Page 65 of Silent Vendetta (Vendetta Duet)

The judge’s first day back from leave.

The gavel came down with finality. I turned and looked at my father’s face, the wrinkles symbolic of the years that had been taken from us. And then I wrapped my arms around him.

“Luna, the threats…”

“We can talk about that later,” I said, my throat swelling. “Please, let’s just have this moment.”

And he did. He let me focus on his arms around my ribs and the inviting scent of the fresh soap on his neck—which bore a clean and slightly medicinal scent. Before pulling back.

“In just over a week, you could be sitting at my dinner table,” I said.

“Luna, even if we get a new trial…”

“I know.” There was a good chance he’d have to stay in prison, pending it. But a girl could hope.

That glimmer in his eyes, that unfamiliar warmth that had dimmed through the years, made my heart waver.

It was unethical to worry that doing the right thing about Hunter might mean never getting the test results that could clear my father’s name. I’d gone over that part in my head repeatedly this morning and convinced myself I could still get my father out—even without them.

But what if I couldn’t?

And, by the way, Hunter had been the one to find those paint chips to begin with, through his PI. Hunter had funded it all without expecting anything in return.

A pang of guilt twisted my insides, thinking of turning him in. The very act felt like a betrayal—not only to Hunter, but to my father’s newfound hope.

Was I being selfish? Or was it selfless to consider the bigger picture?

A cyclone raged inside me, blurring the line between right and wrong.

CHAPTER30

Luna

Mayor Kepler approached, a tight smile on his lips. His gaze darted past me briefly, lingering on the spot where my father had just been escorted out.

“Congratulations.”

“I get the sense I owe you a thank-you for the hearing getting moved up.” I smiled.

“It was nothing.” The mayor waved his hand, but the lingering intensity in his stare hinted it came with expectations. “I have to confess, I’m not here to wish you luck.” At that, he raised both eyebrows. “I’m here to talk about your email.”

Lord, that felt so long ago. I’d almost forgotten where the mayor and I had left off in our conversations. It was right after the Vigilante had confronted me in the women’s restroom at work. After which, I’d emailed Mayor Kepler, saying I was starting to suspect that the Windy City Vigilante might be someone I knew.

And that I wanted to meet.

It shouldn’t have surprised me he’d turn up here today to talk; Mayor Kepler had staked his entire reelection campaign on uncovering the identity of the Windy City Vigilante so he could lock him up. And here I was, holding the information.

All morning, I’d convinced myself Ihadto turn Hunter in, no matter how bad it felt. I’d planned on calling Rinaldi, but here was the mayor—the man who wanted him the most, standing in front of me. Like the universe had served him up on a silver platter.

Tell him.

“Right, the email,” I said, my voice wavering slightly.

Hunter leaned against the far wall, his sharp suit making him stand out against the drab courtroom. But it was the resignation in his stare that held my gaze.

Mayor Kepler cleared his throat, glancing briefly at the bruises on my face, a flicker of concern—or was it impatience?—crossing his features.

“I heard what happened.” The mayor looked at my bandaged arm, stitched by a physician Hunter brought to the house—paying extra for discretion. “Heard you were lucky to make it out alive.”

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