Page 81 of Twisted Truths

But Hadley and Gabriel came to me anyway. They trusted me, and now I have to earn that trust and prove I’m not the man I used to be. Losing my family has gutted me, but it also made me realise life is precious. It can be taken from you in the blink of an eye, and if I don’t fight for what I want, I’ll regret it forever.

Closing the distance between us, my hands cup Hadley’s cheeks as I press my lips to hers. “Come with us,” I murmur against her mouth. “To the States. Once this is over, come with us. You, me, and Franklin.”

“W-what?” She blinks up at me, tears shining in her eyes.

“We’ll start fresh.” I kiss her again, softer this time, lingering. “Think about it, Hadley. I’ll take care of both of you.”

My heart feels like it’s going to smash its way out of my ribcage as I wait for her response.

She puffs out a shaky exhale, her forest green eyes searching mine for any hint of hesitation. “Are you sure?”

“I know this is crazy, but I’ve never felt more sure of anything. It’s torture forcing myself to stay away from you when you ground me in a way no one ever has. You make the pain bearable somehow. I was on the verge of a breakdown at the funeral, but then I saw you, and all the noise evaporated.It’s like there’s this invisible string tying you to me, and I can’t let you go.”

I take her hand and place it on my racing heart, resting my forehead against hers. “This is what you do to me, Hadley. You give me a reason to keep waking up in the morning, despite losing everyone I love, to keep fighting for the truth. It would have been so easy to simply accept what they said about Ziggy and move on, but I couldn’t, and it led me to you. I know it sounds ridiculous, but I feel like Ziggy wanted us to find each other, that she would want us to be happy and to look after Franklin together. It’s why she asked you to keep him safe. She trusted you, Hadley, and so do I. Please tell me you’ll at least consider it.”

A look of uncertainty crosses her features, causing my stomach to twist into knots.

I’ve come on too strong, too quickly, and scared her away.

Swallowing down my disappointment and embarrassment, I slowly pull away from her, only her hands fist in my shirt, stopping me.

“I’m scared,” she whispers.

My breath hitches. “Of me?”

She shakes her head. “Of us.”

“Of us?” I repeat.

“What if it doesn’t work?”

“What if it does?” I counter, feeling a spark of hope.

“Nash,” she breathes, tilting her head up to meet me.

I erase the space between us, crashing my lips to hers. There’s nothing soft about this kiss. It’s messy, raw. A clash of lips and teeth and tongue.

Hadley whimpers, and I swallow her sweet sounds. She meets my urgency with her own, wrapping her arms around my neck and clinging to me as I devour her lips. I’m lost in hertouch, her taste, kissing her until we’re both panting and breathless.

“Come with me,” I murmur against her kiss-swollen lips. “I’ll take care of you, little possum.”

“Yes,” she says finally, her cheeks flushing. “I’ll come with you.”

I tighten my hold around her waist, reaching up with my spare hand to brush her hair behind her ear. Her hands rest on my chest, and I know she can feel how fast my heart is racing.

“You won’t regret this,” I say softly, letting my thumb linger on her jaw.

“I know.” She melts into my touch. “I trust you, Nash.”

Those four words settle deep within my chest, anchoring us together.

“I won’t let you down.”

Chapter Twenty-Nine

HADLEY

My lips tingle from his kisses, the butterflies in my stomach taking flight.