The Royal Contract

The room was in complete chaos as people moved from left and right while instructions floated in the air. Computers, telephone lines, and machines beeped, clicked, and rang in the three sections of the room as everyone worked to make their case.

Papers, pictures, maps, and layouts had scattered on the large table as people discussed the possible plans.

"If he is involved, why can't we find dirt on him?" The man in charge of the case asked him. The older man started picking papers, only to throw them back on the desk.

On the other hand, he remained calm and silently sat on a chair on the other side of the desk. He did not want to say anything until his boss finished his ranting.

"All of this is fucking useless if we can't find anything that links him to all these crimes." The Captain added, looking frustrated as he ran his fingers through his thin hair.

If his boss did not stop whatever he was doing, he would end up with no hair left on his head. But, of course, all he could do was wait and watch.

"And where is Gerald?" He asked him again for the fourth time. "Mike, I am getting tired of this merry-go-round business."

His boss stood from his chair and moved to the other end of the room, whispering something to one of his agents before returning to the table.

"I told you. Gerald is still working on the other evidence. You need to be patient and give him time." Mike finally broke his silence and answered the head of this operation.

He wished he could give him more, but at that moment, he had to stick to their plan, his and Gerald's. He had to buy his friend some more time to do what he had to do.

"If your source does not pull through with this plan, I will have no choice but to pin this all on him." The head of the task force warned him.

Nonetheless, he already knew the plan. He was the one who had volunteered his friend's surrender in the first place.

In exchange for Gerald's cooperation with the authorities, he would have immunity and witness protection. But, of course, it would all depend on the information he would give them.

"I know. That is why Gerald is ensuring he has all his ducks in order. He did not want the mastermind to get away with this." Mike assured his boss that his client was fully cooperating with the law.

Thankfully, nobody suspected his involvement in the underworld industry. Or else, he might need a lawyer himself.

For now, he had to focus on keeping his friend from jail as long as possible. Hopefully, he never had to spend a night in there.

But as long as the authorities believed they had something more to give, they could continue to dig up more dirt on the organization's operation. And hopefully, they could clean Gerald of any liabilities without implicating him.

"I hope you know what you are doing, Mike. I still think we could not trust this man." His boss had always liked Gerald because he was one of the most celebrated lawyers in the city.

Gerald had helped countless people with his pro bono cases and charity works. But now that they knew his involvement in the mafia business, they saw him differently.

Everything he had done had vanished and erased. And what people would remember was the life of crime he never chose for himself.

"Let us give him a chance. Maybe he will pull through." He told his boss.

Frankly, he never thought that this time would come. His friend would turn his back on his legacy. He thought they would grow old together in this business or die young. But never surrender to the authorities.

But he guessed a woman changed everything. Add the child on the way. Gerald gradually changed. He did not see it coming.

It was too late when he noticed it. He could not stop Gerald from making a one-hundred-eighty-degree turn.

"Let me know when he contacted you. I knew I should have put more tails on him. He is too slick for his own good." The Captain turned his head left and right, still looking desperate to hear news from him.

Mike could only guess that he was receiving heat from the people in the higher-ups. They must be demanding answers and results from him.

But he knew they had to stick to their gut if they would come out of this alive and free. He had to trust Gerald because he had never led him astray.

But was he truly ready to change his ways? That was still something he had been thinking about until now. He had lived in this life since he could remember. Could he also be content in an ordinary civilian life?

"Since I am not needed here anymore. I better attend to my other clients." He told the people near him. "I will call you as soon as I hear from Gerald."

He also had to warn his friend that they were looking for him. He still could not determine how his friend could ditch his security details without much of a fight.

But that was why he was their leader. He could be two steps ahead of them. If not for their setup, nobody could have shot him or caught him.

And he would have easily disposed of his enemies. But he lost focus when he met Hailey. He left himself vulnerable to attack. Mike believed the only way to bail his friend out of this situation was to end the organization for good.

"Keep your line open. I want you available anytime." The Captain instructed before he could leave the premises.

But he had no clients to meet. Nevertheless, he had another business to deal with. And he had to score to settle as he entered his car and drove away from the place.

Still, where was he going? Where would he find her? Who was she? What was her name?

Who was the unconscious girl he took home?