Chapter 56

Damien

The moment I stepped into the mansion, I was shocked when I noticed that everywhere was quiet.

I had expected to hear gunfire, shouting, and some sign of life. But instead, the only thing that greeted me was death.

Bodies of my men were lined the front of the mansion. My hands tightened around my gun as I stepped past them, my pulse roaring in my ears.

Where the hell was Hugh?

I moved cautiously through the hallway, my gun raised, and my eyes scanning every shadow.

"Hugh?" I called out, my voice bouncing off the empty walls.

There was no answer.

I increased my pace, moving deeper into the mansion.

My mind was already thinking about the worst, that something terrible might have happened to Hugh.

It was during that moment I heard a sound. It was faint at first but then it became loud, it sounded almost like a groan.

"Hugh!" I called again, following the noise.

This time, I heard him clearly. “Here…”

His voice was hoarse, coming from one of the rooms upstairs. I bolted up the stairs and the second I stepped into the room I sighted him.

He wasn’t in a good position, a heavy wooden door belonging to the bathroom had collapsed, trapping him underneath.

I pushed the door off him and grabbed his arm, helping him sit up. Blood smeared his shirt, and when I looked down, I saw a wound on his leg.

My heart paused as I watched blood spill from his trousers.

Hugh on the other hand looked unbothered by it. He gritted his teeth and let out a shaky breath. “Took you long enough.”

I turned to look at him. “I thought you were dead.”

“Not yet,” he muttered, trying to stand, but his injured leg stopped him from doing so.

I caught him. “We need to get you to a hospital.”

“No,” he said quickly, shaking his head. “We need to get to the hideout.”

My brows furrowed. “Hugh, you’re bleeding out.”

He ignored me, his jaw clenching. “I overheard them talking before they left. They’re heading to the hideout. To get you and Alison, well in this case Alison since you’re not there.”

Those words hit me like a bullet.

“How the hell did they find out about the hideout?” I demanded.

Hugh exhaled and for a moment he hesitated as if trying to piece things together.

“Hugh!” I called out.

“They got a call, someone had informed them of your whereabouts.”

I furrowed my brows. “That’s impossible. I was careful, no one followed me when I was leaving. I made sure of it.”

“Are you sure Damien?” Hugh asked, and I nodded.

“I was very aware of my surroundings.”

“If that’s the case then we have a rat, but most of our men are dead. So it can’t be them. Do you think…”

Hugh’s voice trailed off, as I replayed his last words in my head.

‘A rat.’ His voice echoed. Who could it be?

The only person who had seen me leave was Gemma. I even took her with me to the hideout.

My blood ran cold. It couldn’t be her, but then what if she was the one?

I turned my attention to Hugh, and he shot a concerned look.

“What are you thinking about?” He asked.

“I have a feeling Gemma is the rat. I’m not sure but she was the only one who knew about the hideout. I even took her there.”

Hugh’s expression darkened. “Well, the faster we head to the hideout. The faster we gain the answers we need.”

“We are going to tend to your wounds first,” I said looking back at his legs.

“I thought you loved Alison.” His words shocked me.

“I do, I just don’t want your injury to get worse,” I replied.

“It wouldn’t,” Hugh said. “I’m stronger than you think.”

“This is not about being strong it’s about you—“

“Shsss….” Hugh stopped me. “No more talking. We need to go. We are wasting time.”

I didn’t argue. I helped him stop the bleeding, and as I wrapped his leg with a loose piece of fabric from his shirt I glanced up at him. “I’m surprised you care about Alison,” I said with my eyes still on him.

“I don’t,” Hugh said flatly. “I care about you. That’s the only reason I’m helping.”

I didn’t give him a reply. Deep down I knew his heart had softened towards her but Hugh wouldn’t admit it.

I helped Hugh up, guiding him to the exit. The minute we got into my car, I sped off into the night.

**

By the time we reached the hideout, I could feel my heart beating terribly.

