Chapter 58

Alison

The car jerked to a sudden halt, jolting me from the haze of exhaustion that had settled over me.

My body felt heavy, and sore from hours of being bound and blindfolded.

The minute the car opened, I felt the cold air hit my face first, carrying with it the distant sound of passing vehicles.

Were we on a main road? A city? Was this where I die, before I could process my thoughts, a firm hand gripped my arm.

A second later, I felt the ropes around my wrists being yanked loose. Then the blindfold came off.

I blinked rapidly as light flooded my vision. When I finally saw who was standing in front of me, my breath caught in my throat.

“Oh my God…”

I could barely get the words out.

It was Damien. He had saved me.

My body moved before I could think—I threw myself at him, my arms wrapping around his torso, holding onto him as if I needed proof that he was real.

“Damien!” I finally woke.

He let out a small chuckle, as he wrapped his arms around me.

“Surprised?” he murmured against my hair.

I pulled back, staring up at him, bewilderment written all over my face.

“How—How did you even find me? Why didn’t you tell me it was you?!”

He smirked, tilting his head. “I wanted it to be a surprise.”

I swallowed hard, shaking my head in disbelief. “I thought I was going to die. I thought—”

His expression darkened instantly, the teasing glint in his eyes vanishing. “You think I was just going to let Aiden hurt you?“

“No, it’s not that. I just wished you would have told me it was you from the start.”

“I’m really sorry, that I didn’t,” Damien replied.

I took a shaky breath, the weight of everything settling over me again.

“You know Aiden is behind this, right?”I finally said, searching his face for confirmation.

Damien clenched his jaw, his hands tightening slightly on my arms. “I know.”

“He—he was going to kill me.”The words felt strange on my tongue, as if saying them out loud would finally make them real.

Damien exhaled then he took a step forward brushing his fingers against my wrist “It was his plan from the start. He was waiting for the right time to strike.”

I shook my head, a bitter laugh escaping my lips. “I’m going to make sure Aiden pays for everything he’s done.”

Damien’s eyes locked onto mine, as I spoke. “We’re going to make sure he pays.”

It wasn’t a promise. It was a vow.

Only then did I finally take in my surroundings and I noticed a large white building that was right in front of us.

It was a hospital.

I frowned. “Why are we here?”

Damien sighed, rubbing the back of his neck. “Hugh was hurt.”

My stomach twisted. “What? What happened?”

Damien’s gaze darkened. “When I went back to the mansion he was in a pretty bad shape. He was the reason I found out you were missing.”

My lips parted in surprise, but before I could speak, he added, “Gemma was feeding information to Aiden. She told him about us—about how close we are. She gave him everything he needed to set this up.”

I stiffened. “Gemma?”

Damien nodded grimly. “Yes, apparently she was also the one who planned the kidnapping that took place with Alberto.”

I shook my head. “ she really hates me huh? I wonder what she’s going to do next.”

Damien gave a humorless chuckle. “There’s nothing to worry about Gemma would not be bothering you anymore.”

I rolled my eyes. “What did you do?”

“I made her regret ever messing with my woman.”He smirked, his expression softening just a bit. Then, without another word, we wrapped his hands around mine and together we headed into the hospital.

***

Inside, the sharp scent of disinfectant filled my nostrils. Damien and I approached the nurse’s station, where a woman in blue scrubs barely glanced up before directing us toward Hugh’s room.

As soon as we stepped inside, Hugh’s voice greeted us.

“You actually found her.”*

I turned to see him propped up in bed, looking a little worse for wear but definitely alive.

Damien leaned against the doorframe, with a firm look on his face. “Apparently, they were trying to kill her.”

Hugh let out a slow breath, shaking his head. “Bastards.”

I was surprised by his words. I didn’t expect Hugh to act this way.

I stepped closer to the bed, meeting his gaze. “Thank you. Uh… Damien said you were part of the reason I was saved.”

He waved a hand dismissively. “It’s fine. Don’t get all emotional on me.”

I laughed softly, but the moment was short-lived. Reality had set in and now with me being free and Damien being alive, we all knew Aiden was going to come to us.

“What now?” I asked, turning back to Damien.

His eyes flickered toward the hallway. “We leave.”

“Leave?” Hugh said shocked.

Damien nodded. “We can’t stay here. Aiden won’t stop until he gets what he wants. We’re heading back to the city tonight.”

Something about the way he said it sent a shiver down my spine.

“Are you sure that’s a good idea?” I asked hesitantly.

Damien’s expression hardened. “It’s the only idea. If we stay here, we’re sitting ducks.”

His gaze flicked toward Hugh. “How are you feeling?”

Hugh shrugged. “Like shit, but that doesn’t mean I can’t come with y’all.”

Damien smirked and Hugh grunted as he swung his legs over the side of the bed, pushing himself up with a wince.

As we helped him up, the door suddenly swung open, and a nurse hurried inside.

“He hasn’t been discharged yet.”

Damien exhaled sharply, pulling out his gun without hesitation. “He is now.”

The nurse’s eyes widened, and she quickly stepped aside, her hands raised in surrender.

I sighed. “Was that necessary?”

Damien tucked the gun away, smirking. “It worked, didn’t it?”

Hugh chuckled, shaking his head. “Let’s get the hell out of here.”

We made it back to the car. Hugh slid into the back seat with a groan, while I settled into the passenger seat beside Damien.

Damien started the engine, the hum of the car vibrating beneath me.

Hugh exhaled from the back seat. “To the city?”

Damien met my gaze in the rearview mirror, his lips curling into a smirk.

“To the city.”

With that, he hit the gas, and we sped into the night.

I rested my head against the window, watching as the hospital lights faded into the distance.

Whatever happened next There was no turning back now.