Page 70 of Trained Royal
“Well, Christian has someone in the same situation, and he gives us more than you do,” Henry argued.
Christian held up his hands. “Leave me out of—” His phone rang, and he moved closer to the window to answer it.
“You have kitchen staff to make you stuff!” George said.
“How did this get into an argument about who can get more muffins?” Douglas murmured.
Patrick opened his mouth, but he paused, his eyes on Freddie, who moved over to Christian, who had sat in a chair by the window. One by one, the others went quiet until all they could hear was the occasional murmur from Christian. When he hung up, he scrubbed a hand over his face and through his hair. Freddie crouched in front of him.
“What did he say?”
Christian blew out a breath, then grabbed Freddie’s hand and stared at each of them. “We have their contingency plan.”
“What?” Douglas said, standing.
“The code Gia was trying to figure out? She did it. Mother had added another code within the code I’d made. It details what they would try if we found out their first plan. She said they would step up their game, and their final ‘prize’ would be to rid the royal family of its current line, and she could take the throne.” Christian stood. “Patrick being shot was on there.” He glanced at Patrick, then flicked his gaze to Douglas. “As is an assassination attempt on you. Today.”
“Then he has to postpone,” Patrick said, stepping forward.
“I’m not,” Douglas said.
“Douglas—” Mav started, grabbing onto his arm.
“No. Because if I do, they’ve won. If we go into hiding, they’ve won. We need to keep up appearances.” He stared at Mav. “You know this. If we disappear from view, they will do everything they can to put themselves in the spotlight. And. They. Win.”
Mav sniffed and stared at the floor. Douglas cupped his face. “I’ll be fine. The security team will be given the information and will figure it all out. I’ll be safe.” Mav closed his eyes, and a tear trickled down his cheek. “I won’t leave you,” Douglas whispered. “I couldn’t stand it.”
Mav wrapped his arms around him, and Douglas held him. Patrick swallowed hard against the emotion threatening to erupt. What Douglas said was right, but it didn’t make it easier to acknowledge.
Patrick noticed Freddie and Damon at the window. Freddie had his arms crossed and stared out of the window, while Damon had his hand on the back of Freddie’s neck and was speaking to him, their heads close. Freddie closed his eyes and leaned into Damon, their heads touching, and Patrick looked away, not wanting to intrude. He was more and more convinced that Oscar was correct in his assumption that there was something between them.
“What else was in the message?” George asked.
“There were details of one location for each of us.”
“Each of us?” Freddie said, turning to them. “Who? List them.”
Christian raised his eyebrow. “Hold on.” He dialled his phone. “Neil, who exactly was on the list of targets?” He paused. “Patrick, Douglas, Henry, George, Mary, Freddie, Victoria, Andrew.” He raised his eyes to Freddie. “Thanks.” He ended the call.
“Everyone in the line before Charlotte,” Freddie stated.
Patrick’s heart pounded. “Over how long?”
Christian stared at him, tears in his eyes. “Uncle Andrew on 10 March 2023.”
“The anniversary celebration,” Damon said.
Silence descended. Everyone was seemingly lost in their thoughts. Patrick’s were bouncing around his head, but only one thing was clear.
“We have to take these fuckers down.”
His lack of filter, when he usually cursed the least of all of them, startled a chuckle out of Freddie. Then everyone followed suit. It was maniacal laughter, to begin with, then gentled until it dropped off.
Freddie moved to them, almost putting them in a circle. “They’re not going to win. We have the upper hand now. Let’s take the fight to them.”
“How?” Douglas asked.
Freddie grinned. “By diverting the targets to their own flesh and blood, their own assets.” He paused. “What better way to get our point across than making their co-conspirators pay for who they get into bed with? As for Charles? I’ll make sure there’s something to take him down. Whoever else is actively involved gets the same treatment. But we’ll do it the proper way. No blood. No death tolls. Just a lengthy stay in prison.”
