Chapter 24

Damien

The past few days have been the most devastating moments of my life, watching Alison come back from her horse riding lessons with Rodrigo was starting to eat away at me. Every evening, she returned with no tangible information, yet her face glowed with a smile that made my blood boil. I hated seeing her like that. Was it jealousy? Perhaps. I hadn’t been able to make her smile like that in all the time she had been here, yet Rodrigo had her laughing and glowing as if her life wasn’t dangling by a thread. The thought of it made my skin crawl.

That evening, as she stepped into the apartment, I couldn’t control myself. The sight of her bright smile pushed me over the edge. I grabbed her roughly by the arm, yanking her into the room before she could even drop her bag.

"What the hell is this game you’re playing, Alison?" I demanded, in a sharp tone.

She looked at me, startled. "What game? What are you talking about?"

I let out a bitter laugh, releasing her arm but stepping closer. "Don’t play dumb with me. It seems like you’ve fallen for Rodrigo. That’s why you’re dragging your feet and refusing to stick to the plan, isn’t it?"

Her expression hardened, and she shook her head. "That’s not true. This has nothing to do with love. I’m just trying to get answers, Damien, but it’s not as easy as you think."

"Trying?" I scoffed, cutting her off. "Your 'trying' isn’t enough. Do you think this is some leisurely vacation? We’re running out of time, Alison."

She sighed, and I noticed the way her brows knotted. "I told you, I’m doing my best—"

"Not good enough," I snapped. My anger surged, and I couldn’t hold back. "You need to find a way to get him to invite you to his home. That’s where the contract will be. I don’t care what you have to do, but this mission ends by the end of the week. I’m tired of this stalling."

She hesitated, her eyes flickering with something I couldn’t place—fear, maybe? Defiance? It didn’t matter. I was in no mood for excuses.

"I’ll do it," she finally said, in a quiet tone.

"Good." I stepped backward, letting her go. "Don’t make me regret trusting you with this."

I watched her walk away, my fists clenched at my sides. A side of me didn’t trust her.

So the next morning, I decided to follow her. If she wasn’t going to take this seriously, I’d make sure she didn’t mess it up. I disguised myself, parking at a distance from the ranch and making my way on foot to stop me from being seen.

From where I hid, I watched her and Rodrigo together. They were riding horses side by side, talking and laughing as if the world was theirs alone. My stomach churned.

Then it happened. She dismounted, and Rodrigo leaned in close. Too close. His hand brushed her arm, lingering just long enough to send a wave of fury coursing through me.

My jaw tightened, and I clenched my fists, ready to storm out there and remind Alison who she was really working for.

But I stopped myself in time, gaining control of my emotions. Confronting her here would only draw suspicion. Instead, I turned and walked back to the car, my mind racing with thoughts I couldn’t control.

I slammed my fist against the steering wheel, letting out a string of curses the minute I got to the car.

“Fuck!” I yelled. “Why did I fucking send her out there?”

“I should have let Silvia handle the job. “ I yelled to myself.

I felt like a fool.

Rodrigo was getting too comfortable with her, and I hated that Alison wasn’t doing more to put him in his place. After a while, I forced myself to calm down, taking deep breaths before driving back to the apartment.

I thought about going to the bar, but I didn’t feel like mingling with people. So, I decided to head back home.

Hugh had already returned to the Highlands, leaving me alone with nothing but my thoughts. I tried to keep myself busy, pacing the room, scrolling through plans, and replaying every interaction I’d witnessed. The clock ticked away, and Alison was later than usual.

When she finally walked through the door, I could feel the anger bubbling up again. "Why are you so late?" I asked, in a sharp tone.

"I—" Alison began.

"I hope the reason is because you were at Rodrigo’s home looking for the contract," I interrupted, not giving her a chance to make excuses.

She hesitated, and I could feel my patience slipping.

"I did go to his home," she said carefully, "but it was just for a short while."

My eyes narrowed at the sound of her voice. My mind moved in various directions.

"A short while? What were you doing there, huh? Playing lover girl with him? Having tea and laughing like his fucking bitch?" I yelled with a stern look on my face.

She opened her mouth to explain, but I cut her off again.

"Enough," I snapped, grabbing her by the arm and shoving her roughly against the wall.

"Damien, you’re hurting me," she protested, her voice strained.

I leaned closer, my anger blinding me. "This is what you get for stalling," I said, slamming her back against the wall again. She cried out in pain, and the sound of it finally broke through my haze.

I stepped back, and the weight of what I’d just done hit me. Her eyes were wide, her hand clutching her shoulder where it had hit the wall.

What had I done? Why did I let my emotions take over?

For a moment, I thought about apologizing. But I couldn’t. Weakness wasn’t an option. Instead, I straightened my shoulders and forced my voice to remain cold.

"This is nothing compared to what you’ll feel if you don’t get that contract," I said. My words hung in the air like a blade.

Without waiting for a response, I turned and walked away, leaving her standing there in stunned silence.