Chapter 16

Alison

“What do you mean by I’m doing things to you?” I asked, staring at Damian closely.

Damien opened his mouth as if to respond, but before he could say a word, his phone buzzed loudly. He pulled it out, glanced at the screen, and answered.

“Hey, Hugh,” Damien slurred. “I didn’t expect you to call so soon.”

I stood there, watching him as he spoke into the phone, his expression flickering between irritation and amusement.

“You don’t have to worry about…” he drawled. “Of course I’m good. In fact, I’m going to start working on the plans right away.”

He paused, nodding as if Hugh could see him, then said, “I’m not drunk stop saying that.”

“I mean it.” His voice grew rough. “You know what? I’m done explaining to you. Bye.”

Damien ended the call and tossed the phone on a nearby table. Without another word, he stood and left the room.

Of course, I followed him. This was my chance to dig deeper, to find out what he was up to.

I quickened my pace, catching up to him just as he stumbled slightly in his drunken state.

“Damien,” I said, reaching out to him. “Let me help you.”

He shrugged off my touch, muttering, “I can handle myself, Alison. I don’t need you to hold me.”

But as soon as I let go, he nearly lost his balance, almost tripping on his on foot. I rushed to his side again, gripping his arm firmly.

It was not that I cared about him or anything. I just wanted him to get to wherever he was going safely so I could find out what his plans were.

“I told you, I’ve got this,” he slurred.

“Clearly,” I said dryly, refusing to let him push me away this time.

When we finally reached the study, Damien began rummaging through drawers and shelves, muttering to himself.

“Where is it? Where is it?” he said, his voice growing more impatient with each passing second.

I stood by the door, watching him tear through the room like a possessed man. Finally, he froze, his hand hovering over a hidden drawer. He pulled it open and extracted a stack of papers.

“Here it is,” he said triumphantly, holding up the documents. “The plan.”

Curiosity got the better of me, and I stepped closer. “What plan, Damien?”

He glanced at me, a crooked grin spreading across his face. “This,” he said, slamming the papers down onto the desk. “This is the plan I’ve been working on for months. It’s going to change everything.”

He laughed, a hollow, bitter sound, and dropped down in his chair. “Once this plan works, maybe... maybe I’ll finally get some peace.”

“What kind of peace are you talking about?” I asked, hoping this time he would go straight to the point, but I was wrong.

Damien ignored my question, his attention shifting back to the papers.

“I’ve already taken care of Alberto and his men,” he said, more to himself than to me. “Next is the Pérez family. And after that...” He trailed off, his eyes gleaming with a dangerous light. “The gang in East Lands is going to help me finish the job.”

I felt a chill run down my spine. “What exactly are you planning to do?”

Damien finally looked at me, his grin turning into a cold smirk. “I’m going to make sure every gang in this city turns against each other without ever realizing I’m the one pulling the strings. Alliances will crumble, trust will shatter, and I’ll be the last one standing.”

His words sent a wave of unease through me, but I managed to keep my expression neutral. A sly smile crept across my face, masking the turmoil inside me. At least now I knew what he was planning.

I decided to leave the room and call Aiden, desperate to share what I had just learned. But before I could slip away, Damien grabbed my wrist, his grip firm despite his drunk state.

“Where are you going?” he asked. “Why are you leaving me?”

“I’m not leaving you,” I said quickly, in a tone that sounded a bit rushed. “I just... I need some air.”

Damien’s gaze darkened, and he pulled me closer. “You can’t leave me. You’re going to stay here.”

His voice gave no room for argument. It was crazy that even in Damien’s drunken state his bipolar personality still flourished.

“Why are you quiet?” His darkened gaze disappeared, and I was left with the soft look.

See? Bipolar.

I didn’t give him a reply, and his hand which was on me tightened.

“Speak to me.” He continued. “Hearing your voice reminds me of your moans.”

My eyes widened as I thought of that night.

In the mansion.

I gulped, watching as he leaned forward. His dark brows furrowed as he stood on his feet.

Damien’s next action shocked me. He pushed me onto the desk, positioning himself between my legs.

“You drive me insane, Alison,” he said, his voice almost a whisper. “Do you know how many nights I’ve dreamed of seeing you naked? You’re in my head every time I close my eyes.”

I opened my mouth to protest, but immediately his hands glided between my legs. I couldn’t mutter any words. Even when I tried pushing him away, my body betrayed me.

His touch was intoxicating, and I found myself frozen as he trailed his hand down my neck. Before I could think, he had pulled me onto his lap, his lips brushing against my skin.

“Damien, stop—” I began, but my voice faltered as his kisses moved down my body. His hands moved to the little opening on my dress and he cupped my left breast in one hand, fondling it through my dress.

I wanted him to take off my dress. I also wanted to feel his fingers brush against my nipples.

It was as if Damien could read my mind because he began to slide my zip down in a slow manner. Just as he was about to take off my dress, the sound of the door opening shattered the moment.

“There you are,” Hugh’s voice rang out.

Damien turned, his expression twisting into a scowl. “Really, Hugh? You just had to ruin the moment.”

Hugh ignored him, his gaze narrowing as it landed on me.

“Get out,” he snapped. “I need to talk to Damien.”

My chest flustered as I quickly gathered myself and left the room. Once I was outside the mansion, I pulled out my phone and dialed Aiden’s number.

The line rang and rang, but there was no answer. Frustrated, I ended the call and leaned against the wall.

‘Maybe it was a good thing Aiden didn’t pick.’ I said, as I remembered that I allowed Damien to touch me despite having a husband.

I sighed as I walked into the mansion only to stop when I crossed the study.

I heard Hugh and Damien’s voices. Their conversation was growing heated. I tried to listen in, but their voices dropped.

“What the hell were you thinking, Damien?” Hugh’s voice finally picked up. “First Alberto now the Perez.”

“It’s all part of the plan.”

“No, it’s not. The plan was to make them turn against themselves and kill each other. But now you have placed a bigger target on our backs. You know I’m so mad at the fact you kept Rio’s death a secret.”

“I’m sorry.” Damien slurred. “I didn’t tell you about Rio’s death because I didn’t want you to worry.”

“Well, I’m worried now thanks to you.”

“Those men… they would tear down the empire.” Hugh added.

“I don’t know why you are so afraid. Have you forgotten that we are the santos?” Damien laughed. “Come on buddy cheer up, those people have nothing on us.”

“I don’t know what’s giving you this confidence. I guess it’s the fucking alcohol.”

“This has nothing to do with alcohol and everything to do with what I have been working on. After I —” a crashing sound echoed loudly and Damien stopped talking.

“Oops!” He exclaimed. “My bad.”

He paused again and I could hear a mumble which I guessed belonged to Hugh.

“So where was I?” Damien asked then as if recalling he replied. “Yes, the hospital. After I left the hospital, I have been working on cleaning up this mess so we can get back on track. I ended up devising a plan after I discovered that—“

“And you think this plan of yours is going to fix everything?” Hugh countered. “You’re just going to make things worse.”

Their bickering continued, but I couldn’t bring myself to listen anymore. My mind was a whirlwind of thoughts, and all I could think about were Damien’s words, his touch, and the dangerous game he was playing.

As I stood there, staring at the phone in my hand, I realized one thing: I was in way over my head.