Chapter 19

Alison

The dungeon was colder than I had expected. As I sat on the hard stone floor, hugging my knees. I tried to shake off the chill, but the real frostbite was the regret gnawing at my insides. My plan had backfired.

Aiden had told me to find a way to get involved in Damien’s schemes, and what had I done? Barged into his study, demanded a place in his plans, and ended up locked in this hellhole. Great job, I thought bitterly.

Gemma’s taunting voice pulled me from my thoughts. Her cage was just opposite mine.

“Look who’s down here with the rest of us,” she said with a sharp laugh. Her face pressed against the bars of her cell. “Let me guess—you pissed off Damien, or he’s finally figured out you’re useless.”

I didn’t respond. I turned my head, looking at the cold floor.

“What’s the matter? Cat got your tongue?” she pressed. “Or maybe it’s Damien? He’s good at shutting people up.”

“Shut up, Gemma,” I muttered, leaning my head against the wall.

“Touchy, touchy.” She grinned, her voice filled with mockery. “Well, enjoy your stay. You’ll be here a while. Damien doesn’t let go of grudges easily.”

Her laughter echoed as I closed my eyes, trying to tune her out. I replayed my conversation with Damien in my head, dissecting every word.

I had been impulsive, reckless even, and now I was paying the price.

Aiden was going to kill me. That was if he would ever get the chance to see me again. I might end up rotting in this freaking cage.

‘What was I thinking?’ I sighed. I spent hour after hour thinking about how my actions had messed things up.

Gemma made it worse by taunting me with her words.

I didn’t know that I fell asleep until I heard the sound of the cage rattling.

“Get up.” A voice said.

I opened my eyes to see one of Damien’s men standing outside my cell.

I didn’t act at first. I was confused. Why was he telling me to get up? Was he going to shoot me? Or worse, bury me alive based on Damien’s orders.

“I said get up!” He repeated, and I obeyed this time.

“Damien wants to see you,” he said, unlocking the cell door in a fast manner.

I stared at him, confused. “Why?”

“I don’t have an answer to that. Now Let’s go.”

As I stepped out, Gemma’s voice rang out behind me.

“What about me?” she yelled, rattling the bars of her cell. “You can’t just leave me here while she gets a free pass!”

Then her voice dropped only to pick up again. “But if you’re going to kill her, I have no problem staying here.”

“You’re going to be dead meat Alison!” She taunted. “You will end up being nothing but a memory.”

“Hey you listen to me.” Her tone sounded hoarse. “Make sure you remind Damien that I’m still down here once you’re done with her.”

The guard ignored her, motioning for me to follow. I glanced back at Gemma, her furious face pressed against the bars, and for a brief moment, I felt a bit uneasy.

Then I reminded myself that Gemma’s taunts were the last thing I needed to care about right now.

The walk felt endless. My heart thudded in my chest, and my palms were slick with sweat. What did Damien want? Was he going to lecture me again, or worse, kill me like Gemma said, or was he going to punish me further?

When we arrived, the guard opened the door, and we stepped aside. Damien was seated at his desk, his head bent over a stack of papers. The light from the chandelier made shadows reflect across his face, making him look even more intimidating.

I gulped really hard, realizing the next moment determines whether I lie or die.

“Sit,” he said without looking up.

I hesitated, then slid into the chair across from him. The room was silent except for the faint rustle of paper as he finished whatever he was working on.

Finally, he set his pen down and leaned back in his chair, his darkened blue eyes locking onto mine.

“Why did you send for me?” I gathered the courage to speak. I was so desperate for answers, and the fact Damien was stalling left me with no choice but to speak.

“You wanted to redeem yourself right?” he asked, and I shook my head.

“I’m going to be giving you a chance to do so.” He replied.

I felt relieved. So I wasn’t going to die or be punished. Actually, getting punished didn’t seem like a bad idea.

I paused as that thought settled in my mind. Here I was again, thinking about Damien in the wrong way.

“Why the sudden silence?” Damien’s voice caught my attention.

“I thought you wanted that girl to handle the job.”

He shrugged, a faint smirk tugging at the corner of his lips. “I did. But then I thought about it. Why pay an outsider a ridiculous amount for something you could do for free?”

There was this look on his face that made me feel he had other reasons for his sudden change of plans, but I didn’t press further.

“So are you in?” Damien asked, as he leaned forward. “Or do you want to pull out ?”

“No!” I said sharply. “I’m in.”

Damian narrowed his gaze, and I saw him ease back into the chair. The way looked at me was quite different from the way he looked at Silvia when she walked in.

Once again, I was starting to feel jealous.

I pushed the feeling aside, forcing myself to speak up. "So what’s the job?”

“Before I tell you all about it. I have one important question to ask you.” Damien’s voice grew stern.

“What’s that?” I asked in a low tone.

Damien’s smirk deepened as he leaned forward. “Tell me, how good are you at riding?”