Chapter 29

Alison

Gemma’s voice followed me as I walked away, but I didn’t turn around.

“I know you don’t want to admit it Alison, but you know that I’m right!” She screamed. “Seeing me with Damien hurts you don’t it?”

I ignored her and kept on walking.

“You wish it was you, but it can’t be. It would never be you. You’re forever going to be the girl Damien uses.” She spat.

I blocked out her words as I increased my steps. Eventually, it died down once I stepped outside into the evening air.

The chilly breeze nipped at my skin, stiff and biting, and I instinctively hugged myself as I walked toward the garden.

The air out here felt different—calmer, quieter. It was the only place in this suffocating house where I could breathe.

I wandered toward the edge of the garden, with my hands touching the rose petals.

The wind tousled my hair, and for a moment, I closed my eyes, letting the stillness wash over me.

Gemma’s words replayed in my head tormenting me. I wanted it to stop.

The sound of her voice replaying in my head didn’t last long. During that moment, my phone buzzed in my pocket, and when I glanced at the screen, Aiden’s name flashed across it.

Anger took over my mind as I answered.

“Where have you been?” I snapped. “I’ve been trying to reach you for days, Aiden! I’ve sent you countless texts. Do you even check your phone?”

There was a pause on his end before he sighed.

“I’m sorry,” he said, his voice calmer than I wanted it to be. “I told you to keep me updated, and I’ve been meaning to get back to you, but things have been... hectic.”

“Hectic?” I repeated, my voice rising.

“Yes, I have been dealing with a lot of work stuff, but I’m not going to bore you with all that.” He said in a casual tone.

“So tell me how’s the mission going?” His words angered me even more.

“The mission is over, and you would have known that if you checked your messages!” I pointed out.

The line went silent, and I heard some movement before Aiden spoke up again.

“So this is what sparked the alliance!” he said quickly and from his words, I was aware that he was going through the messages.

“I think it’s time for me to pay Rodrigo a visit soon,” Aiden spoke up.

“What? Why?” I demanded.

“You’ll see,” he replied, his tone making it clear he wasn’t going to elaborate.

I clenched my teeth, trying to stop my frustration.

“Okay!” I said after a while. “Since the mission is over. Can I go home now?”

“No, you can’t.” His words caused my anger to return.”

“I’ve done everything you asked Aiden. I’ve gathered all the evidence you need on Damien. You know he’s trying to turn the gang against each other, and now with the new information about Edwardo and Rodrigo, you have plenty to work with. What else do you need from me?”

“You still need to gather more evidence,” Aiden said firmly.

I almost threw my phone into the bushes. “More evidence? Are you kidding me? I’ve been here for weeks, Aiden! I’ve risked my life for this! I’m tired of being here. Damien has made my life a living hell—especially when we were in the city. How much more do you want from me?”

“Don’t shout at me,” Aiden said sharply, his tone hardening. “You know how these mafia men operate. Little evidence isn’t enough to bring them down. You need to find something undeniable—something that can’t be refuted. Until then, you’re staying.”

His words hit me like a punch to the gut. “I’m tired, Aiden,” I said, my voice cracking. “I’ve said it so many times. I can’t do this anymore.”

“You’re doing this for your father,” he reminded me. “Don’t lose sight of that, Alison.”

The line went dead before I could respond, leaving me standing alone in the garden with the sound of Aiden’s voice still ringing in my ears.

I lowered the phone and muttered to myself, “fuck.”

The weight of his words pressed down on me, and I found myself staring at the ground, lost in thought.

A rustling sound jolted me from my thoughts, and I spun around, my heart leaping into my throat.

The leaves in the bushes quivered, but when I looked closer, I realized it was just the wind. I exhaled, shaking my head at my own paranoia.

The wind picked up, brushing against my skin, and I decided I’d had enough of the garden for one evening. Hugging myself tighter, I turned and headed back inside.

The house felt colder than the garden. As I walked down the hall, I could still feel Gemma’s mocking smile lingering in the back of my mind. Her voice echoed in my head, taunting me with words I didn’t want to hear.

I passed the room Damien had disappeared into earlier, the memory of his voice—his intimate whispers to Gemma—flashing in my mind. I hated that it bothered me. I hated that I cared. But most of all, I hated him for making me feel this way.

As I climbed the stairs to my room, I felt the familiar pang of loneliness settle in my chest. Damien’s silence over the past week didn’t bother me as much as it should have. If anything, I welcomed it. It gave me space to think, to remind myself of why I hated him and everything he stood for.

But even in his absence, he was everywhere. In my thoughts, in my dreams, in the way, Gemma’s presence seemed to linger like a shadow. No matter how hard I tried, I couldn’t escape him.

I closed the door to my room behind me, leaning against it for a moment before letting out a heavy sigh.

I glanced at my phone again, hoping for a message from Aiden, but there was nothing.

For a moment, I considered packing my things and leaving. Just walking out the door and never looking back.

But I knew it wasn’t that simple. As much as I hated being here, I couldn’t leave—not yet. Not until I had something that would finally let Aiden allow me to come home.

I sank onto the edge of the bed, my head in my hands.

The weight of everything was crushing, and for the first time in a long time, I let myself cry. Quiet, bitter tears that I wiped away as quickly as they came.