Page 24 of Twisted Truths (The Sunburnt Hearts #4)

Chapter Eighteen

NASH

H adley’s here.

She wasn’t a figment of my imagination. The feel of her soft lips moulding to mine is a testament to that. She’s here, her body melting into mine as I claim her mouth. My hands cup her cheeks, while hers cling to my biceps.

In this moment, there is no pain, no anger. It’s like she’s my anchor, pulling me back from the storm, stitching the torn edges of me together with every breath we share. With every caress of her lips against mine, Hadley is filling the cracks with her presence.

“Nash,” she whispers my name, the sound of it making me come undone.

Wrapping my hands in her hair, I devour her like a man starved. She kisses me back, clinging to me like I’m her life raft, like she’s afraid I’ll let her drown.

Caught up in her touch and taste, I’m the one drowning. I don’t know what it is about this woman, but seeing her in the church today helped ease the pain and anguish of saying goodbye to my family. It’s as if the universe is telling me I’m not alone.

“Nash,” she breathes when I press my lips against hers, soft and tender. Once. Twice. Three times. “I’m so sorry.”

Closing my eyes, I rest my forehead against hers. “You’re here,” I repeat.

“I need to explain?—”

Her words cut off when I capture her lips again.

“Not now. Please, Hadley. Right now, I need this. I need you.”

She melts into me, her hands sliding up my arms to circle my neck.

I tease her mouth, kissing, licking, nibbling, peppering kisses along her jaw until I reach the sensitive skin beneath her ear.

Hadley hums, her head dropping back against the wall she’s pressed up against as I bury my head in the crook of her neck, devouring every inch of her pale skin.

I don’t even realise I’m crying until a sob slips from my lips.

Hadley doesn’t flinch. She doesn’t pull away.

Her fingers thread into my curls, anchoring me to her as my chest heaves with the weight of it all.

The pain. The guilt. The endless ache of losing the only people who have ever felt like home.

“I’ve got you,” she whispers, her voice steady, grounding. “It’s okay.”

I clutch her tighter, like I’ll shatter into a million irreparable pieces if I let her go. The tears come harder now, ragged and raw, tearing through me with every breath. She holds me, allowing me to break with no judgement, no expectations.

“I miss them,” I choke out. “I miss them so fucking much. It’s not fair.”

“It’s not,” she agrees .

“She didn’t do it. Zara didn’t kill them.”

“I know,” she murmurs.

My chest constricts, and I force myself to pull back, just enough to stare down into her hypnotising green gaze. “Did he do it?”

She knows who I’m talking about without me having to say his name. Reaching up to cup my cheek, her thumb brushes over my bottom lip as she shakes her head. “Gabriel is not the villain in your family’s tragedy.”

My hatred for Gabriel Solomon runs much deeper than him luring Zara into his cult, but staring into Hadley’s unwavering gaze, I believe her.

Fuck .

The fight seeps from my body. My knees buckle and I collapse against her.

She doesn’t let me fall.

She won’t let me fall.

“Trust me, he wants answers, too.” Her hand cups my cheek, again. “Nash, there’s something I need to tell?—”

Commotion sounds from outside, and I stiffen. Her brows knit together, concern shadowing her face as we both turn towards the noise.

I step outside with Hadley close behind me. Most of the mourners have dispersed—only a handful of people remain, most of them people Levi and I went to high school with. All heads are turned towards where Levi is squaring off with the last person I want to see.

Dalton Stone.

Our father.

Uninvited.

Unwanted.

And definitely not welcome.

“You shouldn’t be here,” Levi spits, his voice hard and venom-laced, every muscle in his body coiled like a spring.

Paige’s hand rests on his chest, her back to Dalton as she tries to calm her husband.

I’m thankful for Levi’s mum and stepdad having already taken Sawyer home for her nap. They don’t need to be witnessing this.

Dalton’s jaw ticks, his eyes bouncing from Levi to the people witnessing this showdown between father and son. “She was my daughter.”

“No,” Levi snaps. “You weren’t a father to any of us. You’re nothing but a sperm donor. Zara wanted nothing to do with you, and neither do we.”

I freeze, the anger emanating from my brother shocking even me. Hadley’s fingers slide into mine, grounding me in the way only she seems to be able to. It gives me the courage to face the man I haven’t spoken to in years.

