Page 50 of Twisted Truths (The Sunburnt Hearts #4)

Chapter Thirty-Eight

NASH

I spend the next three days packing up the rest of the house and storing it in a facility in Rafters Falls, ready to be shipped to me once we’re settled in Boston. The bloody compass sits in a plastic sandwich bag on my nightstand, and I still can’t shake the feeling I’ve seen it before.

Beside the bag sits a scribbled note to Shane explaining where we found it. I plan on dropping them in his letterbox before we leave town. It guts me that I haven’t been able to find concrete evidence of who murdered my family, but right now, Franklin’s survival is my only focus.

Every night, I spend a couple of hours in the gym, burning off the nervous energy coursing through me, before burying myself in Hadley and trying to keep the nightmares away.

By the time the afternoon of the rescue rolls around, my nerves are strung so tight I think I might snap.

Gabriel clearly feels the same way—he paces the house like a caged lion, slamming doors and muttering under his breath.

Hadley does her best to keep us both calm, but I can tell she’s terrified, jumping at the smallest of sounds .

We load the car with everything we’ll need—documents and burner phones courtesy of Grimshaw, cash, and whatever evidence Gabriel has on his parents. The moment the last suitcase hits the trunk, it feels real. Final. No turning back.

I lock up the house and pocket the key. The plan is to stop past Levi’s quickly to introduce him to his nephew and ask him to take care of selling the house for me.

Gabriel drives, and my knee bounces uncontrollably as I stare out the window at the small town I grew up in.

Once we pass through town, he weaves through the backroads until we reach the scrubland a few kilometres from Circle territory.

It’s remote enough that no one will spot the car behind the mass of shrubs, but close enough that we can move on foot.

Sunset is not far off now, and the timing couldn’t be tighter. We’re threading a needle, and if Seraphina sniffs something wrong before the ceremony starts, it’s game over.

Gabriel kills the engine. The silence that follows is oppressive.

I climb out and scan the horizon before helping Hadley from the car. My gut is screaming at me not to let her come, that it’s too dangerous, but I know it’s not an option. I have to trust she can take care of herself.

“This is it,” Hadley says, her fingers rubbing over the locket from her sister. “We get in and out. No stopping until we’re clear.”

Gabriel runs a hand through his hair. “If anything happens, getting Franklin out is our priority. Understood?”

I meet Gabriel’s eyes over her head. We’re both in agreeance—Hadley and Franklin will both make it out alive tonight. No matter what.

Hadley’s eyes widen, and she opens her mouth to argue, but I cut her off. “Understood.”

“We’re all getting out,” she protests, jogging to keep up with us as we make our way through the scrublands towards the back of the property.

The sun dips lower, casting long, golden fingers through the trees. Everything is too still, like the land is holding its breath.

We pause when we reach the river, the sun now behind the trees.

“Are you sure there won’t be any guards?” I ask, keeping my voice low.

Gabriel shakes his head. “The sentinels will all be at the ceremony.”

Still, we wait, ensuring the coast is clear before Gabriel crosses the river first, using the light of his phone to guide Hadley and me over.

As soon as we’re both safely across, I grip her hand, squeezing it. This is where we had our first kiss. I was such a dick to her, but thankfully she saw through my bullshit.

Our path takes us past the makeshift cemetery where her sister and Gabriel’s daughter are buried.

We pause only briefly, giving them the chance to say their final goodbyes.

I keep a look out, giving them privacy, and as a slight breeze drifts through the clearing, the sound of chanting reaches my ears.

It’s downright terrifying.

The path forks, and Gabriel moves off to the left without a word, towards the chanting, while Hadley takes my hand and leads me to the right. It’s fucking creepy, with shadows dancing around us from the dwindling light. My heart races as we move as silently as we can towards the guardians’ cabins.

As the only one of us who’s never been on Circle land, I studied the maps Gabriel drew until they were all I could see when I closed my eyes at night.

We pause at the edge of the tree line, our eyes darting between the five cabins in front of us. Ignatius and Seraphina’s is the largest, standing dark and imposing in the clearing. To the right is Gabriel’s cabin, with Isaac’s on the other side. To the left are Aziah and Judah’s cabins.

My phone buzzes, and I pull it out.

Gabriel: In position.

Drawing in a deep breath, I type back.

Nash: Going in.

