The Royal Contract

His eyes could not stop staring at the evidence pointing in his direction. It seemed his enemies found a way to tie all the knots and pin most of their largest shipment under his name.

They also had evidence implicating him in most of the drug distribution in the major cities in the country. They were inconclusive but enough to create reasonable doubt.

It was perfect.

"Damn! I should have prepared for this." He was not expecting that the tables would turn. His plan was going against him.

He wondered if his enemies had been planning all this, even before he had taken over his father. That was the only explanation for it.

Don Lorenzo would seem equipped with all the right tools to take him down. It could only mean he had been working on his downfall longer than he had thought.

"How could you be so blind?" He even saw the report that put him on the scene of his sister's abduction.

Although he would admit that he had facilitated the abduction, he was not the mastermind behind it. Nick planned it by himself, but he could not deny he used it to his advantage.

Still, he should have known. His father would turn in his grave if he learned he had allowed their enemies to trick him.

"I guess this is for the best," Gerald uttered as he closed the file and placed everything in a safe.

He guessed it was a blessing in disguise. If this did not happen, he would not realize he wanted out of the organization. He might have lost Haley for good if he had continued to lead the organization.

Now, he had a chance to be free from the fate assigned to him since his birth. He could be happy with the woman he loved if only he could escape this situation.

Nevertheless, "I have to find a way," he silently mumbled as he grabbed his phone. He knew he could not let them get away with this.

He could not let them blame the dead because he could not defend himself. The case would be resolved and closed.

Those who wanted him out of the picture would get an out-of-jail-free card. And if that happened, it would be hard to come after them again.

"This is Gerald. We need to meet." He said on the line after dialing a number.

He knew, this time, he could not count on the authorities to help him out of this loop. The evidence was too overwhelming against him.

He believed the authorities might use this information against him to save themselves once the evidence had reached the press.

They would need a scapegoat. Unfortunately, despite his cooperation, he would be the perfect target. They either would resurrect him from the dead or finish him off to finally put a period on this case.

"When and where?" The voice on the other line asked without asking why. He knew if he needed someone to help him in his current situation, this person would be the one.

He just had to learn to trust people and put his faith in them. He could not continue to doubt their loyalty because his father told him he could never count on anyone.

"Tonight." He quickly said on the phone. "I am coming to you." He instructed as he turned to look outside his window, watching the darkness swallow everything in its path.

Unexpectedly, the thought of his biological father came into his mind. He could not help but wonder what kind of life he would have if Ethan had brought him up.

One thing he could think of, he would not be heading an illegal underground organization. He probably would not be leaving this secret life.

He would be free to live his life the way he saw fit. And not live under the shadow of the man he thought was his father.

"I will be expecting you." He heard the other party respond before he ended the call, inserting his phone back into his pocket.

As he stared at the empty alley, suddenly, he realized the kind of life his father had when he was alive. He had lived alone despite being married to his mother. He never had a child because he never treated him as a son.

Joaquin, the father who raised him, had never discovered how to love because he thought he never had a heart.

"You are wrong, Dad." He mumbled as he thought of what his father had told him. "I am unlike you because we don't share the same blood."

He never trusted any of his family or his men, thinking that everyone was after him. He could only imagine the horrendous life that his father had led.

Luckily, he realized before it was too late that it was not the life he wanted for himself. He had acknowledged he had a heart that could love.

He took his phone out and dialed another number. Then, he waited for the man to answer his call. It did not take him long before another voice joined the conversation.

"I need you to drive me somewhere later." He spoke on the phone. "We need to go somewhere."

This time, he was taking him with him on this trip. He would include him in all his plans. He was not keeping anything from him again.

"Where are we going?" The man on the line asked. "Gerald, what are you planning?" He sounded skeptical, maybe slightly paranoid.

But he could not blame him for his concern. It only confirmed his earlier decision that he should stop doubting his loyalty to him.

"I will explain everything later, Mike." He told him as he imagined his friend's reaction when Mike learned of the other secrets that he had been keeping from him.

He wanted to tell him everything, but not on the phone. His friend deserved the truth after all that he had done for him.

Besides, he could use all the help he could get from the people he called his family and friends. Without them, he would be dead by now, especially Mike.

"Whatever that is, I hope you know what you are doing," Mike questioned as he heard his friend inhale a heavy sigh.

Gerald wanted to assure his friend that he had everything under control, but this time, he was not even closed enough.

But he had a plan, but there was no guarantee it would work. Somehow, he hoped the people he would meet tonight could suggest something better.

Because, truthfully, he was running out of options.

"I hope so." He only replied, believing he had nothing more to say as he hung up the phone to prepare for their late-night rendezvous.

"Sir, are we leaving tonight?" Samson must have heard his conversation with Mike when he entered just a few minutes ago to check on him.

"Yes, we are." Gerald knew he could trust the big man.

After hearing what he did for her sister, Dani, when she was under captivity, he knew then that the man did not belong in their organization.

He thought of killing him, but something stopped him. In the end, he thought of giving him a new assignment. He guessed that was one decision he made right.

Now, the man felt he owed him his life. But, of course, he was not asking him to pay for it. But he was glad he stayed by his side.

"Tell me when Mike arrives." Dismissing the man from his presence.

Once the big man was gone, he fired up his computer and focused on the screen. Several minutes later, he stared at a figure moving on the tiny screen.

"You are working yourself too hard." He muttered, worried about the woman on the monitor.

He often saw her working hard. He could not help but be frightened that something would happen to her and their baby.

He wished he could talk to her and not just stare at her on the other side of the camera. He missed her so much. And he longed to touch his child on her stomach.

"Soon, we will be together again." He promised, hoping the wind would carry his voice until it reached her.

He was doing all of this for her. And he could not wait to end this situation as soon as possible. But things seemed to be going against him as his plans were not working in his favor.

Still, he was not giving up. It was just a minor bump in his plans. He had never given up on a challenge. Not even death won over his determination. Therefore, he was hopeful that he could pull this through.

"I think..." He paused as his fingers traced her image on the screen. "I think I love you."

What else could it be?

He finally admitted to having a heart. Therefore, there was every chance that he could learn to love. So far, he knew he felt a strong emotion for Haley.

Was it love? He believed it was because it was something he had never felt before. And he was willing to bet his life on the woman he loved and their unborn child.