Chapter 60

Alison

The moment I rolled to the other side of the bed and found out it was empty. I sat up, quickly.

“Damien!” I said, after realizing he wasn’t by my side.

‘Where did he go?’ I asked myself.

He couldn’t be in the shower because I couldn’t hear the water running.

I didn’t want to stay alone, so I threw the covers off my body and went to look for him as I made my way toward the door the voices I heard on the other side of the door stopped me in my tracks.

It was Damien and Hugh.

They happened to be arguing.

I pressed my ear against the door, listening, and the more I listened the more I realized they weren’t arguing they were just talking with loud voices.

“You have to choose Damien it’s either her or your grandfather’s contact. To me, both are necessary.” I heard Hugh say. “This isn’t the time to focus on emotions Damien. We need her!”

There was a beat of silence before Damien spoke, in a tone that was lower and more controlled. “I’m trying to be considerate.”

Hugh let out a frustrated sigh. “Here you go again letting your emotions get the best of you. You know what, I’m done with trying to make you see how this is important maybe when we all die—“

“We are not going to die.” Damien cut him off.

“With the way things are going, we will,” Hugh said sharply. “I’m just going to prepare myself for death.”

“You don’t speak like this man,” Damien responded.

“I will speak to her okay, but like I have said before she needs time,” Damien countered.

I could hear the hesitation in his tone as if he was torn between agreeing and resisting.

Hugh scoffed. “Time? After everything she’s been through, do you think she’ll hesitate? She’s not stupid, Damien. She knows Aiden isn’t going to stop. She knows what needs to be done.”

I swallowed hard. They were talking about me.

Hugh coughed a rough, raspy sound, followed by the unmistakable flick of a lighter. He was smoking.

“Make sure you talk to her,” he muttered.

Then I heard his footsteps fade down the hall.

I could hear Damien’s footsteps too and I didn’t want to get caught eavesdropping, so I spun back toward the bed, trying to move quickly. But in my rush, my foot caught the edge of the rug, and I stumbled—falling hard onto the floor with a loud thud.

Shit.

A second later, the door swung open.

Damien stood in the doorway, eyes sweeping over me as I scrambled to sit up.

His brow was arched as he spoke. “You’re awake.”

I winced, brushing myself off. “Yeah. The minute I found out you left I woke up.”

His gaze sharpened. “I’m sorry I left you. I just couldn’t sleep, and I needed fresh air.”

“I understand,” I replied quickly.

“Are you sure? Because you were pretty —“

“It’s fine Damien,” I responded. “That should be the least of your worries right now. I will get over my feelings but I guess I can’t get over the fact that you are keeping something from me.”

I didn’t know when those words slipped from my mouth. Anyway, it was too late to take it back.

“What are you talking about?” Damien acted clueless. I didn’t know if he was pretending or the act was actually real.

“You’re aware of what I’m talking about Damien.”

Damien was quiet for a while then his eyes lit up. “You heard us.”

I folded my arms. “Yeah. So… what is it that Hugh wants you to tell me?”

Damien hesitated. I could see it in the way his expression shifted—the way his lips pressed together like he was debating whether or not to even answer.

I stepped closer, my voice firmer this time. “Please, just tell me.”

His dark eyes met mine. “Hugh wants you to help us take down Aiden.”

A wave of silence crashed over us.

My stomach twisted, and my hands clenched into fists at my sides.

Aiden.

His name alone sent a rush of emotions through me—anger, betrayal, grief, and fear.

Damien must’ve noticed the way my breathing changed, the way my body tensed because he moved closer to me.

“I told Hugh to give you time. You don’t have to decide right now.”

His voice trailed off, but I barely heard him. My mind was already spiraling.

Damien’s hand touched my arm, grounding me back to reality. I looked up at him, and he offered me a comforting smile.

“You don’t have to do this,” he said quietly. “I can tell Hugh you’re not interested.”

I shook my head. “Don’t.”

His brows furrowed. “Are you sure?”

I met his gaze. “Yeah. I want to help. I want to take Aiden down.”

Damien studied me, searching my face for any hesitation.

“You said you were scared. You don’t have to force yourself into this.”

“I’m still scared Damien, but if my help is important then I don’t mind helping.” Damien was about to speak but I beat him to it.

“After everything, Aiden did to me…” I swallowed hard. “After everything he did to us… he deserves to pay.”

Damien’s fingers brushed against mine before he slowly curled his hand into a fist. His jaw tensed as he nodded.

“Alright,” he murmured, in a dark tone. “Then we make him pay.”

I took a slow breath. “So What’s the plan?”

Damien exhaled, stepping back slightly. “There isn’t any plan yet but all I know is that we have to be careful. Aiden’s not going to let his guard down, especially not now. He thinks he has the upper hand.”

I frowned. “We are going to demolish his fucking ego.”

Damien shook his head. “Yeah.”

There wasn’t any drop of satisfaction in his tone and I figured something was off.

“You don’t sound too happy,” I said slowly.

“I just don’t want you to be involved in this.” He voiced out. “I want you safe.”

“You are going to be there by my side and you will keep me safe, just like you have always done,” I said calmly.

“Please don’t strip me of the opportunity to gain the revenge I desire,” I added.

Damien sighed. “Since you put it that way. I have no choice but to push away my worries aside and let you do this.”

“That’s the spirit.” I smiled.

Hugh’s words echoed in my head during that moment.

‘She wouldn’t hesitate to help us.’

He was right.

I wasn’t afraid anymore.

I was ready.