Page 21 of Twisted Truths

“Don’t know what you’re talking about,” I mutter.

“Threatening a guy in front of half the town isn’t a smart move.”

“If you do your job and investigate my family’s murder, you won’t have any trouble from me.”

“Nash—”

“She didn’t do it, Shane. You know Zara. Can you really see her murdering our family in cold blood?”

“The evidence?—”

“Is bullshit.” I can’t hide my frustration.

Shane glances around before pulling me away from the market, where we won’t be overheard. “Look, between you and me, I agree with you. Zara doesn’t make sense, and off the record, I’m looking into something, but I need you to keep out of it. There’s more going on in this town at the moment than you realise. Let me do my job.”

The low rumble of motorcycles vibrates through the air, and Shane’s jaw tightens as a couple of the Ridge Riders rolldown the main street. His posture stiffens as they park in front of Whitmore House Café and climb off their bikes.

I recognise Rowan Knight, the older brother of Logan, a guy I went to high school with.

Rowan and his biker buddies head inside the café, Shane watching their every move, a flicker of unease crossing his face before he masks it with a practised calm.

His radio crackles to life with a distorted message he somehow understands, and he levels me with a serious look. “I mean it, Nash. Stay away from Gabriel and the Circle. Leave the police work up to us.” He doesn’t wait for me to respond before striding away.

With a frustrated sigh, I turn and make my way back to Paige’s market stall, where she and her best friend, Bianca, are busy arranging their collection of handmade jewellery.

Levi stayed home with Sawyer, but I knew I wouldn’t find any answers sitting around the house and combing over the police reports, which I have memorised, so I offered to help Paige instead.

As an added bonus, it also gives me the opportunity to observe Gabriel.

And Hadley.

My eyes continue to drift to the auburn-haired woman hovering by Gabriel’s side. A sharp, uncomfortable tug pulls at my chest. I shouldn’t be noticing her, not when she’s involved with the Circle. If she’s this close to Gabriel, she could be involved in what happened to Ziggy. Though a gut feeling tells me she isn’t, and I can’t shake the attraction I feel towards her.

Gabriel leans down to murmur something in her ear, and her body stiffens. Her eyes flick up to meet his before she quickly looks away. He brushes a stray strand of hair behind her ear, and I clench my fists, fighting the urge to rip her away fromhim.

“Is everything okay?” Paige asks.

I force my gaze away from Hadley to find her standing next to me.

“Fine,” I mutter, trying to shake the unsettling tension coiling in my chest.

“Sorry,” she says with a grimace. “Silly question.”

I give her a tight smile. “Don’t sweat it.”

“I still can’t believe they’re gone.” Paige’s expression turns haunted. “I keep expecting to see your mum over there with her homemade jams.” She points to a stall where Mrs Krenshaw is setting up her famous pumpkin pies.

“Yeah.” I clear my throat. “I’m going to get a coffee. Do you want one?”

She shakes her head, blinking away the tears in her eyes.

I check if Bianca wants one before striding across the road to the café.

After placing my order at the counter, I move to the side, drumming my fingers as I wait. My body is strung tight from being so close to Gabriel but being unable to do anything about it. I need answers, and I know he’s the only one who can give them to me. He was close to Ziggy—the surveillance photos prove that—and from his possessive demeanour towards Hadley earlier, he doesn’t seem like the type to let a woman walk away from him.

“Nash,” a gruff voice says, pulling me from my thoughts.

I turn to see Rowan, flanked by two of his motorcycle buddies. The guys are built like bricks, their club jackets and gruff faces giving them an imposing presence. There’s a darkness in Rowan’s gaze, one that says he’s been through shit and knows I’ve been through my own share. The last time I saw him was at his brother’s funeral, two days before I escaped Barrenridge. Logan took his own life the night of our graduation.