I pocket my phone just as Hadley moves towards the middle cabin, but I grip her hand and hold her back. She looks up at me in question.

Bringing my free hand up to cup her cheek, I rub my thumb over her plump bottom lip. “If anything goes wrong tonight, little possum, I need you to make me a promise.”

“Nothing’s going to go wrong,” she murmurs, but I cut her off by leaning down and kissing her deeply.

When we pull apart, I rest my forehead against hers. “If something goes wrong,” I repeat, my voice husky, as I slip the car keys into her jeans pocket. “Take Franklin and get to Sydney.”

“Nash—”

I press a finger to her lips. “The plan doesn’t change. When you get to Boston, call my agent, Clay Easton.” I tuck a folded piece of paper into her back pocket. “He’ll get you both settled in my apartment, and his wife will help you find a job.”

“No,” she whispers, shaking her head. Tears shine in her eyes, and her hands fist my shirt as she clings to me. “I’m not leaving you.”

I brush my lips over hers again. “Zara trusted you to keep her son safe, and so do I. That little boy in there deserves freedom and someone who will fight for him, so I need you to fight for him. No matter what happens, Hadley. Promise me?”

Stifling a sob, she whispers, “I promise.”

“Good girl.”

Without giving her another second to dwell on my request, I grip her hand and pull her along the tree line behind Isaac’s and Gabriel’s cabins. When we’re standing opposite the back door to Ignatius and Seraphina’s, I hold up my phone and flash the light three times.

We wait, but nothing happens.

Isaac is supposed to be waiting for us.

I share a look with Hadley before trying again.

Nothing.

“What do we do?” Hadley whispers.

“Wait here,” I tell her, but she holds me back.

“No. I’m coming with you.”

“Hadley—”

“I’m coming with you, Nash. We’re going to save him together.”

I narrow my eyes at her, but she fixes her stubborn glare right back at me.

Fuck.

“Okay, but stay behind me.”

Checking our surroundings to make sure we’re not about to be ambushed, I keep low as I dart across the clearing and up to the back door. I strain to listen for anything inside, but the thick wooden door makes it impossible.

Drawing in a deep breath, I reach for the handle and test it.

It gives, but I hesitate to push it open. Something doesn’t feel right.

The cabin is too quiet. Too dark.

Where the hell is Isaac?

Putting my arm out to keep Hadley behind me, I creep through the kitchen and over to the hallway. I peer around the corner, but there’s no movement, no noise.

My heart is pounding as we make our way towards the door at the end. It’s closed, and I press my ear to the wood, but I can’t hear a sound. I glance down at Hadley, who is crowded by my side.

I hate that we’re going in blind. Isaac was supposed to meet us at the back door. How do we know he hasn’t double crossed us and someone’s waiting for us on the other side? I don’t want to put her in danger.

“Take my phone,” I whisper, trying to press it into her hand. “Go hide and message Gabriel. Tell him to get you out of here.”

“No,” she hisses, pushing the device back at me.

“Hadley—”

“I’m not leaving you.”

“You promised me?—”

“I promised you I’d get Franklin to safety no matter what, and I will keep that promise. But as far as we know, your nephew is behind that door and we need to get him out of here, so I am not leaving you until we have him.”

Knowing there’s no point arguing with her, I nod and push the door open slowly and step inside.

Panic clutches at my chest as I take in the flickering light of all the candles that have been placed around the room.

There is a circle of them around the bassinet and more lining the windowsill and the chest of drawers.

A woman sits in a rocking chair by the window, dark hair spilling around her face in waves, her expression somehow both serene and unhinged. She’s cradling a sleeping baby. Franklin. My nephew. Gabriel’s brother is slumped on the ground beside her—unconscious … or worse.

I don’t recognise the woman, but Hadley does .

“Ascendant Sierra?” she whispers beside me.

The woman smiles, but there’s something twisted about it. “Where’s Gabriel? He should be here.” Her voice is soft, melodious, and it sends a shiver down my spine. She pushes back in the chair, rocking my nephew gently as her brown eyes lock on me. “I don’t know you.”

I edge forward instinctively, but Hadley grips my arm, stopping me. Her body is stiff with tension.

Sierra doesn’t seem to notice.

“Look at him,” she coos, gazing down at Franklin.

“They think he’s special, but they’re wrong.

That imposter was not a true believer of the Circle.

I should have been his mother, not her. I was the perfect match for Gabriel.

