The Royal Contract

She stared at the clock, counting the minutes as the long hands ticked by. She had been in this position so many times before.

Somehow, she thought she would get used to it, but nothing had changed. She was still as anxious as ever as she waited.

"Are you sure you want to be here?" Her husband asked as he stood behind where she sat. He placed his warm hands on her cold shoulders while giving her comfort.

He probably sensed her agitation as she sat restlessly on the couch. Since she received the phone call, she could not keep still. She had waited and waited until this moment.

The security downstairs already informed them that their guests had finally arrived. And they were on their way up.

"I want to be here, Alex. Besides, he called me. He said he needed my help." Dani put her hand over his, squeezing him gently to assure him she was ok despite how she felt.

All her young life, she believed she was an only child. Therefore, she could not decide whether having a brother was a blessing or a curse, especially when he was involved in illegal activities.

However, she could not turn her back on him when he seemed to be changing his ways. If she could be instrumental in his new life, she would stand by his brother's side, just like what he promised her father before he died.

"How can we be sure that we can trust him?" Alex still appeared skeptical about her brother's intentions. He still did not trust him.

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She could not blame her husband if he felt that way about her brother. After all, her brother was far from being a saint. Frankly, it was the exact opposite.

Her brother used to be the devil on Earth. She could still remember how she hated him when she learned about his involvement in their kidnapping.

She kept seeing the image of Alex, who she almost lost because of the torture he endured. Luckily, their security rescued them from his hands.

"I don't. But I have to try." She turned to her husband, tilting her face until she could look into his eyes. "I have to give him a chance."

She wanted to believe that he still had goodness left inside him. And she could save a man like her brother despite his dark past and devious character.

"I don't know where you get the courage to give people second chances. But that is the reason I love you in the first place. You have such a big heart." Alex leaned over the couch until she felt her breath on her exposed skin, loving the burning sensation he created.

Finally, he moved around the couch and knelt before her until they were at eye level. Then, he placed a soft kiss on her lips.

She loved the feeling of his closeness and the knowledge that she would never be alone. Alex would always support her even if he disagreed with her at times.

"Uuummmhhh!" She moaned as she got carried away.

She wanted more, but something interrupted their moment, making Alex pull away. It quickly snapped her back to the present, remembering that she was meeting with her brother.

Then, she realized it was not their guest that had interrupted them but a loud cry that filled the room. She guessed her brother had to wait as she dealt with her little prince.

"I got this. Why don't you sit and wait." Alex said as he stopped her from moving out of her position.

He gave her one last kiss before he moved toward the nursery where their son was stealing the scene. All she could do was watch her husband disappear from her sight before she focused her awareness on the knock on the door.

"They are here." She mumbled as she stood from the couch and marched toward the door.

She was not afraid of her brother. That was not the issue here. However, she could not fathom the trouble her brother had put himself into.

He died, for God's sake. Yet, he was alive, hiding from the enemies that wanted him dead. Therefore, what else would he need from her?

Still, she could not close her door on him. Not when he reached out and sought her help. She had to try if there was a chance that she could help him change his lifestyle, drop his life in crime and embrace the life of peace.

"Dani," Her brother greeted her as soon as she opened her door. Then, his warm body enveloped hers in an embrace.

Of course, she was surprised since she never thought of him as a hugger. Anyway, she returned the gesture with a light tap on his back before letting him go.

"Gerald, please come in." She widened the door, welcoming her brother and his friends into her house. But when her eyes looked beyond his brother's shoulder, her eyes landed on a man that was not hard to miss. She believed he would always stand out from the rest.

"Samson, is that you?" She did not expect to see the big man with her brother.

She still believed she owed her and Alex's life to him

The last time she saw the man was after the case against Nick was officially closed.

She offered to help him and his family, but he declined. He accepted a small amount of financial aid from her, but that was it.

"Yes, Ms. Dani." The big cuddly man responded with a friendly smile while bowing his head.

She guessed her friendly giant had decided to return to his former employer. But still, her questions just kept increasing as she turned to the other man behind Gerald.

"Mike." Of course, she knew him. They had faced each other in some cases they handled, not together but on the opposite side of the table.

Nevertheless, she did not expect that the two would be working together. She was not even aware that they were close friends.

"I am sorry for dropping like this unannounced," Gerald said as they settled in the living room.

She could not read anything from her brother's expression, but she noticed the stunned reaction from the other two.

"I hope you have a good explanation for it." She always had a choice, but she opted to help him in whatever he had put himself into now.

Gerald and Mike took the long sofa while Samson remained standing like he was their security. On the other hand, she took the lone chair adjacent to them.

"I do. And I hope you will hear me out before throwing me to the street." Gerald responded with a solemn smile. This time, his face changed from the cold and aloof signature she associated him with to something different.

"Where is Alex?" He asked before she could say anything as his eyes wandered around the room.

She knew that Alex might not be here, but he had his ears directed at them. She remembered that he had left the two-way baby monitor on. He was probably listening to their every conversation.

Besides, their security was probably monitoring them closely through the cameras around the living room. They would jump into the scene if they suspected danger.

"He will join us shortly. He is just handling something important." She informed him, not fully disclosing her husband's whereabouts. "Would you like something to drink?" She offered, still not forgetting how to be a gracious host.

She stood up from her chair and moved toward the bar with several fantastic selections they could choose from. But she would not care. She was not a fan of drinking, after all.

"Great, because I want him to hear what I have in mind," Gerald spoke to her.

"Wait!" Suddenly, Mike interrupted them, breaking his long silence. "Are you saying..." Mike paused. It was as if still in disbelief as he looked at his friend and then at her.

"What?" She questioned when she realized that the two seemed to converse privately.

She could only look from one man to the other as she grew more confused than earlier. "Would you stop with that?" She waved her fingers at their faces.

"Yes, Mike." Gerald seemed to confirm something as he nodded his head. "Dani is my sister." Her brother finally revealed.

Now, she was the one stupefied. She always doubted that Gerald would tell a soul about his secret. But here he was, admitting to this man who he was.

"That is insane." It was obvious that Mike could not accept the fact. But who would ever think that she was related to this man?

To the other people who had seen them together, she always told them it was because of the cases they were working together. After all, Gerald was her boss before he died.

When Mike turned his attention to her, she nodded. "Yes, that is true." She confirmed Gerald's claim. "Gerald is my half-brother." She added, hoping that would explain their situation.

She poured two glasses of their finest liquor and walked toward the two, serving their drinks. She believed Mike needed it more than her brother.

"Now, that is out in the open. Shall we proceed to the reason why we were here?" It seemed that Gerald was in a hurry to deal with his problem.

Would she like it or not? But she had already committed to her promise. She could not back out now, knowing that this could be the turning point in his life. She had to support him, whatever it took.