The Royal Contract

Earlier. Before the wedding, when the other teams guarding the bridal car went rogue, the security team, working for Alex, was prepared for the ambush. 

Tim, the head of the security, sat in the front seat of the car and waited for the opportunity to catch them. He could sense that someone would make the first move at any moment.

He instructed his team to take their positions when he saw the other car stopped not far from behind them. While a few more of his trusted man were already planted not far from their location, hiding in plain sight.

"Do you think Ben was right with his assumption? Are those men working for the enemy?" The one sitting in the driver's seat asked his boss. 

Until now, they had not figured out who was behind Dani's attack, nor the real motives. No one had claimed responsibility. They did not have a lead on the first attack, capturing two of the culprits, but they did not know much.

"Will know shortly," Tim could not falsely accuse the security of the palace. 

They had worked for Alex's family for many years. He could not question their loyalty unless he had solid proof of their betrayal. It was not unlikely if they were blinded by worldly possessions. 

Whoever he and his team were up against knew how to cover their tracks. But, he would not stop until he had solved this mystery and had the criminal pay for his crime.

"Be ready." He informed the three people sitting in the backseat. A couple, pretending to be the parents and one female wearing a white gown, acting as the bride.

They were part of his team that had to take the role of their clients to fool their foes. They acted as the diversion when Ben sensed that these two teams were acting strange.

Changing the setup at the last minute without informing the other parties. Only a few in the family knew about the plan and his men, minimizing the probability that the information would leak.

"Yes, Sir." The three at the back simultaneously answered, pulling out their guns underneath their clothes. Each one started checking their ammunition, flicking the safety on, ready to fire if need be.

"Get ready," Tim announced to everyone in his team, tapping on the partition at the back. And then speaking on his mouthpiece to alert the rest of the team on the ground.

He just saw on the rearview mirror that the other two teams had just left their vehicles, marching towards them with their guns hidden behind their backs.

It only confirmed Ben's hunch. They had turned to the other side and were about to ambush the bride. But they had a surprise waiting for them.

"Are we all set?" Tim confirmed with the other teams as their enemies moved faster to secure their location.

When everyone verified their positions, he knew it was game time. They must execute this correctly to avoid any bloodshed. Any wrong move or an unnecessary trigger would cause a bloodbath in this street.

He specifically chose this car because of its specialized tint and bulletproof protection. But the other teams were not aware of this. 

A knock on his window by the head of the other team, instructing him to lower his window, alerted him to be prepared.

"What is it?" He lowered only half of his window to look at the man and hear what he had to say.

He could see that he and his men were already in their stance to attack at any minute, but he would not rush his actions. He wanted to hear him out first and play his cards right.

Besides, he believed the other teams would not attack if they thought he had the bride at the back of the car. He already surmised that they wanted Miss Daniella alive.

"My team and I are wondering why we have to stop. Is there a problem with the bride?" He asked as if he was concerned about the situation.

But he only wanted access to the vehicle without harming his target. The one paying them an enormous amount of untraceable bills wanted the bride taken and delivered without a scratch.

He could not believe that the duke would take the side of these mercenaries over them and put them in charge. After the years of services his boss and the other security members had devoted to this family, they could not accept that they were simply put aside.

"No, we are just instructed to stop for a few minutes for personal reasons." Tim tried to explain, baiting the other man to make the next move and messed up.

The other teams had not pointed their guns directly at them, so there was no reason for him to take it as a threat, not yet. He could not charge at them without provocation.

They could easily deny his accusation and point out that they were just securing the area. It was a mere miscommunication between the different parties.

"Do you mind if I check on them?" The man outside insisted as he tried to peak at the window at the back. But as Tim had said earlier, the black tint had prevented anyone from seeing through the window. 

"That won't be necessary. I will inform you if the family is ready to leave. You can go back to your post." Tim used his authoritative voice that would not take no for an answer.

He could not have him snooping on the back. The man would readily know that it was just a decoy. He needed a few more minutes to guarantee the arrival of the other car at the cathedral without a hitch.

"I think you are not hearing me right. I need you to open the back seat now." The man pointed his gun at Tim's face.

He had enough of playing games with the man in charge. He suddenly felt that he was delaying the entire situation in purpose. He had a gut feeling that he was duped.

His mistake was underestimating his opponent when he thought they already had it under control. His men had the car surrounded with their high-powered guns.

However, before he realized the error of his ways, Tim opened the car, ramming him with the door, making him slightly lose his balance.

He was about to fight back and ordered his men to shoot Tim. But when he turned to them, other men surrounded all of his men with guns on their heads.

"Surrender, you lost," Tim said as the other man pointed the gun again at him. "I am sure that we can make a deal if you give up who hired you."

He was not afraid to die if it was necessary, but he would fight for his every breath before he succumbed to death. He stared at the barrel of the gun, waiting if he would pull the trigger or give up.

"How did you know?" The man asked Tim, still holding the gun firmly with his finger poised at the trigger. He wanted to buy time by asking questions, checking his men, or a way to escape.

The man turned again at his men, looking if there was still a chance that they could take back the upper hand. But, he could not see any possibility based on their circumstance.

"Not me. One of my men noticed you and several of your men acting strange." Tim could see his mind panicking. It was not a good sign. "Come on, give me your gun. Let me help you get out of this mess."

His man was about to take action, but he stopped him, putting his hands up to defuse the situation. He did not want the blood of this young man on his hands, not if he could convince him to surrender.

He dropped his gun on the floor, letting the man believe that he was in control while he tried to persuade him to give up his weapon.

"I have another team on their way who will finish the job. You will not get away with this." The man said as his hands trembled, a clear sign that he was beginning to become unstable.

"You know they are not coming." At that moment, the three people in the backseat came out. The bride took off her veil to reveal her face.

He already heard in his earpiece that the bride had safely arrived at the cathedral. His other mission was over, but he still had a job to do. To capture this man alive.

"No, that can't be." The man shouted upon seeing the woman underneath the veil. "I saw the bride enter the car." He was sure of what he saw earlier. 

He temporarily closed his eyes to recall the scene earlier. He could not believe that he was fooled. He was carefully watching the movements at the palace. 

He saw her enter the car. Or did he simply assume that it was her? How could he be so careless? But when he opened his eyes, he saw Tim about to strike at him.

Without any second thought, with trembling hands, he pulled the trigger, directing the gun in his direction. He was not planning to shoot him, but he surprised him.

Tim moved as he ducked against the shot and grabbed the gun from the younger man. He secured the weapon and let his men capture his opponent.

"Sir, you have been shot." Another of his men came to his rescue, checking the wound oozing with blood around his side.

"Where?" Tim did not even feel the pain, but it could be the adrenaline in his blood or the shock. He thought he had dodged the bullet, but it would seem he was not fast enough.

He guessed he was no superman.