The Royal Contract

Chapter 976

Chapter 976: Alive?

This older man might only be planting ideas in his head, telling him lies. Still, he would like to listen to the rest of his tale. After all, he had nothing to lose when he had the upper hand.

“You cast aside our advice as if it meant nothing but shit while you embraced the word of our enemies like it was fucking gold.” His guest uttered in disgust as he finally stood from his chair and slammed his hands on the desk to make his point.

Still, he did not take that as life-threatening but as his mentor, expressing his disappointment. He could tell that his friend almost pulled out his gun, but he signaled him to stand down.

“Are you accusing our leader of concerting with the enemy?” Mike finally spoke up in his defense. He was also outraged by what the other man had said.

“Mike, let him speak. I think he is just explaining his actions.” Gerald calmly stopped his friend from losing his temper.

It was not the time to lose their cool since he wanted to hear what the rest of the man had to say about him. However, he was partially alarmed by what the man had implied with his accusations.

“What are you saying, Don?” It seemed he knew something that he did not. It might be why he was losing the support of the parties in the organization. “Shall we cut the bullcrap?”

.....

Don might have fed them with these lies, or he had done something he was not even aware of, and now, he was paying the price. But he was done listening to bullshit, wanting to know the root of the problem.

Still, he had to determine the truth before it went beyond his control. He also wished to know if he could still trust this man that had his back for as long as he could remember.

Or should he end his miserable life right here and right now?

“Rosley is not who he says he is,” Don said with a facial expression void of emotion.

He could not read his thoughts, whether the man was telling him the truth. But what he implied was huge. It would mean that he had lost his touch. Maybe his mentor was right about him.

Don Lorenzo fixed his coat, straightening it before stepping away from his desk. Then, he stared at him one last time before turning around, ready to leave.

“Wait!” He shouted at the man before the older man could take another step.

He moved out of his chair and walked toward him. He did not want their conversation to end in a stalemate. He wanted to know where he stood. Was he still an enemy or an ally?

“You can shoot me in the back if you don’t believe a word I just said. But I am telling you the truth.” The man turned around and faced him. “I like you. I even love you like a son.” Don’s hands landed on both sides of his cheek.

“But if you don’t correct your ways. You will lose not only me but the entire organization.” He spoke gently, like a father, advising his son.

He could hear the warning in his words, but not a threat to his life. He was still an ally, but only if he did what his mentor told him. He might be the head of this organization, but without the support of its leaders, he might as well put his head on a spike.

“I hear you.” Gerald finally answered him, grabbing him by the shoulders to reassure him.

Still, he had to conduct his investigation into these new allegations. In their world, there was no absolute certainty except death. The rest was a power game. It was either kill or get killed.

At that moment, there was a gun pointed at his head. Whoever was holding the trigger was still having second thoughts. He had the choice of convincing him not to pull it or shooting him first. But what was the wiser move?

“Good!” The man said as he let go of him and continued on his way, exiting his office with his security without looking back.

He watched his back disappear from his line of vision, but he still kept staring. He debated within himself whether to believe his last words. Did he become weak and soft, as his mentor claimed?

“Do you believe him?” Mike did not like to admit that he was right all along, but Gerald should have listened to him from the start.

“Oddly, I do.” Gerald could not discount the possibility since Mike had already warned him about his association with Haley and her family.

But he was still puzzled by the involvement of the members of the organization in his personal affair. It seemed that he was missing a piece of the puzzle. But he was not stopping until he solved this riddle.

“Do you want me to dig deeper into Haley and her family?” Mike asked, seeing that Don might be telling them the truth.

“Yes.” He said, but he had already done that. He found nothing out of the ordinary. Or was he blinded by his growing affection for Haley that he could not see beyond what was in front of him?

Maybe with Mike’s help, his friend would find something he missed. He had to figure this out soon before the entire organization went against him and ousted him from his throne.

Would that be so bad? Yes. It would mean his death and the people he loved.

But he would not let that happen. As far as the organization was concerned, he was still the best choice to lead them. Don was too tired and old to take his place, while the rest were not as competent as he was. That was the only reason he still had no bullet on his head.

He was lucky that they had no better choice than him. But how long could he assuage them that he was still the only option if they kept losing their faith in him?

How long could he keep Haley alive?