Releasing her hand, I step forward.

Dalton finally notices me. His expression flickers—guilt, maybe. Or something uglier.

“Nash,” he says, like my name is some kind of apology.

“Leave.” My tone is firm, laced with loathing.

His face twists into a sneer, the mask dropping. “Look at my two sons finally agreeing on something. Who’d have thought? The NBA prodigy and the washed-up high school basketball coach getting along. Should I be proud ?” He spits out the word as if it’s dirty.

“Fuck you,” Levi grits out.

“Woah,” Dalton goads. “Hit a nerve, did I? Clearly, I invested time in the right son.”

“You don’t have any sons, Dalton,” I say, marching down the steps until I’m standing by Levi’s side, facing off against him.

Dottie and Morgan pull Paige to the side, comforting her. Damon stands nearby, his stance protective, eyes sharp as they flick between us—watchful, as if he’s ready to step in if things go sideways.

Rowan and a couple of his men step closer as well. Each of the imposing bikers braced and ready to intervene.

I level Dalton with my stare, my voice low but cutting. “It’s incredible how you still think this is about you. Check your ego. Ziggy’s dead. Mum’s dead. And all you care about is playing your fucked up games. Give up. We’re not playing anymore.”

He opens his mouth, but I cut him off. “You couldn’t even show up on time to the funeral.

Though I can’t say I’m surprised. You never showed up for Ziggy when it mattered.

Not once. All you cared about was riding my arse on the court.

You ignored her, so you don’t get to show up here and play the doting dad when we all know you never gave a fuck.

You’re toxic, Dalton. Walk away and don’t look back. ”

His lip curls, like the truth burns going down. Then he drops a bombshell none of us sees coming. “Zara visited me.” His tone is smug. “She reached out after she left that cult.”

A thick silence falls over us.

I stare at him, disbelief twisting in my gut.

“Bullshit.” Levi barks a humourless laugh. “There’s no fucking way.”

“It’s true,” Dalton insists, a self-satisfied smirk tugging on his lips. “She was scared. She didn’t know who else to go to.”

“Ziggy would never go to you ,” I scoff. “She had Paul. He was more of a father to both of us than you ever were. She’d go to him before she’d ever go to you.”

Dalton bristles at my dig, his hands curling into fists at his sides. “You think Paul was a saint? He?—”

“Don’t.” My voice is steel. “Don’t you dare talk about him. Paul was there. He loved her. You? You acted like she was a mistake you didn’t know what to do with.”

His posture shifts, a threatening edge creeping into the way he looms in front of us, jaw clenched and eyes dark.

I square my shoulders, not willing to back down.

Movement catches the corner of my eye.

Rowan steps in like a storm, his two brothers flanking him, arms crossed and expressions unreadable.

His voice is calm, but lethal. “You need to leave. Now.”

Dalton sizes him up, but he’s not stupid. Even his narcissism can’t override the danger in Rowan’s voice.

“I’m not finished here,” he mutters.

Rowan takes a step closer. “Yeah, you are.”

One of the bikers flanking Rowan cracks his knuckles. The other smiles like he hopes Dalton tries something.

Dalton’s fiery glare flickers between fury and defeat before he finally backs away. “This isn’t over.”

“Yes,” Levi says, standing tall beside me. “It is.”

We watch as our father turns and walks away, not bothering to look back.

“You good?” Rowan arches a brow.

I nod. “Thanks again, man.”

“Don’t mention it. You want us to follow you in case he didn’t get the hint?”

I shake my head. Dalton wasn’t here to say goodbye to his daughter; he was here to cause trouble. Our father hasn’t changed, and he never will. He’s the same narcissistic bastard he was when we were growing up.

“No worries. We’ll see you in a little bit.” He nods at his men, and they walk back to where Sadie is still standing by their bikes.

Paige throws herself into Levi’s embrace, and I search for Hadley near the entrance to the church, but she’s gone. My stomach sinks.

A voice clears his throat behind us, and I turn to find George standing there awkwardly. “Are you boys ready?”

Levi catches my eye over Paige’s head and gives me a tight smile.

I cast one last look around for Hadley, but it seems she’s slipped through my fingers again. Releasing a heavy sigh, I shrug. “Not really, but I guess I don’t have much of a choice.”