Page 118 of Twisted Truths

He mutters a string of curses, and Isaac glances back from the front seat, eyebrows raised.

Releasing a sigh, Nash sits forward. “Okay. Just don’t do anything stupid, alright? Everything will be fine. She probably needs time to process.” He glances down at his nephew. “I’m coming. Stay at the house.”

He ends the call, lowering the phone slowly to his lap. For a moment, he stares straight ahead, his jaw clenched tight, eyes dark.

“Nash?” I ask softly.

He closes his eyes and exhales deeply through his nose. “Levi told Paige about the gambling ring. She packed up and took Sawyer to her dad’s place. Levi’s freaking out that he’s going to lose everything when he tells Principal Hargrove, including his freedom.”

“Can’t he ask for immunity or something if he gives them up?”

“I guess so. Year twelve legal studies is about the extent of my knowledge of the law.”

“Who’s Levi?” Isaac asks.

“My half-brother,” Nash says. He meets Gabriel’s gaze in the rearview mirror. “I know we need to get out of Barrenridge, but I can’t leave him in the middle of this mess. Apart from Franklin, he’s the only family I have left that I give a shit about.” He hesitates, then adds in a quieter voice. “Plus, Franklin should meet his uncle. Levi deserves to see him. He helped Zara get out of the cult, and?—”

“Hold up,” Isaac says, confusion crossing his face. “Levi didn’t help Zara escape.”

“Yes, he did,” Nash insists, rubbing a hand over his tired face. “He got her out the night before the murders. He went back the next day to check in on her and—” His voice hitches, and I reach over and grip his hand. “That’s when he found them.”

Isaac shakes his head. “I don’t know what he told you, but it’s not true.” He glances at his brother before looking back at Nash. “Levi couldn’t have helped her get out… because I did.”

Chapter Forty

NASH

Blood rings in my ears.

Somewhere in the recess of my mind, I can hear Gabriel yelling at his brother, but I can’t focus on what they’re saying.

Levi lied to me.

Levi lied.

Levi.

Lied.

Those words keep repeating in my head. Why the hell would he lie to me?

I didn’t do anything to Zara. She had her own shadows closer to home.

Sierra’s words mix with my mantra about Levi.

Levi lied.

Zara had her own shadows closer to home.

The compass.

All of a sudden, I remember where I saw it.

“It was Levi,” I whisper.

“Nash,” Hadley’s voice sounds like it’sunderwater. “What’s going on?”

“It was Levi,” I say, louder this time. “Levi killed them.”