, then glared back at Grayson.

“I’d better go over those woods one more time myself. Wouldn’t want to missanyclue.”

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