Page 51 of Twisted Truths (The Sunburnt Hearts #4)

Chapter Thirty-Nine

HADLEY

S ierra lets out a high-pitched keening sound as she leaps off the rocking chair towards Nash and Franklin.

Everything happens in slow motion. Before I can even think about what I’m doing, I grab a lamp off the chest of draws and throw it at Sierra.

It catches her on the temple, and she crumples to the ground.

Smoke fills the room as the flames quickly spread, catching hold of Sierra’s cotton dress. I’m frozen to the spot as I watch the fire consuming an unconscious Sierra, the stench of burning flesh filling the room.

“Woah, there, little possum,” Nash says, grabbing me around the waist with one arm, while still holding onto Franklin with the other. He pulls me towards the door while Gabriel helps Isaac.

We’re all coughing as we race down the hallway and out the back door, taking cover in the bushland that surrounds the property. Rather than going back to the path and through the cemetery, the same way we came in, we cut through the thick trees until we reach the river .

Thankfully, there is a shallow part we use to cross, and we dash into the tree line on the other side. We don’t dare to turn on a torch for fear of being caught, but there’s just enough light from the moon cutting through the branches that we can make out where we are going.

I stick close to Nash and Franklin, leading them and pushing low-hanging branches out of the way.

Isaac is right behind us, stumbling occasionally through the undergrowth.

His breaths are heavy and uneven, and he’s clearly battling a concussion from Sierra’s attack.

Gabriel flanks the rear, checking over his shoulder every few seconds like he’s expecting someone to break through the trees after us.

Gabriel finally breaks the tense silence, his voice low and sharp.

“What the hell happened back there with Sierra?”

Isaac lets out a low groan and slows to a walk, unable to talk and run at the same time.

“She showed up about ten minutes before you guys were supposed to. Just walked straight through the back door like she belonged there, talking this insane crap about how she was finally going to make you proud, and how she was going to ‘pave the way’ for us. I think she said something about creating the real Divine Child.”

I glance back at Gabriel, but his face is unreadable in the dim light.

“She was completely cracked,” Isaac continues. “I tried to stop her from getting to Franklin, but—” He pauses, rubbing at the bruise on his temple. “I didn’t realise the psycho bitch had inhumane strength or something. She threw me across the room like I was nothing.”

He falls silent, and for a moment, all I hear is the sound of our footsteps and uneven breathing.

“I must have hit my head, because the next thing I know, I’m waking up and you guys were there,” Isaac finishes. “I thought I was dreaming for a second.”

“She poisoned Madeline,” I choke out, swallowing down the bile at the back of my throat. “When she was in labour with Annie. Sierra told her it would help with the contractions.”

Gabriel comes to an abrupt stop, pain flashing in his grey eyes. “What the fuck?”

“She killed them.”

He shakes his head, choking out a guttural, “No.”

Isaac grips his brother by the back of the neck and rests his forehead against his. “The bitch will burn in hell for what she put you through, brother.”

“Did you get what we need to bring down the Circle?” he asks through gritted teeth.

“Yeah,” Isaac replies. “Files, recordings, video footage. Everything we need to bring the Circle to their knees.”

“Good,” Gabriel mutters, and the word hangs in the air between us. He glances at Nash, before returning his gaze to his brother. “Was there anything in there that will implicate our parents in the murders of Zara and her family?”

Isaac recoils. “What? No. Why do you think it was them?”

“Because they needed the blood of Franklin’s ancestors for the ritual.”

“They didn’t need her blood for that. They can use blood from one of us.”

Nash, Gabriel, and I share a look. Seraphina still believes Franklin is Gabriel’s son.

But if they’re not responsible for the murders, then who is?

“We need to keep going,” Nash says gruffly. “We can’t stop here.”

I know he’s desperate to uncover the truth, but we need to get Franklin to safety first.

We keep moving through the dense bushland, thorny branches clawing at our clothes and skin.

Nash and I do our best to keep them from scratching Franklin, who has fallen asleep from the constant movement, and we’ve covered him as best we can with his blanket.

My heart aches for him. This little boy has been through so much in his short life, and he won’t even know about it until he’s older.

Finally, we spot the old road, finding the car right where we left it, half-hidden off the shoulder, behind a mass of scrubs.

I unlock it with a beep before tossing the keys to Gabriel.

As Nash goes to slide into the backseat with Franklin, his phone buzzes with an incoming call. He ignores it, but as soon as it stops, it starts again. Muttering a curse, he adjusts his nephew so he can slip it from his pocket.

Gabriel and Isaac scramble into the front, and Gabriel wastes no time starting the engine.

As we peel off down the road, Nash’s phone rings again and he answers it.

“Levi? Now’s not a good?—”

His voice cuts off abruptly, and his eyes cut to me.

What’s happening, I mouth, but he shakes his head.

“Slow down,” he says, his knuckles whitening around the phone. “What do you mean, she’s gone?”

My stomach drops. We don’t need any more distractions. Not now.

There’s a long pause. I can’t hear Levi, but whatever he’s saying has Nash’s body tensing. Franklin stirs against his chest, letting out a soft sound, but he barely notices.

He mutters a string of curses, and Isaac glances back from the front seat, eyebrows raised.

Releasing a sigh, Nash sits forward. “Okay. Just don’t do anything stupid, alright? Everything will be fine. She probably needs time to process.” He glances down at his nephew. “I’m coming. Stay at the house. ”

He ends the call, lowering the phone slowly to his lap. For a moment, he stares straight ahead, his jaw clenched tight, eyes dark.

“Nash?” I ask softly.

He closes his eyes and exhales deeply through his nose. “Levi told Paige about the gambling ring. She packed up and took Sawyer to her dad’s place. Levi’s freaking out that he’s going to lose everything when he tells Principal Hargrove, including his freedom.”

“Can’t he ask for immunity or something if he gives them up?”

“I guess so. Year twelve legal studies is about the extent of my knowledge of the law.”

“Who’s Levi?” Isaac asks.

“My half-brother,” Nash says. He meets Gabriel’s gaze in the rearview mirror.

“I know we need to get out of Barrenridge, but I can’t leave him in the middle of this mess.

Apart from Franklin, he’s the only family I have left that I give a shit about.

” He hesitates, then adds in a quieter voice.

“Plus, Franklin should meet his uncle. Levi deserves to see him. He helped Zara get out of the cult, and?—”

“Hold up,” Isaac says, confusion crossing his face. “Levi didn’t help Zara escape.”

“Yes, he did,” Nash insists, rubbing a hand over his tired face. “He got her out the night before the murders. He went back the next day to check in on her and—” His voice hitches, and I reach over and grip his hand. “That’s when he found them.”

Isaac shakes his head. “I don’t know what he told you, but it’s not true.” He glances at his brother before looking back at Nash. “Levi couldn’t have helped her get out… because I did.”