Chapter 61

Alison

Damien and I sat in the living room, the next day. While Hugh stood near a whiteboard, cigarette in hand, with a firm expression on his face.

The faint scent of smoke curled around him as he flicked the ash onto the floor.

Damien leaned back, eyeing the board. “I really want to know how you got that board.”

Hugh exhaled a cloud of smoke. “Can we just focus on the plan?”

Damien shrugged. “I’m just saying, it’s a little much.”

Hugh rolled his eyes. “Noted but I’m not going to do anything about it.”

Damien furrowed his eyebrows but Hugh seemed not to notice.

He tapped the cigarette against a nearby ashtray.

“Now, let’s get started. First off, thank you for joining in, Alison.” His eyes locked on mine. “I know you’ve been through hell because of Aiden, and I don’t expect you to join but I’m glad you did.”

I swallowed hard, my nails digging into my palm. “You don’t need to thank me I’m just doing what’s right.”

Hugh nodded. “Good. Anyway, I intend to keep this plan simple. We are just going to give Aiden a taste of his own medicine.”

I frowned. “What do you mean?”

Hugh smirked, glancing at Damien. “Aiden used you to spy on Damien and We’re going to do the same.”

“So you want me to spy on Aiden?”

Hugh nodded. “I’m glad you’re catching up.”

Damien’s face darkened instantly. “That doesn’t sound like a good idea.”

Hugh scoffed. “You’re letting your emotions take over again.”

Damien’s jaw tightened. “I’m being logical.”

“She’ll be safe,” Hugh assured him.

“This isn’t about being safe,” Damien shot back. “Gemma already told Aiden about Alison and me. He knows there’s something between us. If she shows up at his doorstep, he won’t trust her. He might even try to kill her.”

Hugh hesitated, tapping the cigarette against the ashtray again. “You have a point.”

I folded my arms. “There’s also something else that needs to be considered .”

Both men looked at me.

I took a breath. “Damien saving me has already made Aiden aware that I know he probably orchestrated the whole attack .” I glanced at Damien. “He’s not dumb, he will surely know I came to spy on him or I am working for Damien if I show up.”

Hugh cursed under his breath, running a hand through his hair. “Well, that messes things up but—“

Damien cut Hugh off. “The plan won’t work, Hugh. There are too many holes.”

Hugh didn’t look convinced. He went quiet for a while then he spoke up.

“You’re not thinking about this from Aiden’s perspective.” He turned back to the board, grabbed a marker, and scribbling quickly.

He drew a stick figure labeled Aiden and another labeled Damien.

Damien sighed. “Can you just explain without the damn board?”

Hugh chuckled. “I’m trying to make this fun and interactive.”

Damien shot him a glare.

“Fine.” Hugh tossed the marker to the floor and sank into the chair beside us.

Then he leaned forward, placing his elbows on his knees. “The key is making Aiden believe he’s still in control.”

I frowned. “How?”

Hugh smirked. “By making him believe you’re on his side again.”

I tensed. “That won’t be easy especially because of everything he knows.”

“Listen,” Hugh continued. “You’ll act like you have no idea that Aiden is the real enemy. You’ll let him that yes Damien had told you, he had kidnapped you, and that he is trying to hurt you—but that you don’t believe Damien. You feel Damien is trying to get you to turn on him.”

I bit my lip, considering it.

“More importantly,” Hugh added, “you’ll make him believe that you’ve got Damien wrapped around your little finger. That he saved you because he’s in love with you, and that you can make him do whatever you want.”

Damien stiffened beside me. “And what exactly would Aiden do with that information?”

Hugh smirked. “Use it to his advantage. He’ll think he can use her to get to you. He wouldn’t want to kill her because he would see her as an asset.”

I felt a chill run down my spine. “And while doing that, I gather intel.”

Hugh nodded. “According to some information I gathered when I came to the city Aiden is working on something big, and it has to do with politics. If we can find out what, we’ll have leverage.”

Damien let out a low whistle. “Damn. That’s actually brilliant.”

I exhaled slowly. “One problem—how do I get back into Aiden’s life ? I can’t just show up that would look suspicious.”

Hugh grinned. “That’s where I come in.”

Damien’s shoulders tensed again.

“We’re going to use my past grudge against you to our advantage,” Hugh said. “We’ll make it look like I still hate you like I was trying to make Damien see you were up to no good. And when he didn’t listen…” He paused dramatically. “I kidnapped you.”

I raised a brow. “And?”

“You escape,” Hugh smirked. “I chase you through the city until you end up at Aiden’s mansion.”

Damien’s brows furrowed. “And then?”

Hugh took a long drag of his cigarette. “I shoot you.”

Damien shot up from his seat. “Absolutely not.”

I clenched my jaw. “No, wait—this could work.”

Damien turned to me, eyes burning. “Are you insane? You want him to shoot you?”

Hugh shrugged. “Aiden won’t believe you ran back to him unless you’re in real danger. It has to be convincing.”

Damien crossed his arms. “And what if your plan goes south and she dies?”

Hugh rolled his eyes. “I’ll be nearby. If no one comes for her, I’ll take her away before it’s too late.”

Damien wasn’t convinced. “This is reckless.”

Hugh exhaled. “We don’t have any better options.”

Damien hissed.

“You need to get rid of your doubts Damien.” Hugh said. “things would fall in place and she will be fine.”

Damien grunted and Hugh ignored him.

He stood on his feet. “So before we can proceed with our plan I need to check in with my intel. I need to know where Aiden is and his movement this would help us a lot.”

During that moment Hugh’s phone rang.

“speak of the devil. “ he said, mouthing an excuse me before he left to answer the call.

Damien grunted once again as he turned to look at me.

“I don’t like it.” He scoffed.

“What?”

“The plan. It’s too risky.”

I reached out, touching his arm. “We don’t have a choice.”

He turned to me, his eyes searching mine. “I don’t want to lose you.”

“You won’t.” I squeezed his hand.

Damien sighed, then slowly leaned in, pressing a soft kiss to my head.

At that exact second, Hugh walked back in.

“Well, well,” Hugh drawled, smirking. “If you two are done with your little romance scene, I’ve got the news.”

We both pulled away quickly.

Hugh tossed his cigarette into the ashtray and crossed his arms. “I got all the intel we need.”

Damien’s jaw clenched. “And?”

Hugh’s smirk deepened. “We execute the plan tomorrow evening.”

Damien was about to speak but I shot him an assuring gaze and that seemed to keep him quiet but I could still see the worrisome look in his eyes.