Page 109 of Royal Affair
"Ladies and gentlemen," the MC's voice carried across the hushed ballroom, "Our final speaker this evening represents Banks Security Solutions. Please welcome Mr. James Banks."
Polite applause rippled through the crowd. I could see Evangeline near the front, her expression curious and wary as she wondered why I was speaking at a charity gala. Beside her, Queen Sophia looked equally puzzled.
Mikhail, however, remained perfectly composed.
I took the stage, the microphone feeling familiar in my hands.
"Thank you. I'm here tonight representing the security industry's commitment to protecting charitable organisations from criminal exploitation."
The crowd stirred with polite interest.
"Recently, my firm uncovered evidence of a sophisticated money laundering operation using legitimate charities as fronts for criminal enterprises. Tonight, I'm presenting this evidence to the appropriate authorities."
I produced the flash drive, holding it up for the cameras that had suddenly focused on the stage.
"The Kozlov shipping empire has been systematically laundering money from illegal arms deals, human trafficking, and extortion through their London operations. I havedocumented evidence of over two hundred million pounds in illegal transactions."
The room erupted in shocked murmurs, camera flashes, urgent whispers. I could see law enforcement officials reaching for their phones.
But Mikhail simply smiled and gave an almost imperceptible nod toward the royal section.
For a moment, nothing happened. The crowd was still processing my revelation, cameras flashing, law enforcement reaching for their phones.
Then I saw Harrison—the man I'd trusted with my life in Iraq, my most reliable contact for intelligence, the person who had helped me track Mikhail's movements—shift slightly behind Queen Sophia's chair. Something was wrong with his positioning. Too close. Too deliberate. The same tactical awareness I'd learned from him was now being used against me.
My blood turned to ice as understanding crashed over me like a tidal wave. Harrison hadn't been helping me track Mikhail—he'd been feeding Mikhail information about my investigation. The enemy received every intelligence briefing, every security update, and every plan I'd shared with my former commanding officer.
"Nobody move!" Harrison shouted suddenly, his voice cutting through the chaos as he drew a concealed pistol and pressed it to Queen Sophia's temple. "Everyone stay exactly where you are!"
The betrayal hit me like a freight train. Harrison. The man I'd trusted with my life in combat zones, who'd recommended me for commendations, who I'd called just hours ago to coordinate tonight's operation. How long had he been working for Mikhail? How much did his actions compromise my investigation from the beginning?
"Let her go," I said, stepping down from the stage with my hands visible. Around us, chaos was erupting—screams, people diving for cover, security trying to get clear shots without risking the Queen.
"I don't think so," Harrison replied, his voice steady despite the sweat beading on his forehead. "Mr. Kozlov has some things he'd like to discuss first."
Mikhail rose from his table with elegant composure, as if royal hostage situations were merely another course in the evening's entertainment.
"Mr. Banks," he said, his voice carrying across the panicked ballroom. "How kind of you to provide tonight's entertainment. Though I'm afraid your evidence is... incomplete."
"The hell it is."
"Oh, but it is. You see, you've been investigating the wrong accounts. The real money flows through channels you'll never find." His smile was coldly triumphant. "Channels that will disappear permanently if anything happens to me tonight."
I could see my security team positioned around the room, but none of them had a clear shot with Harrison holding the Queen. And somewhere in this chaos, Evangeline?—
"Get down!" Laura's voice cut through the pandemonium as she tackled Evangeline, trying to pull her to safety behind an overturned table.
But Evangeline fought her, desperation making her strong as she broke free from Laura's protective grip.
"Mother!" she screamed, struggling toward the royal table.
That's when Harrison made his move. Following some prearranged signal from Mikhail, he shoved Queen Sophia violently toward the stage area, sending her stumbling into the chaos of overturned chairs and panicking guests.
Evangeline threw herself forward, trying to catch her mother, putting herself directly in Harrison's line of fire.
The gun swung toward her.
I was already moving, every instinct screaming as I threw myself between Evangeline and the weapon. The gunshot was deafening in the enclosed space; the bullet catching me centre mass with enough force to drive me backward.
