Page 4 of The Hunter

“Robert Alba?”

“The District Attorney in Miami. It’s a payoff. The timing lines up too perfectly. Just days after, the medical examiner released his autopsy report, stating no evidence of foul play was found, ruling Sarah’s death a suicide. I can feel it in my bones. That asshole paid off the DA to cover up a scandal. But she wasn’t a scandal. She was my goddamn daughter. ”

My voice cracked on the word. I tried to swallow it back down, but it stuck in my throat like broken glass. I may not have had a hand in raising her, but she was a part of me. The best part, if I was being honest.

Gideon didn’t say anything at first. Just stood there, processing everything I just shared as if he might be able to offer another version of what happened. A better ending.

But there wasn’t one.

Sarah was gone.

Nothing either of us did or said would bring her back.

“What are you going to do?” Gideon asked eventually.

“What I have to.”

He nodded in understanding, not needing me to spell out exactly what I planned to do to make Victor pay.

“I get it. I know what it’s like to live and breathe revenge. I spent over five years consumed by the idea. Almost let it cost me everything.”

He glanced toward Imogene as she threw her head back and laughed at something Melanie said. She was physically glowing, happiness radiating from her. Gideon, too.

“She brought me back from the darkness,” he said. “But you…” He leaned closer. “You look like you’re already there.”

“I’ve been there my entire life.” I met his gaze, letting him see the determined set of my jaw. “I need to do this. For Sarah. Need to get her the justice she deserves. And she won’t get it through normal means. Victor is too connected for that.”

Gideon nodded slowly. “If you’re certain this is the path you want to go down.”

“It’s my only option.”

He pushed out a long sigh. “Then I’ll help.”

I shook my head immediately. “No. Absolutely not.”

“Need I remind you of everything you did to help me?”

“You have a wife now. A baby on the way.They’reyour life now. Not me.”

I drained the rest of my scotch, though it tasted like ash now. Like guilt. Like regret.

I thought I was doing the right thing.

After all, Sarah had a good life. She was adopted by incredible parents who gave her everything Amber and I never could, considering we were only sixteen at the time.

But now, because of Victor Kane, I’d never get a chance to know my daughter.

He’d taken away the one person who meant everything to me, even if she didn’t know it.

And I was going to make him learn exactly how that felt.

Chapter Three

Ariana

My dress was the color of spilled wine.

Or blood.