Chapter 21

Alison

The underground horse-riding betting spot was unlike anything I’d ever seen. A sprawling arena with a clamor of horses.

Damien and I arrived dressed for the occasion—wide-brimmed hats, polished boots, and leather jackets. We were a bit over dressed but Damien made it seem like it wasn’t a big deal.

He turned to me, pointing toward a man near the horses. “That’s Rodrigo.”

I turned my head in the direction he was pointing at.

I expected Rodrigo to be much older, but I was wrong. He was surprisingly young with a tattoo decorated on his right hand.

“Can you see him?” Damien questioned, his voice catching my attention.

“Yes!” I replied.

“Good,” Damien said briskly. “Remember to go ahead with the plan when you approach him. “

I hesitated, questions growing in my mind. “But what if—”

Before I could finish, Hugh appeared beside Damian, also in disguise. He tipped his hat slightly, hiding his face, but I could still recognize him.

“What are you doing here?” Damien asked in a shocked tone. I was also shocked too. I didn’t expect a high to be shown up after their last encounter.

“I’m not letting you handle this alone,” Hugh said.

Damien narrowed his eyes. “I didn’t ask for your help.”

“Yeah, well, you’re getting it,” Hugh retorted, folding his arms.

“You were the same person who told me that my plan wouldn’t work out and how I was only doing this because I wanted to screw Alison.” Damien said.

“I was spitting facts, which I admit might be wrong.”

Damien rolled his eyes. “Might?”

“You know, since you have such ducked up thoughts in your head you shouldn’t be here.” His tone was edgy. And it seemed to aggravate Hugh.

“Why are you fucking acting like this man?” Hugh spat. “I’m only trying to make sure things go smoothly.”

“Maybe you shouldn’t have doubted my plans in the first place.” Damien snapped back.

I watched the  two of them go back and forth like elementary school children. The only difference between them was that Damien and Hugh’s fight was more heated.

“This is not the appropriate time to do this.” Damien’s husky voice caught my attention.

I snapped my head in his direction and I noticed as he shot Hugh a glare.

The tension between them couldn’t be ignored and from the look in Damien’s eyes I felt like he badly wanted to blow Hugh’s brains off, or maybe I was just overthinking things. Damien  turned his attention back to  me. “What are you still waiting for?“

“I— “I began, but Damien cut me short.

“Go speak to Rodrigo.” He commanded. “Now.”

With my heart pounding, I stepped away from them and made my way toward Rodrigo.

Rodrigo was unaware of my presence as I stood beside him. He was busy attending to one of the horses.

“Excuse me,” I said, keeping my tone light.

He raised an eyebrow but didn’t say a word. Just that gesture highlighted his dimples.

God! This man was actually handsome,  but as I studied him carefully I realized he was not as good looking as Damien. Damien had this kind of look that made other men look mid despite having attractive features.

I pulled myself out of my head, flashing Rodrigo a warm smile.

“What do you want?” He asked, looking at me sternly.

“I’m here too, um…” I hesitated, looking for the right words.

“Ride or bet?” he interrupted in a rough voice.

“Oh, ride,” I blurted. “But not the horses though. I’m not good at that but when it comes to humans—“

His expression didn’t soften. “I’m married,” he said abruptly.

I felt so stupid after I heard him speak.

My cheeks burned. “Oh, I wasn’t—I didn’t mean—”

He turned on his heel and began to walk away. Panicking, I hurried after him, desperate to salvage the situation.

“Wait! I just wanted to ask about the horses. They’re beautiful,” I said, hoping to steer the conversation in a safer direction.

Rodrigo didn’t slow down, and when he reached a table near the front of the arena, he took a seat, his attention elsewhere. I slid into a chair nearby, wracking my brain for something to say—anything that could hook him.

As I gathered my courage, a young man approached Rodrigo, leaning down to whisper something in his ear. Rodrigo nodded curtly and stood up, leaving the table without a glance in my direction.

I froze. Should I follow him? No, that would only raise suspicion. I clenched my fists in frustration. Minutes passed, then hours, and Rodrigo didn’t return.

The arena began to empty, the crowd thinning as the evening sky took over.

I stayed in my seat, staring at the now-quiet grounds. I couldn’t shake the sinking feeling that I’d failed. Damien wasn’t going to be happy with me. I wished the ground could just open and swallow me whole.

I didn’t think I could face Damien, however I knew that I had no choice.

Summoning my courage, I made my way back to where Damien and Hugh had been. The spot was empty.

“Where the hell are they?” I muttered, looking around frantically.

I walked up and down the area, scanning the space for any sign of them. Nothing.

I began to panic, and my heart rapidly sank.

“Dammit,” I cursed, stomping my foot.

I tried to convince myself that they’d just stepped away and would be back soon. That thought had stopped my rapidly beating heart, but as the minutes stretched into an hour, doubt crept in. The arena was deserted, and I happened to be an only one here — me and some men who happened to be attending to the horses.

Sitting on one of the empty chairs, I buried my face in my hands. What was I supposed to do now?

The sound of footsteps snapped me out of my thoughts. I straightened, my heart leaping with hope.

“Damien?” I muttered, looking up.

But it wasn’t Damien. My breath caught as I locked eyes with someone I least expected to see.

It was Edwardo. He seemed to be walking in my direction until I saw him turn in the opposite direction.

I let out a breath I didn’t know I was holding as I hid myself close to a tree.

If Edwardo ended up noticing me, our plan would be over and Damien would end me.

I sighed, with my mind lingering on Damien. Where had he wandered off to or was he in some trouble?

I heard the sound of footsteps and I turned to see Edwardo heading out. Just as his footsteps faded  I heard another sound which was coming from behind me.

The minute I turned, I froze, every muscle in my body tensing. What was he still doing here?