The Royal Contract

He had high respect for the man, buried in this ground, for being a worthy adversary, but he could not say he felt a tremendous loss since he never knew him as a father.

Still, he knew him as a man of vision who had taken the business industry by storm. No one was able to stop him from taking what he wanted. A man he would remember for his accomplishments.

ETHAN HAMILTON

A GREAT MAN, A WONDERFUL AND LOVING HUSBAND

THE BEST DAD

Written on the epitaph on top of his tomb.

.....

“Dad...” Gerald initially uttered but stopped. Hearing it from his lips still felt odd. He still could not get used to it.

He never imagined that this man, who his father, the one who raised him, thought him to despise with all his guts, could be his biological father.

It just seemed insane. Like this happened only in story books. But life had always been full of twisted lies and half-truths. At least in his world, that had been the case.

The only person who he believed had truly loved him was his mother, but she passed away too soon, leaving him to fend for himself.

He was a young boy who had to survive in a world of cruelty and injustice. Where real guns were his toys and the wrong was his right. Killing, robbery, assault, and assorted crimes were the norm that he had grown up and lived with until now.

So, how could he come out of that kind of darkness? “Tell me, Dad. How could I easily turn my life around and say I could be just like Dani?” Pure and innocent.

His world was tainted with all the madness he had to endure his entire life. Horrible experiences molded his mind and his very being.

Kill or be killed was the number one rule he had to engrave in his young mind. Love, pardon, and mercy were words that did not exist in their vocabulary.

He had to fight for everything he got because someone else would be waiting to take his place. He had to take what he wanted with force or be left behind with nothing.

The last rule? Do not break any of the rules.

The punishment? He would end up in a body bag, buried where no one would find his body. No one would look for him. No one would miss him.

“If only I did not live in that world...” He looked at his father’s tomb, thinking he had been living in hell almost his entire life. “Maybe my life could have been different.”

But the fact was, he had thrived in that world, and now he was ready to step into the position left to him by his other father. Ethan might not have given him his Kingdom, but his other father did.

He was also soon to become King.

The one that would rule the underworld organization, dominating the criminal syndicates that operate under the shadows of the City and even the world.

“Maybe if you have stepped up a little sooner, but you were years too late.” He spoke up again as a slight wind carried his words.

Dry leaves flew on the grassy lawn as the breeze slightly increased its strength. The branches of the trees gracefully swayed as if dancing with the wind.

But this did not bother him as his gaze continued to stay on his father’s grave. His focus did not waver as Gerald suddenly remembered something Ethan had said to him.

One day in your life, when you least expect it, you will realize that you can be ten times better than me if you only try hard enough. You are the King of your life, your world, so rule it.

Yes, he would be King but not the King that Ethan had in his mind. He was past pretending that he could still change. It was his world, and no one else would rule it except him.

Then, a vibration in his pocket alerted him of a call. Quickly, he grabbed it and answered, seeing the name on the screen. The last time she called him, it was about their father. He had not spoken to her since.

“Yes, Dani.” He answered immediately, wanting to know what was on her mind.

He had just learned that she had officially accepted her position in the Empire that Ethan had left behind. He had no problem with that, glad she was now taking over.

“Are you free today? Do you think you can meet with me?” Her sister asked him over the line. Her voice was still the same, determined but graceful.

However, he could tell she was still a little nervous, although she tried hard not to show it. It was like the first day she had worked with him in the case, but she had proven to him that she could work on her nerves.

She fought that case with a tremendous passion, determined to prove to everyone that she belonged at that table. Gerald firmly believed that she would still do the same. She would be a worthy adversary, just like her father and husband.

“Ok. Would you care to meet me at my place?” He suggested, knowing that she had no choice. She needed him. So, he would dictate his demand.

Besides, a business setting was not appropriate for a family affair. Now that they were family, she should be able to come and go to his place as she wished.

“Ok. Could you text me the address and the time you are available?” Dani asked without hesitation this time.

“Sure, I am sending it right now.” He texted his place while talking to her on the speaker phone. “What about in thirty minutes? I am about to go home.”

“That is fine with me. I’ll see you then.” She probably saw his address by now. Then, she was gone.

She welcomed him into her family. It was time he also did the same. Well, it was worth a try to make a bond with his remaining family. That was if Dani would agree with him.

What was the saying? Let us bury the hatchet.