Page 28 of Twisted Truths (The Sunburnt Hearts #4)

Chapter Twenty-Two

NASH

I ’m physically and mentally drained, the emotional rollercoaster of today finally taking its toll. My body needs time to rest, time to deal, and time to heal. So much has happened today, and while I came here to be alone, I can’t bring myself to ask them to leave.

If Ignatius and Seraphina had my family killed, I won’t be responsible for Hadley meeting the same fate. I don’t give a fuck about Gabriel. I’m still not sure I fully trust him, but he seems intent on keeping Hadley safe for now, and that’s enough for me to give him a chance.

“So, I guess we’re housemates, for now,” I say awkwardly, running a hand over my tired face.

“We don’t mean to impose,” Hadley says softly.

The sound of her voice causes my stomach to flip. I’m desperate to sink onto my knees in front of her and just hold her, breathe in her comforting scent of lavender and mint. I still can’t explain how her simple presence elicits a sense of calm over me.

“It’s fine,” I assure her, keeping my eyes trained on a small stain in the carpet where Zara spilled some of her make-up back in high school. “But, uh, we only have one guest room…” and no one is sleeping in the bedrooms of my deceased family members.

I don’t need to say the words out loud. They understand.

My chest tightens as I wonder whether Gabriel will insist on sharing a room with Hadley. Not that I have any intentions of doing the same. My head is too fucked up to be thinking about anything other than collapsing in my childhood bed and wishing today was all a fucking nightmare.

Hadley shoots Gabriel a look as if she’s seeking his permission for something, which has me questioning what the fuck is going on between them.

She said something about my sister being his chosen or something like that, so now she’s out of the picture …

Is Hadley his replacement? She didn’t hesitate when she kissed me back at the church earlier, but what do I know about how the cult works?

Maybe their kink is having multiple partners.

I’d rather walk away than share her with Gabriel, even if it would leave me emptier and more alone than I already feel.

“I’ll sleep on the couch,” Gabriel offers, interrupting my intrusive thoughts.

“Sure. I’ll get some blankets.”

I leave the room, my mind a chaotic mess as I head down the hallway to the linen cupboard. Retrieving a pillow and some blankets, I return to the sitting room. Neither of them has moved, but upon my return, Gabriel rises and takes the sheets from me.

Needing some space from him so I can sort through my jumbled thoughts and emotions, I motion for Hadley to follow me. “I’ll show you to the spare room.”

Her quiet footsteps follow me towards the front door, where I retrieve my bags, then I lead her to the spare bedroom.

Thankfully, it’s on the other side of the house from my parents’ and Rylan’s rooms—I’m not ready to face those demons yet.

Unfortunately, it’s across the hall from Zara’s bedroom and down the hall from mine.

I still haven’t set foot in my sister’s bedroom, too scared of what I’ll see.

Pushing open the door to the spare room, I flick the light switch, bathing the small room in a soft, warm glow.

Mum hated the harshness of fluorescent lighting, so the house always had a sort of cosy feeling.

It drove Paul wild; he’d grumble about how he could never find anything in the dim light, but he never changed a single bulb.

Not once. He put up with it because he loved her.

Now, with all of them gone, the glow feels heavier somehow.

The memory hits me out of nowhere, and I don’t even realise I’ve zoned out until Hadley’s soft voice breaks through.

“Nash?” She touches my arm, and I flinch, causing her to shrink away from me.

Closing my eyes, I mutter an apology. I’m losing my fucking head.

I take a few deep breaths before opening them, and I’m immediately struck by her innocent beauty.

Her long auburn hair frames her delicate face, and she’s biting down on her bottom lip as she stares at me with those enchanting green eyes.

I groan internally, wanting nothing more than to sink my own teeth into those plush lips, but I need to stop thinking with my hormones and start thinking with my head.

“Are you really okay with us staying?” she asks quietly, fingering the locket around her neck.

“You’ve got nowhere else to go.”

Hadley considers this for a moment. “I didn’t know it was your family’s house.”

I shrug. What am I supposed to say in response to that?

“I also didn’t know your history with Gabriel and the Circle. ”

“It is what it is,” I grit out, not wanting to rehash it any further.

She moves farther into the room, running her fingers over the patterned bedspread.

I should leave. I need to leave, but for some reason I hesitate. “How did you get involved with them? You’re not from around here, so how did they lure you in?”

