The Royal Contract-Chapter 1288: Vanish without a trace

"Fuck, fuck, fuck!"

"Damn fuck!"

"Fuck!"

He heard several more curse words filling the room as soon as his office doors opened. He could sense someone else present inside the room, but he still refused to open his eyes.

He had been working from dawn, unable to sleep, even a wink last night. Therefore, it was only natural that he would feel sleepy and doze off in his office chair.

"This is bullshit." Another set of profanities followed, making it more difficult for him to return to sleep, especially when someone was causing all that commotion.

"Have you seen this?" He heard his unwanted visitor shout with disdain.

Of course, he had not. He had no idea what his friend was talking about, which was slowly piquing his curiosity as he opened his eyes to look at the man who was pacing before his desk.

His friend appeared agitated. Whatever he was staring at on his phone must be some trouble. He seldom saw his friend in a rattled state, just like now.

"No." He finally answered, running his fingers through his hair and rubbing his neck to remove the stiffness in his muscles. "What are you doing here, Mike?"

He asked since he only saw his friend a little while ago. Therefore, he could not understand why he would be back so soon to see him.

"What am I doing here?" Mike looked at him like he had gone mad. "The world is already on fire, and you are napping."

He finally straightened in his seat, deciding that his friend's visit might be something he should take seriously. He could see from his friend's expression that he was here, not for a social call.

Did something happen while he was napping that he did not know? Was it about Haley? Suddenly, he was wide awake and worried.

"What is it?" He anxiously asked. "Is something wrong with Haley?" He could feel cold sweat wash over him as he thought that something might have happened to her.

He could not care about his life or his business. But Haley was a different matter. When it came to her, he would not rest until he knew she was safe.

"No, Gerald. No, no, no." His friend shook his head, negating his assumption. "This has nothing to do with Haley." He clarified, walking closer to his desk.

Mike moved beside him and placed his phone on the surface of his desk, setting aside the papers he had been working on all morning.

"What is this?" He asked again, slightly confused but relieved that Haley had nothing to do with this. Still, he did not understand what the fuss was all about.

Did their enemies make another move? That seemed to be the only explanation for his friend's unusual behavior.

"I think you better check it yourself." His friend tinkered on his phone before showing him a video clip.

It seemed to be a recent post by a media outlet. He read the caption before listening to the correspondent narrated the story.

He did not say a word as he carefully analyzed the report. He wanted to hear the detail or at least what the reporter already discovered or was told.

"Ok." He calmly responded after he had seen the entire video that was already circulating on the internet.

He was not surprised anymore. He knew his enemies would use him as their scapegoat. He was already expecting it that much.

It was the reason he had reached out to Dani. He would need an ally to fight off his enemies. He accepted that he could not do it with just Mike in his corner.

"Why are you so calm?" His friend looked like he was about to have a heart attack. "And don't smile. There is nothing funny about this." Mike was about to explode when he saw the smirk on his lips.

He understood Mike's concern. His situation was no laughing matter. It was deadly serious.

Although he was already dead in the eyes of his enemies, it seemed they intended to bury him much deeper in the mud where not even his memory would live on, erasing his name from the phase of the earth.

"Relax, Mike." He moderately spoke as he thought of his next move. He did not see the point of letting his emotion decide for him. "I already saw this coming."

He already suspected that his enemies would take advantage of his death. It was their only chance to divert the attention of their enemies away from them.

"But the Commissioner already threw a press release expressing their belief that you were behind the criminal syndicate. He named you as the mafia head." Mike reiterated what the video was all about.

Of course, he saw what was on the report. He understood that his only chance of clearing his name had vanished in the wind.

His enemies were winning, while he just lost the card he held to gain his freedom. He had no way to overturn the situation unless he could get his hands on his original files. But that seemed impossible at the moment.

"I know," Gerald replied, maintaining his stoic expression. "And I think it is time for Plan B." He said, thinking there was no way to salvage his previous plans.

His friend, who had moved toward the window, suddenly turned to him with a puzzled look. Then, he quickly moved toward him, standing before his desk.

"Plan B?" He questioned. "What are you talking about?" Mike planted his hands on the surface of his table as he demanded an explanation. frёeωebɳovel.com

He intentionally withheld that information from him since he was unsure if he would ever need it. But now, it seemed he had no choice but to consider it.

The idea was a bit unorthodox. However, desperate times required desperate measures. And this was one.

"I will tell you all about it but not now." He said, deciding that they had no time to spare. "I think it is time for us to move and get out of here."

He could tell the authorities would not have second thoughts about putting him in the ring of fire. He was not naive.

They would not save their skin to protect him. Whatever arrangement he had with the authorities had just washed down the drain. He could kiss his freedom goodbye as far as they were concerned.

"I think you are right." Mike finally realized what he meant as he agreed with him. "They could be here any minute now with guns blazing."

He believed they would be lucky if they came out of this apartment with handcuffs and not inside a body bag.

Quickly, he placed all his valuable materials inside a bag, leaving nothing behind. He did not need the authorities to have more proof that he was alive.

"Did you get everything?" He asked when he walked toward the door with Mike and Samson following him closely.

Mike and Samson nodded, acknowledging his question as both carried bags in their hands. Then, they rushed on the hallways, down the steps, and out the backdoor.

Samson checked the alley to see if the coast was clear. So far, there were no signs of the law enforcers around. But he could already sense that they were near. So, they had no time to waste.

"Give me the keys." He asked Samson who had the keys to their getaway car.

Without another word, they rode the car in silence. Then, he drove the car out of the alley and away from the building that had been his home since the accident.

"Where are we going?" Mike asked as he sat on the passenger side.

He did not answer right away as he contemplated their situation. He and his friends were now a fugitive, hiding from the law.

And the first instinct in his mind was to get away and hide. Truthfully, he already had a plan for such a scenario. However, executing his idea was a bit tricky.

"I know a place where they could not find us." He did not give them any details since that was not important.

He could see that Mike and Samson looked skeptical, but nobody dared question him. They all sat quietly inside the car as he drove them to their destination.

He frequently looked in the rearview mirror, checking if someone was following them. So far, he had not noticed anyone suspicious.

"I trust that you know what you are doing, Gerald." Mike finally spoke through the roaring engine when they exited the freeway into a more remote area outside the city.

His friend had never questioned his plans before, and he doubted he was doing that now. Still, he believed his friend had many questions going through his mind.

After all, Mike's life would also change after this incident. He could never return to the life he had known. He would live a life on the other side of the fence. Instead of defending the law, he would be running away from it. Find adventures at m_v l|e-NovelFire

"I have a plan if that is what you are asking. But I will need your support and cooperation." Gerald glanced at his friend. "And you too." He spoke to Samson, who was sitting silently in the backseat.

"Yes, Sir." The big man responded affirmatively, seemingly trusting his words.

He liked the big cuddly guy since he met him. And he appreciated what he did for his sister. Since then, he knew he could trust him with his life.

So far, he had no reason to doubt his loyalty to him. And he intended to reward that handsomely. But for now, their safety and freedom were his priority.

"Ok. What is it?" Mike asked, appearing to trust him with his life.

"We have to disappear." Vanish without a trace.