Chapter 62

Alison

Later the next day, Hugh brought out a bottle of whiskey and poured drinks for all of us. He lifted his glass with a smirk.

“To us,” he said.

Damien raised an eyebrow but didn’t pick up his glass. “Let’s not celebrate too soon.”

Hugh rolled his eyes. “Come on, Damien. Have a little faith. Things are going to turn out just fine.”

Damien scoffed, taking a slow sip from his glass. “That’s what you said last time we went up against Aiden. It didn’t exactly end well.”

Hugh chuckled. “Touché.”

He leaned back against the couch, stretching his legs out as he swirled the amber liquid in his glass. “You know, Alison, Damien wasn’t always the brooding, overprotective type. Back in the day, he was the one causing all the trouble.”

I raised an eyebrow. “Oh really?”

Damien let out a groan. “Hugh, don’t.”

Hugh grinned, clearly enjoying himself. “Oh, I absolutely will.” He turned to me, his eyes gleaming with mischief. “There was this one time when we were kids—maybe fifteen or sixteen—Damien and I snuck into this fancy hotel. He swore up and down that we wouldn’t get caught. Said he had everything under control.”

Hugh let out a chuckle, shaking his head. “Not even twenty minutes in, security was chasing us down the hallway. Damien, being the idiot he was, decided to jump into the hotel’s pool from the second floor.”

I gasped, turning to Damien. “You jumped?”

Damien sighed, rubbing his temples. “It wasn’t that high.”

Hugh snorted. “He belly-flopped.”

I burst out laughing, and Damien shot Hugh a glare.

“You’re enjoying this way too much,” Damien muttered.

Hugh grinned. “Absolutely.” He turned back to me. “Long story short, I had to distract the security guards while Damien climbed out of the pool like a half-drowned rat.”

Damien sighed, shaking his head. “Why do I even let you talk?”

Hugh shrugged. “Because I make things interesting, and I know how to lighten the mood.”

Hugh took another sip of his drink before glancing at me. “Anyways Alison, Damien used to be a reckless pain in the ass.”

I smiled, resting my chin on my hand. “I kind of like to see a bit of reckless Damien.”

Damien scoffed. “Well, reckless Damien got me into a lot of trouble so I stopped being him.”

We continued drinking, and at some point, I realized I had definitely had too much.

My head felt light, my body warm, and before I knew it, I was spitting out half-formed words that didn’t make sense even to me.

Damien let out a low chuckle, shaking his head. “Alright, that’s enough for you.”

I pouted. “I’m fine.”

“You’re drunk.”

I giggled. “Maybe just a little.”

Damien sighed, standing up. “Come on. Time to get you to bed.”

I let him pull me up, my legs wobbling slightly.

He wrapped an arm around my waist as we made our way to the bedroom.

The moment we got inside, I wrapped my arms around him tightly.

He stilled. “What are you doing?”

I tilted my head up to look at him, my vision slightly blurred. “You know you’re not going to see me for a while.”

His expression softened, and for a moment, he just looked at me. Then, slowly, his hands moved up my body, his touch sending an electrifying feeling across my body.

He leaned in, his lips brushing against mine, and just like that, the world melted away.

We didn’t stop. Round after round, until our bodies were exhausted and tangled together beneath the sheets. I had never felt more alive, more wanted. And when sleep finally took us, I felt safe in his arms.

***

When I woke up, the room was bathed in the golden hues of the evening sun.

I blinked, stretching slightly, before turning to see Damien lying beside me, his arm draped lazily over my waist.

I let out a small yawn. “How long was I out?”

Damien smirked, his voice husky from sleep. “A long time. You really tired me out.”

I laughed softly. “I remember you saying one time that I can’t handle you.”

He pulled me closer, his lips brushing against my shoulder. “Mmm. Want to do it again? So I can really show you that you can’t handle me.”

I rolled my eyes playfully, but before I could respond, a loud knock sounded on the door.

“It’s showtime,” Hugh called from the other side.

Damien sighed, reluctantly pulling away. “Guess that’s our cue.”

I sat up, rubbing my eyes. As much as I wanted to stay in this bed forever, reality was calling.

I slipped out from under the sheets and made my way to the bathroom.

When I came out, Damien was waiting for me. He cupped my face and pressed a kiss to my lips.

“Be careful,” he murmured.

I nodded. “I will.”

Hugh groaned from the hallway. “Enough with the mushy stuff. Let’s go.”

I shot Damien one last glance before stepping out.

Hugh and I got into the car, and I waved Damien goodbye.

“We’re heading to Silver Estate,” he said as he started the engine.

I frowned. “Why?”

“That’s where Aiden is,” Hugh explained. “My intel told me he moved to flat 2B when he came back to the city.”

My brows furrowed. “That flat is owned by my father. He had given it to me when he died.”

Hugh nodded. “My intel also told me, he’s been living there with some chick.”

I scoffed. “That would be my stepsister.”

Hugh let out a low whistle. “Damn. Aiden really has no boundaries, huh?”

I shook my head. “None.”

We drove in silence for a while until Hugh suddenly pulled over. He turned to me, his expression surprisingly serious.

“Remember the plan,” he said. “I kidnapped you, and planned to hide you in one of the abandoned houses, but you escaped. I chase after you until you end up at that flat up ahead.”

I nodded. “I got it, Hugh. You don’t have to keep repeating it.”

He gave me a small smirk. “Just making sure.”

I flashed him a warm look.

He sighed, rubbing the back of his neck. “Look, I know we never really saw eye to eye before, but I want to thank you once again for agreeing to do this.”

I nodded, feeling a strange warmth in my chest. “We’re in this together.”

He let out a breath before stepping out of the car.

I followed suit, my heartbeat picking up as Hugh pulled a rope from his pocket.

He tied it around my wrists—not too tight, just enough to look convincing.

“You ready?” he asked, in a low voice.

I watched as he cocked his gun and during that moment I nodded.

“I’m more than ready.”