Page 75 of Twisted Truths
Hadley breaks the connection first, turning to look at him. Her hand drops to my thigh, dangerously close to my cock, and I draw in a deep inhale as it swells, despite being the most inappropriate time. I take a moment to get myself under control, then I force myself to meet Gabriel’s eye.
“Grimshaw is going to look into any connections between my mother and Tanner Crawley, but he thinks he’s found something with the money trail from your stepdad.”
With that one sentence, I sit up straighter. “What is it?”
Gabriel shakes his head. “He didn’t want to say anything over the phone. He wants to meet.”
“In Sydney?”
He nods, and I sink back against the couch, running a hand through my hair. On one hand, I’m desperate for any answers that might help us catch the arsehole who took my family from me, but on the other, I don’t want to leave Barrenridge and Franklin. What happens if Ignatius and Seraphina catch wind that we’re onto them, and they disappear forever?
“I can go,” Gabriel offers. “But you can’t go doing anything reckless, like trying to sneak onto Circle property while I’m gone. You’re no good to Hadley or Franklin if you’re dead.”
I consider the option. Gabriel has done nothing to make me suspicious since I found them here, but do I trust him enough to let him go to Sydney? What if he simply takes off and leaves me here to figure out this mess on my own? He’s got no reason to hang around now he’s free from his parents.
“Why wouldn’t he tell you over the phone or via email?” I ask.
Gabriel shrugs. “He said he’s still following up a couple of things, but with information this sensitive, he wants to give it in person. I don’t mind going. I have a couple of other things I want to check on myself. We need something concrete on my parents to bring them down for good, so I want to go see some people while I’m in the city.”
He makes a good point, and I can’t really deny his offer when he’s bankrolling the whole thing. A fact that still doesn’t sit right with me. “I want to help cover some of the costs for the investigation.”
“Don’t worry about it,” Gabriel says. “I have a feeling this runs deeper than we think, and your family’s isn’t the only blood on their hands.” His gaze drifts to Hadley, and my stomach clenches when I realise he thinks they might have had more to do with her sister’s death.
“Take my mum’s car, then.”
“Thanks.” Gabriel’s gaze darts between Hadley and me, and I shift uncomfortably.
As if only just realising where she’s touching me, she removes her hand, swiping it over her dress.
“Are you okay to stay here with Nash?” he asks her. “You’re welcome to come with me if you’re worried about anyone finding you here.”
My fists clench at my sides. I want to snap at him, tell him I’m perfectly capable of keeping her safe, but at the same time, I don’t want to be another controlling arsehole in her life making decisions for her. If she wants to stay, I won’t turn her away. I’ll find a way to move past the betrayal. But if she wants to go with him, I won’t stop her. Hadley was caged inside that cult for three years. I’m not about to force her to do anything she doesn’t want to do.
When she looks up at me with those innocent green eyes, my resolve falters. I want to tell her I forgive her, and I’ll do anything she wants if she’ll choose to stay with me, but somehow I keep my face impassive.
After a tense silence, she turns back to him. It kills me, and I have to physically stop myself from reaching over and wrenching her gaze back to mine. “How long will you be gone?”
“A day,” he says. “Two tops. I want to get these answers, then figure out a way to get Franklin out of there safely.”
“I’ll stay,” she tells him softly before asking me, “As long as it’s okay?”
“Yeah,” I say, my voice thick with relief. “It’s okay.”
“Nash?” Gabriel says, nodding towards the hallway.
Hadley moves out of my way as I rise to my feet and follow him out of the living room and into the kitchen.
“What is it?” I ask in a low voice when I come to a stopacross from Gabriel. Whatever he wants to say, it’s clear he didn’t want Hadley overhearing.
He clears his throat, gripping the back of his neck in his hand. “Does your stepdad own a gun?”
My brows almost shoot off my forehead. “Yeah, why?”
“Don’t be afraid to use it. My family is dangerous. If they come after her, I want you to protect her at all costs. Madeline never wanted this life for Hadley. I don’t know what manipulative games my mother was playing at by dragging her into our world when she was at her lowest, but she’s free now, and I want her to be safe.”
He casts a glance over my shoulder to make sure we’re still alone. “I don’t know what’s going on between you two, and I don’t need to know. But if you’re only using her to fill the void of losing your family, then you need to keep your distance from her. I know you plan to go back to the States when this is all over, so don’t give her false hope. She has to start her life from scratch. It’s going to be hard enough without having to do it with a broken heart. Trust me, I know.”
He doesn’t give me a chance to reply, striding over to where the car keys are hanging on a hook by the back door.
