The Royal Contract

He was just lucky that he got away. Fate still did him a favor by saving his life. Now, he had to be careful not to waste the opportunity to survive.

"I see that you are still alive." A voice came from the door, startling him awake. He quickly moved, causing him to agonize in pain, and dropped back on the bed in his previous position.

He did not realize that he had dozed off again. His efforts to move again must have exhausted his body, or the pain medication given to him made him drowsy, causing him to fall into a slumber.

Whatever it was, he had failed and lowered his guard down. Fortunately, the man standing in the doorway was a friend. His team had finally arrived to take him home.

"You had no idea how happy I am to see you, Joe." Ben smiled at his long-time friend and mate. "Where are the rest of the guys?" He asked, seeing that his teammate was alone.

Joe had joined the team before him after they had decided to leave the service. He was one of the people who convinced him that working for Alex would be better than trying his luck somewhere else.

So far, he believed he had made the right decision despite his present circumstance. Besides, whether he had worked for some security service or went back to the force, his life would always be in constant danger.

"They are checking the perimeter for any threats while we arranged your exit, out of here," Joe said as he entered the room and scouted the place as if he was looking for something.

He was not bothered by his movement since it was the standard procedure to secure any room.

"Glad to hear that," Ben said, feeling a bit relieved to see a familiar face.

A few minutes ago, he was a man drowning in shark-infested water. Now, he was being rescued with a lifeboat. He started to relax his stance a bit and slow down his breathing, knowing that he had some backup to protect him.

He never did like it when he was left vulnerable. He had always had taken care of himself. But in times like this, it was essential to have a partner he could trust.

"I thought you were on vacation." He asked, curious that he suddenly showed up with the team.

Then, his mind wondered what he was doing here. He was supposed to be on leave with his family. But then again, it was not unusual for them to be recalled when there was an urgent mission.

This incident was indeed a mission that would need all hands on deck, especially when Tim was down and he was missing in action. The team would need someone like him who had the most experience.

"You know, when I heard that you were shot, I knew I had to come and help rescue you," Joe said as he walked towards him. "I am glad that it did not seem that bad." He pointed to his wounds.

He stood by the side of his bed, the same spot as the two police officers occupied earlier. Then, his partner looked at the tube attached to his body.

"I did not know that you care that much about me." Ben jokingly said, but his mind was already working overtime. "I had been through worse." He told him, studying the man standing at his side.

His instincts were telling him that something was off with his partner. He had been on leave for almost a month, and he suddenly appeared out of nowhere.

He carefully observed his movement, hoping that his intuitions were wrong. Although most time, his hunches had saved him more times than he could count.

However, he could not afford to accuse a teammate of wrongdoing unless he had any proof. Gut feelings were not valid evidence, despite the warning bells going off in his head.

"Of course, buddy, I do care." Joe moved closer to him, sat on the edge of his bed, and stared into his face. "You always have been tough." He said with a bit of undertone of distaste.

He always liked the young man. He had seen a few of his youth in him. Even took him under his wings when paired together. Nonetheless, Ben had become a problem for him.

He had turned to be a thorn in his side that kept on stabbing him until he had been bleeding. He had taken what was supposed to be his, but he was not letting him anymore.

"You see, everybody thinks that you are the next big shot."

His hands extended in front of Ben, touching the hose that supplied the dextrose fluid into his veins. He smiled as if he was thinking of something funny.

"What are you talking about?" Ben asked, confused with his words. "Anyway, where are the others?" Alarmed at the way his partner was acting.

Joe seemed to be talking in riddles because he did not see anything funny in what he said. But he was starting to suspect that something was seriously wrong with this picture.

"Don\'t pretend that you are clueless to what I am talking about. Everybody knew that Tim was grooming you to replace him in the ranks." Joe said with bitterness in his voice. "Now, you think you are better than me." He finally laughed, but it was filled with hatred.

He had been working his ass off for the team, only to be bypassed by this young candidate. He had taught him most of everything he knew, even saving him in one of their encounters.

"That is not true." Ben denied his accusation. Then, it finally clicked on his head. "Why?" He asked him. "Why would you betray us? Did they offer you more money?"

He figured it out. He was the mole in their lineup. He always thought that not one of them would ever be able to betray the other. They had considered themselves not just as a team but as family.

Even Alex never treated them as anything but a friend or a relative. Everything that they would ever need, Alex was there to provide.

Tim had been the father of the team. He had taken care of all of them. Giving them a job when they needed it. Providing support whenever they needed one.

"Money, power, recognition..." Joe said with a laugh. "Everything that working for the team would never give me." He spat out at him. "Do you think that I will be working for you? I made you, kid." He said, full of contempt for him.

He could enumerate several things that he had gained since he had turned to the other side of the fence. He was now in the good graces of the big boss. After this, he would be living like a king.

"How can you work for a man like Nick?" Ben voiced his disappointment to the man that had been his mentor.

He still could not believe that he would betray them. But, at this point, he should have known better than to give his entire trust to anyone.

He wanted to punch him. Teach the old man some lessons. Maybe it would bring back his sense to him. But he could hardly move his body, much alone defend himself against him.

"Nick?" Joe laughed louder upon hearing his name. "I am not working for that foolish man."

He grabbed his injured arm tightly. Ben screamed in pain, but he placed a cloth on his mouth to shut him up. He did not want to alert everyone on the floor of what he had planned for him.

"Who are you working for then?" He was surprised to hear him denied the mastermind in this entire plot.

However, if he was being paid by the man to keep his silence, then he would surely not tell him that he was working for him. But, he was not expecting that a man, who he had known most of his career life, would disgrace his honor by working for a criminal.

"If you think that you have become a knight, I am sorry to tell you. But, you are all just a pawn in the game, and it is just beginning.." Joe said in his low voice as he leaned closer into his body.