Chapter 55

Alison

The first thing I heard was the screams.

It was loud, piercing, and frantic.

I pulled myself upright, my heart hammering against my ribs as I staggered toward the window. My breath caught in my throat when I saw them—a group of men, dressed in dark clothing, armed with guns, storming into the mansion grounds.

I felt scared.

A gunshot rang out, and before I could react, a bullet shattered the glass in front of me. I gasped, stumbling backward just as shards of glass rained onto the floor.

Oh my god.

My pulse pounded in my ears, drowning out everything else. I crouched low, pressing myself against the wall. Another shot tore through the air, this time embedding itself into the wooden floor a few feet away from me.

I was trapped.

The mansion was under attack.

I squeezed my eyes shut, trying to suppress the rising terror, my hands trembling against the cold floor. Then, amidst the chaos, I heard a familiar voice.

"Alison! Open the door!"

Damien.

I scrambled to my feet and rushed to unlock the door, throwing it open. He was standing there, with a gun in his hand.

"What's going on?" I whispered, though I already knew the answer.

"We’ve been ambushed," Damien said, scanning the room briefly before gripping my arm. "We need to get to the hideout. Now."

Without hesitation, I followed him out into the hallway. As we walked, Gunfire echoed through the mansion.

Damien moved ahead of me, his gun raised, and ready to attack. The moment we turned a corner, several men blocked our path, their guns already aimed at Damien.

"Well, well," one of them sneered. "If it isn't the infamous Damien."

Another man smirked. "Finally, we've got you."

Damien exhaled sharply, his grip tightening around his gun. "You sure be careful how you speak to me. I’m sure you have heard nothing about me because if you have you must be aware that I don’t hesitate to hurt people.”

“Ooh! I’m scared.” One of the men said.

During that moment. Damien fired his gun in the man’s direction.

The bullet had hit his legs making the man wince.

“You would regret doing that Damien.”

Both men lifted their gun and pointed it in Damien’s direction. From the corner of my eyes, I noticed, a shadow moving behind the men.

It was Hugh. Both men were unaware of his presence.

“Say your last prayers, Damien.” The men chorused, and they started laughing about the fact that they were in sync.

They were a bunch of fools and they had no idea about what was going to happen to them.

Hugh motioned for Damien to keep quiet, pulling out a knife from his pocket.

“I don’t hear you saying your prayers Damien!” One of the men said.

Damien stepped forward. “I’m not saying any prayers because you’re the one who’s about to meet your end.”

In a blink, Hugh lunged forward, slamming a knife into the nearest man's chest.

The man choked out a strangled gasp before collapsing. The others barely had time to react before Hugh turned on them, taking them down quickly.

“When did you arrive?” Damien asked. “I thought you went to the city.”

“I discovered about the ambush earlier this morning. I was hoping to make it back on time but I guess I was wrong.”

Damien was about to respond when he noticed some men heading in our direction.

He pointed his gun their way, and they dropped to the ground.

The sound of the gunfire seemed to alert more men and before we knew it the hallway was crawling with armed men.

"Go!" Hugh barked at Damien.

Damien hesitated. "Can you hold the fort alone?"

Hugh wiped the blood off his blade. "I’ll manage, just make sure you get her to safety. We need her.”

Gunfire erupted once more, forcing Damien to pull me forward.

We rushed toward a hidden passage, as quickly as we could.

Just as we were about to leave the passage, a faint, pained voice made Damien stop.

"Damien..."

It was Gemma.

I turned to see her slumped against the wall, blood staining her clothes. She was injured. Damien didn’t think twice—he rushed to her side, helping her stand.

"Come on," he muttered, supporting her weight.

Together, we made our way out, slipping past the chaos, and into the night.

***

We drove in silence, and I couldn’t stop thinking about what just happened. I was also replaying Hugh’s words in my head.

What did he mean by they needed me?

I wanted to ask Damien questions but the look on his face made me keep my thoughts to myself.

After what felt like an eternity we arrived at the hideout, which was an old, abandoned cabin on the outskirts of the highlands.

Damien helped Gemma inside, settling her on a worn-out couch before turning to me.

“I have to go back,” he said.

I shook my head, my stomach twisting. “Damien, no. What if something happens to you?”

“I can’t leave Hugh alone,” he said in a firm tone.

He cupped my face with one hand, his thumb grazing my cheek.

“I’ll be safe,” he promised.

Then, without another word, he kissed my forehead and turned to leave.

I stood there, watching him through the window.

Gemma groaned from the couch, but I barely heard her. My focus was on Damien.

I moved to the door, stepping outside, and scanning the road.

I was waiting for Damien. Hoping that nothing happened to him.

Hours passed, and Damien hadn’t arrived yet.

I was beginning to grow worried. As that feeling settled in my mind I noticed a headlight.

I exhaled in relief, rushing toward the approaching car. “Damien!” I called out.

But the moment the car stopped, and the door opened— I froze.

The person who stepped out wasn’t Damien.

Shock and dread crashed over me like a tidal wave. I wasn’t sure whether to run or fight. Instead of doing anything I stayed still, with a grim look on my face.