Page 6 of Twisted Truths (The Sunburnt Hearts #4)

Chapter Four

HADLEY

W hispers about what happened to the man who called out for Trista at the Awakening circle the commune for the next couple of days. No one has seen him since, and rumour says he was sent for Purification.

It’s business as usual for the rest of us. For me, that means spending the weekday mornings in the orchards picking apples, pears, oranges, and grapefruits, or working in the washhouse crafting soaps and other homemade wares for the Sunday markets. Weekends, it’s cleaning out the animal pens.

Friday afternoon is my allotted time to clean for Guardian Solomon. As I wipe down the bathroom mirror, lost in thought, I remind myself to stay focused. I need to be careful. It’s not only my life that depends on it now, and I can’t let her down.

Why hasn’t she made contact yet?

When she told me she had to leave, I tried to change her mind. We have nowhere to go and no one to help us. While it’s dangerous for us to stay here, it’s also better the devil you know .

The next day she was gone, leaving nothing but a note.

Gabriel was furious when he realised she was gone. Anyone and everyone was in his firing line. I heard he beat up one of the maintenance guys when he found a place in the fence that had been left unfixed for weeks.

Last night, he screamed at one of the cooks, smashing his plate against the wall in the dining hall.

It was a terrifying sight. The congregation watched in horror as Guardian Solomon and two of his sentinels dragged Gabriel out of the hall.

His anger was spreading like wildfire, and once it ignited, there was no telling who would feel the burn.

After he was taken away, I sat there shaking, memories of my own childhood playing out like a twisted replay in my mind.

The violence. Terror. Cowering in the corner of the kitchen and watching my father lay into my mother because she had overcooked his food, or it was cold, or too healthy—any excuse he could find to justify his brutal attacks.

One day, he went too far, and she never got up again.

He took off that night, leaving me alone with Madeline.

We were only ten and six.

My chest constricts when I think about my older sister. She led me to Sunfire Circle, but I’m not sure it’s safe for me here anymore. Not with everything I know.

Leaving my cleaning products on the bathroom sink, I tiptoe to the open doorway, my heart racing as I peek around the corner. Gianna is dusting in the living room down the hall while Samantha mops the kitchen floors. I need to be careful not to be seen or we’ll all be in big trouble.

When I’m sure the coast is clear, I hurry down the hall and slip through the door at the end, closing it softly behind me.

I tiptoe through the room, careful not to wake him—it will be a disaster if I get caught.

My heart swells as I stare down at his peaceful sleeping form.

He’s safe—for now. It almost kills me to walk away, but I promised I would keep him safe until she comes back for us, and I’m determined to keep my promise.

Creeping back to the door, I press my ear against the wood to ensure I don’t get caught coming out of this bedroom. If I do, there is no doubt I’ll be punished.

Not hearing a thing, I slowly turn the handle and open the door an inch. The hallway is empty, so I quickly slip out and close the door behind me.

Keeping my head down in case Ascendant Sierra comes in to check on us, I hurry back to the bathroom, freezing in the doorway when I spot the broad muscular shoulders of Gabriel Solomon taking up space in the small room.

I gasp, my hand flying to my chest as I take a step back, hitting the corner of the door frame.

My green eyes meet his red-rimmed grey ones in the mirror, and all the blood drains from my face. I need to lower my face, avert my eyes. It’s against the rules to look a guardian in the eyes, unless you’re being spoken to directly, but I’m unable to move.

Is that a tear rolling down his cheek?

Slowly, he turns to face me.

Stay calm.

No one knows.

As terrifying as he is, there’s no denying how attractive Gabriel is, with golden hair that flops messily over his forehead, steel-grey eyes that are almost silver in certain lights, a smattering of freckles over his cheeks and nose that gives him an almost boyish charm, and a strong, chiselled jawline.

Despite his beauty, when he rakes his heavy gaze over my body, I can’t help the shiver that runs down my spine.

“What’s your name?” His voice is rough, with a gravelly edge.

“H-Hadley,” I whisper.

“Speak up,” he demands.

Swallowing down my fear, I straighten my spine. “Hadley,” I say, stronger and clearer.

“Hadley,” he repeats.

I quickly hide my shaking hands behind my back before he can see. Unfortunately, the movement causes my chest to press out, and his gaze lowers to my breasts. All the oxygen seems to have been sucked out of the cramped space, and my breathing hitches as he takes a step towards me.

“Why have I never met you before, Hadley?” he muses, lifting a hand and brushing a stray piece of auburn hair off my face.

My skin tingles at his touch, and I do my best to remain still and not react to his proximity.

From all the stories I’ve heard about this dangerous man, I do not want to make him angry.

I have my reasons for avoiding him, and I’m cursing that after three years he now knows who I am. For me to remain safe, I need to stay off Gabriel Solomon’s radar.

“I don’t know,” I respond, finally tearing my gaze from his. “If you’ll excuse me, I need to finish?—”

My words cut off abruptly when his thumb and forefinger grip my chin, and he tips my head back until I’m looking up at him.

“Where were you?” he growls .

Shit.

“Uh…” Think Hadley. My hand dips into my back pocket and I pull out the spare rag I placed there before I left the bathroom. “I had to get another cleaning cloth.”

With the way he’s holding my face, I’m unable to look away from him, and I try to hold my gaze steady. Internally, my heart is racing and all the nerves in my body are firing at the blazing heat in his eyes. I’d expected to see anger, not this molten look of sadness mixed with … desire?

Any hope of staying off his radar for the Awakening next month has gone out the window.

“It’s uncanny,” he murmurs to himself more than me, his thumb brushing over my lower lip as his tongue runs over his own.

My breath hitches.

His eyes search my face, but I’m not sure what he’s looking for.

After what feels like an age, he finally shakes his head and takes a step back. “I’ll leave you to it, Hadley.”

He pushes past me without another word, and I slump against the counter, my breaths coming out in short, sharp pants. That was way too close.