Page 27 of Twisted Truths

Tension thrums in the air, but he makes no effort to move. I risk a peek up at him, and he’s tugging at his hair. When he finally speaks, his voice is barely above awhisper. “You don’t know how dangerous this is. I can’t help you if you don’t tell me what you know.”

The front door to the cabin opens and the sound of voices drifts down the hall towards us.

“You need to leave,” I implore. How am I supposed to explain being alone with a man in my bedroom, let alone a guardian? Especially after the same guardian made allowances for me to change my role this morning. There are going to be questions. I can’t have this getting back to Seraphina.

Light footsteps make their way down the hall, and I hear the door to Brielle and Samantha’s bedroom open only moments before my own does.

Gianna freezes, her hand still on the handle.

“I’m glad to see you are feeling better,” Gabriel says, moving to leave. “Take care of yourself, Hadley.”

“Yes, Guardian,” I reply, bowing my head.

He slips past Gianna without another glance in my direction, and when she closes the door behind him, I finally feel like I can breathe again.

“What was he doing here?” she hisses, rushing over to drop onto my bed next to me.

I shrug. “He was checking on me.”

Her mouth gapes open. “You know what this means, right?”

My stomach sinks, because I know she’s right before she even says the words out loud.

“You’re going to be Chosen at the next Awakening.”

Chapter Ten

NASH

Aweek and a half after my family’s murder, the police still haven’t released their bodies, despite not budging on the murder-suicide ruling. When I questioned Shane on it this morning, he said he’s working on something, and I need to give him time.

Time.

My family are lying on those cold slabs at the morgue in Rafters Falls, while the useless cops in this town chase their fucking tails.

Ryan called last night to say the handwriting analysis was a bust. Ziggy’s supposed suicide note was too short for them to compare the two samples or ascertain whether it was written of her own free will.

I’m still waiting on Grimshaw to get back to me about the information I sent him a week ago—I told him to take a good look into Ziggy’s douchebag ex-boyfriend, and even mentioned my father, but I couldn’t come up with anyone else who’d want to hurt them besides the Solomon’s.

While going through Mum and Paul’s bank statements, Ifound paperwork showing they had refinanced the mortgage just over seven months ago, borrowing an extra fifty thousand against the property. Why didn’t they tell me they were having money troubles? I would have helped them out. If this has something to do with what happened to them, I’ll never forgive myself.

My stomach churns at the thought, and I push my plate away, leaving my food untouched.

“I can make you something else if you like,” Paige says softly.

She and Levi are both watching me when I lift my head.

Clearing my throat, I push back from the table. “I’m not that hungry. Sorry Paige.”

“It’s fine,” she says, standing and reaching for my plate. She moves around the island bench and covers it before putting it in the fridge. “It’s here when you want it.”

“Thanks. I’m heading out for a run. Clear my mind.”

I ignore the concerned look she shares with Levi as I head to the back door, where I left my running shoes.

“Do you want some company?” Levi asks, just as Sawyer lets out a frustrated screech.

“You have your family to worry about,” I tell him. “I’ll be fine.”