Page 48 of Twisted Truths

I expected the entire Barrenridge community to be against Zara, but it’s nice to know I have some people in my corner. People who really knew my sister.

As Dottie moves over to talk to Levi and Paige, Shane and his sister, Morgan take her place.

“There’s nothing new,” Shane says when I open my mouth to ask. “I’m only here to offer my condolences. I know today isn’t easy.”

“You got that right,” I mutter, as I focus on his sister. “Thanks for coming, Morgan.”

She hugs me tight. “My brother is trying,” she murmurs, too soft for anyone else to hear. “I know it’s not much, but he wants to help.”

I tense as she releases me and steps back.

Morgan joins Paige and Dottie, but Shane doesn’t move on.

Instead, he holds out a familiar set of keys, and I swallow the lump forming in my throat as I take them from him.

“There’s some work to be done,” he states gruffly. “But the worst has been taken care of.”

The worst has been taken care of.

The blood. So much blood.

Shane doesn’t know I’ve been out there. He doesn’t know that what I saw has been plaguing my nightmares since I returned to Barrenridge.

“Thank you.”

“If you find anything, let me know.”

My eyes meet his in a silent confirmation.

Levi moves to my side after shaking hands with Shane who gives a nod and walks away without looking back.

I don’t know what he sees on my face, but Levi nudges me with his shoulder. “I know this is a redundant question on a day like today, but are you okay? What did he have to say? Has he found anything new?”

“I’m fine,” I tell him. “There’s nothing new. He was simply here to offer his condolences.”

He studies me carefully before nodding. “Alright, we’ll be heading back to the house for the wake in a few. You ready?”

I’m about to say yes when a flash of auburn hair catches my attention. “Give me a couple of minutes,” I tell him, heading back towards the church.

Chapter Seventeen

HADLEY

Gabriel and I slip through the doors at the back of the church, the heavy wooden panels closing softly behind us. The service is already underway, and I keep my head down as I slip into the last pew beside Gabriel, hoping no one notices us.

We don’t belong here, not really.

As the priest continues his sermon, my eyes are drawn forward against my will, to the four caskets lined up at the front.

Four.

It’s too many.

My chest tightens, but it’s not until Gabriel pushes a wad of tissues into my hands that I realise I’m crying. Dabbing at my eyes, I find the back of Nash’s head near the front pew. His shoulders are stiff, and my heart aches for him. I want to go to him, hold him. The thought stuns me; I’ve never had these kinds of thoughts about a man before.

My fingers drift over my lips, remembering how it felt to be touched by him, but shame curls deep in my gut.

What the hell is wrong with me?