“My sister,” Hadley says, tears shining in her eyes as she glances down at the locket around her neck, and my stomach sinks. “Madeline met Gabriel in Sydney and moved here to be with him.”

I clench my jaw. Gabriel’s like a fucking Venus flytrap. I’m surprised his parents kicked him out when he’s single-handedly bringing them new victims. “What happened to her?” My throat is dry, causing my voice to come out all raw and jagged.

Hadley sinks onto the edge of the bed, dropping her eyes. “She died during childbirth.”

My shoulders slump. “I’m so sorry.”

“Me, too,” she says sniffing.

The silence that settles over us is heavy. She’s right there, close enough to reach out and touch, and part of me wants to lose myself in her. But I’m cooked. I’ve got nothing left to give tonight. I’m drowning in grief and ghosts, especially now I’m back in this house.

“I should go,” I finally murmur.

Hadley nods, brushing her fingers over her wet cheek. “Okay.”

She’s not okay, but neither am I.

Hesitating again, I glance back at her. “I’m down the hall if you need anything.”

I don’t know why I tell her that, but she nods.

“Goodnight, Hadley.” My voice is low, thick.

“Goodnight, Nash. ”

Closing the door gently behind me, I release a heavy exhale as I stare at the one opposite. I take one step towards Ziggy’s room. Then another. I’m close enough that all I’d have to do is lift my hand to grip the knob. But I can’t do it.

Swallowing down the lump forming in my throat, I back away and walk the few feet to my teenage bedroom.

I haven’t been in here since I left for Duke six years ago.

It’s like a time warp. The old basketball posters still hang on the walls.

My trophies line the shelves Paul and I installed above my desk when I was fifteen.

I slip my suit jacket off and hang it over my desk chair, then move over to the bed.

Rubbing a hand over my face, I try to breathe through the ache settling in my chest. The house is too quiet.

There’s no music coming from Ziggy’s room.

I can’t hear Rylan’s laughter, or Mum’s singing, or Paul’s terrible dad jokes.

There’s nothing but silence and haunted memories.

Kicking off my shoes, I lie back, resting one hand behind my head and the other on my stomach as I stare up at the ceiling. Nothing about today has gone according to plan. Kissing Hadley in the church. Dalton showing up at the funeral. Shane giving me the keys. Finding Hadley and Gabriel here.

I need time. Space. But I don’t have either.

Gabriel fucking Solomon is in my house.

Guilt churns in my stomach. Eight years of hatred doesn’t fade in a day, especially with the memories that have been dredged up tonight. Tom Keeland was my best mate, yet I haven’t contacted Jess in almost three years. It hurt too much knowing he wasn’t getting any better.

He endured years of his father’s abuse, and the Circle broke him in under four days.

He’s nothing but a shell of his former self, and with no evidence, the police put it down to drugs; they said he took something which addled his state of mind.

They didn’t care he had no history of drug use, that he was serious about his basketball.

Tom might not have had a scholarship to a D1 college in the States like me, but he had plans to leave Barrenridge, to make it onto an NBL list. Sydney, Melbourne, Adelaide, he didn’t care. He only wanted to get away from here.

The Sunfire Circle took that away from him.

Gabriel claims he had no idea what happened to Tom or about his family’s involvement, but Tom wouldn’t have been there if it weren’t for Gabriel.

How the fuck am I supposed to forgive him for that?

Madeline.

Tom.

Ziggy.

Gabriel is the common denominator. It can’t be a coincidence. He may not have been directly involved in what happened to them, but if he hadn’t introduced them all to his family’s cult, maybe they’d still be here.

Mum, Paul, and Rylan were only collateral damage.

And while it’s looking more like I’m going to have to get in bed with the devil in order to find out who really murdered my family, it doesn’t mean I have to like it. I don’t have to like him.

But getting justice for Ziggy is no longer my only motivation.

Hadley’s face flashes behind my closed eyes. There’s something about her that pulls at me in a way I’m not sure I’m ready to admit. Maybe it’s the sadness in her eyes that mirrors mine. Or maybe it’s the fact that for the first time in days, I don’t feel completely alone when she looks at me.

Whatever it is, it’s dangerous. Because I’ll do whatever it takes to keep Hadley safe.

I’m not losing anyone else.

Not if I can help it.