I would have been the ultimate vessel for the divine child, but he refused to touch me.

” She sneers, “He was too hung up on Madeline and her pathetic little foetus.”

My stomach turns, but Hadley speaks up before I can.

“You’re sick.”

Sierra looks up, her eyes wide with mock innocence. “Am I? Your sister was no one but a whore who tricked Gabriel into being her saviour. She wasn’t special which is why she and her demon spawn didn’t survive my ultimate test.”

“No!” Hadley gasps, taking a step forward, but it’s my turn to put an arm out to stop her.

“Oh, please.” Sierra’s voice hardens. “It was so easy. Just a little poison. Not even enough to raise suspicion. I told her it would help with the contractions.”

Hadley staggers like she’s been punched, and I pull her into my body. Her breath hitches against my chest, and I feel her knees buckle. Swirling nausea settles in my gut. Finding out her sister’s death wasn’t an accident is another blow she doesn’t deserve .

“No, no, no, no,” she whimpers, burying her head in my chest.

“Aww, how cute,” Sierra mocks. “Madeline’s mini-me has found her own Prince Charming.” Her face twists into a scowl as she snaps at Hadley, “What are you even doing here? You’re the reason my guardian was exiled. You shouldn’t be here. Where’s Gabriel?”

Franklin stirs as her voice rises.

Fuck.

I need to keep her calm.

Raising one hand to placate her, I use Hadley’s body as a shield to slide my phone from my pocket and shoot off a text to Gabriel.

Nash: SOS. Nursery. Sierra. Isaac down.

I hit send before she can notice and pocket my phone.

“Gabriel’s on his way,” I tell her. “He had to take care of something first.”

“You’re lying,” she says cooly. “Who are you? Why do you look familiar? You’re not a Circle member. Gabriel wouldn’t trust you with something so important.”

“How did you know Gabriel would be here tonight?” I ask, my eyes darting to his brother before landing back on her.

I need to keep her talking until Gabriel gets here.

Hadley sobs quietly into my chest, grieving the loss of her sister all over again. My heart aches for her. She thought Madeline died from complications from childbirth, but she was murdered. Rage builds inside me at the number of lives that have been ruined by the insanity cultivated by this cult.

“I saw him with Isaac,” Sierra says with a soft smile. “I knew he’d come back for me. We are destined to be together.”

Her eyes drop to Franklin again, and I swallow hard, inching forward. She’s unpredictable, and I’m terrified of what she might do to him.

“Gabriel wants to stop the Ritual of Illumination because he knows this child is not the true Divine Light. I overhead them talking in the woods. The child’s mother lied to us. She tricked him into getting her pregnant. She was impure, and she paid the ultimate price.”

My breathing stops. “What did you just say?”

“I would do anything for Gabriel,” she continues, her voice light and dreamy as she brushes a strand of hair from Franklin’s forehead with eerie tenderness. “Anything. I cleared the path. I made space, and he still chose her. ”

“Did you do something to Zara?” My voice is weak as I stare at my nephew.

It doesn’t make sense. There’s no way someone her size would be able to murder my entire family on her own.

She throws her head back and laughs maniacally, causing Franklin to startle and start crying. “I didn’t have to do anything to Zara. She had her own shadows closer to home.”

My stomach drops. What the fuck does that mean? Her delusion seems to be spiralling.

Sierra shifts her grip on my nephew in an attempt to soothe him. It’s not rough, but it’s not careful either.

“Please,” I say, stepping forward slowly, my hands up. A small movement catches the corner of my eye, but I don’t take my eyes off Sierra and Franklin. “Give him to me. Let me help you.”

She shakes her head, rage and pain mixing into a terrifying, twisted mask. “I don’t need your help. I’m going to prove my loyalty to Gabriel and put a stop to the ritual by getting rid of the deceiver. He will realise my devotion, and we will conceive the true Divine Light.”

Hadley cries out as Sierra picks up a candle from the windowsill and moves to set fire to the blanket covering my nephew. I lunge for her as the door bursts open.

I wrench Franklin from Sierra just as Isaac grabs Sierra’s arm, knocking the candle across the room in the process.

Gabriel stands frozen in the doorway, his eyes wide as the candle rolls into the cluster surrounding the bassinet.

One topples, then another, and we watch in stunned silence as the flames catch the carpet alight, the candles falling like dominoes.