Page 139 of Silent Vendetta (Vendetta Duet)

I swallowed. It had been a lot for me to reconcile the killer with the protector, but I was grateful that, in the battle for his soul, the protector won.

“Are you really okay with giving up being the…” I eyed the partition, nervous to finish in case it wasn’t as soundproof as Hunter thought.

Hunter took my chin between his thumb and finger, staring deeply into my eyes.

“You’re my reason for existing now, Luna.”

His words echoed through my ears and glued the fractures in my heart.

“I don’t want to do anything to jeopardize what we have. You’ve suffered enough with having your dad in prison all those years. Last thing you need is for a repeat.”

Dang, this man knew how to put my heart into the microwave and heat it instantly.

I laced my fingers through his, overwhelmed with gratitude for having him in my life.

The scent of pine filled the air as our sedan wound through the tree-lined road and arrived at the cemetery, where fading sunlight painted the tombstones in hues of gold and orange with long shadows creeping over the manicured grass. The scent of freshly turned dirt mingled with the subtle aroma of flowers left on graves while the distant chirping of crickets and the soft rustle of leaves punctured the hushed whispers of people.

During another short service, Hunter and his brothers paid their last respects to his uncle.

He was the murderer of their father, and I knew Hunter, for one, debated on even coming to Alexander’s funeral. But he said he needed the closure of seeing him put into the ground.

The brothers didn’t allow Alexander to be buried near their father, though. They chose a secluded plot, where Alexander would decay beneath the earth alone.

When the ceremony was over, Hunter held my hand and walked over to his parents’ headstone. The massive granite stone was engraved in white letters, and at its center, surrounded by intricately carved flowers, was a family photo. The Lockwood brothers—children ranging in age—smiling, with their mother and father behind them. Looking at them with adoration. Oblivious to how soon their world was about to shatter.

Hunter released my hand and knelt before it, placing his hand on the granite—connecting with the man who lay beneath.

“I’m sorry, Dad,” Hunter’s voice was barely a whisper, a heartbreaking mixture of grief and shame.

My lip trembled as the strong man I loved appeared as fragile as a lost child, his shoulders hunched, bearing the weight of years of pain.

With a shaky exhale, Hunter continued, “But I can let you go now.” The breeze seemed to still, waiting for his next words. “I can finally let you rest in peace.”

I wiped a lone tear as Hunter was silent for several seconds before standing up. He stared at his mother and father’s names, the dates of their deaths moments in time that changed the trajectory of his life. And then, with one last sigh, Hunter let go of his past and claimed his future by wrapping his hand in mine.

“They loved you, Hunter. Remember the good times, not just the end.”

He seemed to consider this for a moment before nodding his head.

“Come on. Let’s say goodbye to the people who lingered.”

We ambled back to where the funeral had been held, and after waiting until most other people left, Elizabeth Wood—the lawyer who’d offered me a job the day Dominic died—approached me and Hunter.

She glanced around and then stepped close enough to ensure no one could overhear us.

“Police haven’t found any other evidence to contradict your version of events,” she assured. “Other than the lack of blood at the crime scene, all they have are suspicions.”

After what happened with the family accountant, Jeff—who’d hidden secrets from the Lockwood family—Hunter cleaned house and started over. New family accountant, new lawyer, to avoid any other secrets or allegiances.

Elizabeth and her entire firm were now the official Lockwood attorneys with Elizabeth being our point person. We’d told her everything.

Well, save for the Vigilante, the injuries and death occurring inside the house—because explaining that would risk exposing the Vigilante situation—and whatever the heck Grayson had been up to right before Alexander got to me. Two family secrets they’d speak about if absolutely necessary, but Hunter didn’t feel it was necessary to confess all the family sins if law enforcement wasn’t asking about them.

“I learned the hard way that sometimes it doesn’t take too much for people to be convicted,” I reminded her.

“They have nothing, and while that might change in the future, for now, things have settled down. They did ask a few questions about something else that occurred on the same day as the attack.”

Hunter and I said nothing.

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