I had this odd feeling that something bad had happened.

The second we stepped inside, Gemma rushed in our direction.

“She’s gone,” she choked out. “They took her.”

Her knees buckled, and she fell to the floor, clutching her side. Blood seeped from a wound in her chest, but I didn’t care.

My mind was focused on Alison.

I grabbed Gemma by the arm, yanking her up. “What the hell happened?”

“I tried to stop them,” she whimpered, pointing at her wound. “They attacked me.”

I stared into her eyes, and my grip on her tightened. She was lying. I could see it.

Her body language had given her way, just by the way she avoided my gaze made it very clear that her words were all a facade.

“I’m really sorry. There was nothing I could Damien now we would never be able to gunfire who Alison was—“

“Can you just shut up? Your fucking mouth. Shut?” Hugh spat cutting her off.

“Stop fucking lying.” He groaned.

I clenched my teeth. “We know you told them where we were.”

Her head snapped up. “I—I would never do that!”

“Give me your phone,” I demanded.

Her eyes widened. “Damien, no—”

“Give. Me. Your. Phone.” My voice was ice-cold.

She hesitated, then slowly reached into her pocket and handed it over.

“Unlock it.”

Her hands shook as she pressed her passcode.

The moment the screen lit up, I scrolled through her phone only to stop when I got to her call log. The caller ID of the last person she spoke to shocked me.

It was Aiden. His name stared back at me like a death sentence.

During that moment, anger ignited in my veins.

I turned the screen toward her. “How do you know Aiden?”

Gemma swallowed hard, eyes darting around like a cornered animal. “I needed help.”

“With what?” I spat.

“It’s just that I was scared and…”

“I want the fucking truth.” I caught her short.

Gemma was quiet then her voice rose “Okay I wasn’t scared—I was angry. You and Alison were getting closer, so I went to see Alberto some days ago, he had kidnapped Alison before so I knew he would help me to do it again. But when I went back to the city I discovered he was dead. It was at that moment Aiden found me.”

“He and Alberto were working together and since he was gone. Aiden had taken over his position and ruled over his men. Aiden told me he’d help me get rid of Alison. That he’d kill her so I could have you to myself,” she admitted. “I did it for you, Damien. I love you.”

The words sent a sick feeling through me.

I exhaled sharply. I could feel my control slipping as my fingers twitched over my gun.

“Where did Aiden take Alison?” I demanded.

Gemma hesitated.

I lifted my gun, pressing it against her forehead. “Where?”

Tears spilled down her cheeks. “Aiden’ took her to his hideout in the west!” she sobbed. “He plans to kill her by midnight.”

I stepped back, my mind already calculating the time I had left.

“Don’t go,” she begged. “She was going to destroy us—”

I turned my glare on her. “You already did that.”

Her face crumpled. “Can’t you see that I was trying to help you? Alison is a spy with her gone our gang wouldn’t have to face any future problems.”

I let out a bitter laugh. “You are the one who needs to see clearly. Most of the members of our gang are dead because of your stupidity, and about Aiden let me break it to you that fucking bastard was the person who sent Alison to our gang. He hates me and after he kills Alison, he’ll come for me. And then for you.”

She shook her head violently. “No! He swore he—”

I didn’t give her the chance to finish speaking. I pulled the trigger and the sound of the gunshot echoed through the hideout.

Gemma’s body jerked as the bullet tore through her skull. A second shot ensured she wouldn’t get back up.

It felt satisfying to watch her fall to the ground. I turned to Hugh, who didn’t even flinch.

“Let’s go.”

After dropping Hugh at the hospital—despite his stubborn protests—I leaned against the doorway as he was settled into the bed.

“Will you be okay, dude?” he asked.

I nodded. “Yeah.”

I didn’t stay long. I didn’t have time.

As I got back in the car, gripping the steering wheel, I took a deep breath.

Then I stepped on the gas.

I had one destination.

One mission.

“I’m coming for you, Alison,” I said to myself.