Page 95 of Trained Royal
Chapter 28
Christian
Kieren’s words hit home. Chopping the head off the snake was only the beginning. There were probably plenty of people involved who could and would take over from Aunt Charlotte. Mainly his father.
He wished they had someone on the inside. Someone who could help them prevent whatever plans they had coming to fruition, but they didn’t. Neil, Daniel and Gia were still working tirelessly trying to glean any piece of information from the data they had and ideas they’d come up with for whatcouldhappen. Commissioner Thomas was also digging as much as he could.
They—the good side—had plenty of people helping them, but with their hands tied to do itlawfully, they didn’t have as much freedom as Aunt Charlotte and her followers did. Aunt Charlotte, John—he refused to call him “father” any longer and was considering dropping the “aunt,” too, but habits died hard—Charles, and whoever else they had on their side would stop at nothing to make their plans succeed. And that was the worrying part. They had no qualms with breaking the law if it fit in with their “beliefs.”
While he thought about it, he pulled his phone from his pocket and noted down all the names that he believed could have something to do with John. He’d gone through this with Neil already, but he needed to do it again in case he had forgotten someone.
“Everything okay?”
Christian smiled across at Oscar, stowing his phone again and wrapping his arms around his boyfriend. “I’m good.”
“Your brain is going a mile a minute, isn’t it?” Oscar whispered.
Christian chuckled. “I can’t help it. When this topic comes up, it’s hard to switch off, as you know.” Oscar rubbed Christian’s chest in a soothing gesture. “I still feel like we’re missing something.”
“Well, I think Charles has got too cocky and has made a mistake, and he’s going to say something he shouldn’t and set the ball rolling in our favour. I truly believe that.”
“I hope you’re right.”
They stayed entwined while Christian’s thoughts tapered off again. Hopefully, the “incriminating evidence” they gave to the two members of staff would net them some leads, too. Nobody likes to believe they’d left something behind, and if it’s something unique enough to be traced back to Charlotte or Charles, then they might be willing to risk taking it back.
When Henry and Robert came back into the room, everyone refocused. Henry and Patrick’s father had left a few minutes before, and Henry had changed into his pup gear. Robert hadn’t changed his clothes, but he had removed his jacket, and he stroked his hand on Henry—Dusty’s head.
Christian tightened his hold on Oscar. “Are you feeling playful, sweetheart?” Oscar nuzzled into his neck and nodded. “Do you want to get changed today?”
“No, Daddy.”
Christian smiled. It had always surprised him how quickly and easily Oscar moved into his little space, but it made him all the more delightful.
“Okay, Ozzie. Why not find a ball for Dusty?”
Ozzie plastered a kiss on Christian’s lips and scrambled off the sofa. He raced across the room towards the box he knew held Dusty’s toys, and Dusty scampered after him.
“Thank you,” Robert said, settling beside Christian.
“You don’t need to thank me. Oscar loves this.”
Robert clasped his hands in his lap, but his eyes never left Dusty. “Henry needs time to decompress, and this is the best way for him, other than…” Robert chuckled. “That.”
Christian laughed. “Yes. It’s probably best to keepthatbehind closed doors. This is the next best thing.”
Robert smiled, then sighed. “Do you think anyone was there to hurt him and they just didn’t do it, or it failed or something?”
Christian inhaled. “I honestly don’t know. I have been wondering if they have a plan for every event and then decide on the night whether it’s going to go ahead or not, but it seems excessive. But if Charlotte is…beginning to worry, then there’s no telling what she might do. What she might getothersto do.”
And wasn’t that circling back to the original question. Who else is involved that they don’t know about?
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Chapter 29
Patrick
Patrick’s phone rang as he waited for Kieren to finish getting ready for the wedding reception. His best friend, Zane, and his new wife had finally set a date for them to celebrate with everyone—three days before they left for Sandringham. Neither of them minded because it gave them the opportunity to get away together for a few days.
