Page 125 of Twisted Truths

Then Gabriel clears his throat, keys already in his hand. “We’ve gotta go.”

Nash blinks, like he’s surfacing from underwater. He presses a kiss to Franklin’s head before carefully getting to his feet and holding his hand out to me.

I take it with a soft smile.

Isaac brings our bags out and hugs us goodbye.

We pile into the car; I’m in the back seat with a new baby seat, which Hayden installed the other day. As Gabriel drives towards the airport, Nash glances back at me from the passenger seat and smiles.

In a couple of hours, we’ll be on a flight to Boston.

To a brand-new life.

One where Nash is living out his dream of playing in the NBA. One where we get to figure out what this thing between us is, without hiding. One where Franklin grows up knowing he’s loved.

I don’t know what’s waiting for us on the other side of the world, but for the first time in a long time, I feel hope.

Like maybe we’ve made it out of the dark.

Now we get to see what the light looks like.

EPILOGUE ONE

HADLEY

EIGHTEEN MONTHS LATER

Asoft rustle coming from the baby monitor draws my attention as I settle back onto the couch with my chocolate biscuits. I glance towards the screen and smile.

Franklin is curled up on his stomach, his arms tucked under his chest like always. He’s fast asleep, one foot twitching now and then. The white noise hums steadily in the background, and I let out a quiet breath of relief.

Hopefully, we’ll get a full night’s sleep.

I reach for the throw blanket, tucking it over my knees as I focus on the television, where ESPN’s post-game coverage is in full swing. My heart is full as I stare up at the man I love.

Sweaty and flushed from the game, he’s standing courtside in his Shamrocks warm-up jacket, smiling sheepishly as the reporter holds a mic out to him.

“Another stellar game from our Aussie import, Nash Stone, coming off last season’s Rookie of the Year honours andstarting his second season even stronger. Nash, what’s been the key to keeping up the momentum?”

He runs a hand through his damp chestnut curls, the same ones his nephew has inherited, and grins. My heart melts. That crooked, boyish grin still floors me. Every. Single. Time.

“Honestly? It’s not only about basketball anymore,” he says, shrugging. “It’s Hadley and Franklin. They keep me grounded and remind me what I’m playing for. It’s easy to lose your head in this world, but they’re my anchor.”

My throat tightens.

I don’t think he knows how much those words mean. Not only because they’re sweet, but because they’re true. We’ve built something here, something real. Something that came out of ashes and chaos and pain, and still somehow bloomed.

The crowd behind him erupts into cheers as the reporter wraps up the interview, and Nash gives one last grin before jogging towards the locker room, his name and stats line glowing beneath him.

I’m so proud of him and everything he has achieved this past year.

It hasn’t been easy.

A month after we arrived in Boston, Gabriel called to let us know his parents had been arrested and charged with several offences, including obtaining financial advantage by deception, reckless endangerment of lives, involuntary manslaughter and criminal negligence, coercive control, and abuse.

Unfortunately, Aziah was charged with sexual abuse and coercive control due to the nature of his relationship with his Chosen, Trista, and he was also jailed. The Sunfire Circle was disbanded, and Gabriel and his two younger brothers are now living in Sydney.

Two months after that, Levi pleaded guilty to his involvement in the murders, meaning Nash didn’t have toreturn to Australia to testify. Tanner Crawley recovered from his coma and was charged with four counts of murder. Both are serving life imprisonment. Paige is still living with her father, and she and Sawyer are planning to visit for Thanksgiving this year.