Disclaimer: This story is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places and incidents are the product of the author's imagination and are used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual persons living or dead, events or locales is purely coincidental and no slanderous intent is implied.
This is a story about a son of Duke from a fictious kingdom and the life and experiences that he has when he ends up in America. During this story we discover two fictious nations and principalities and their royal families ... These are completely the product of my imagination and bear no resemblance to anyone living or dead.
I know that I hinted that Lord Aquamaine would be Part 2 of the Moonside Manor story line. However when I started writing, it took on a life of it's own and when I tried to tie the two together they would not let me and I had to do major rewrites in Lord Aquamaine as we result. There will be more of CJ and more or LJ, but they are stand alone at the monment. Currently working on a story set in 1880s in the Ridings of Yorkshire about a boy from the coal mines.
This work is copyrighted and I ask that you do not copy, post or electronically download without my express permission.
If you are too young to be here or it is illegal in your state then please leave; finally if you are looking for hot sex scenes then look again as you'll not find any here.
Email me with your comments at ukwriter12@yahoo.com
------------------------------------------------------------------------- ------------------------------------------------------------------------- In an effort to help you follow what is happening the characters are listed below, but in addition since Lord Aquamaine is a very rich young man other things are listed as well, such as his businesses to help you follow.
Characters ----------- Lord Lancelot Jefferson Bravender VI - Lord Aquamaine Lord Troy Bravender - LJ's brother Bradley Patterson - LJ's Grandpa Charles Edward Bravender - LJ's adopted son Troy Jordan Bravender (TJ)- LJ's adopted son Jame Ross Bravender (JR)- LJ's adopted son Ezekiel DeLuca Nelson Bravender - LJ's adopted son Annabelle Margaret Bravender - LJ's adopted daughter Colt Nelson Vravender - LJ's adopted son
Baron - LJ's Horse
Anna Hemmings - Nanny Mr Jake - Caretaker of LJ's estates. Dotty Walters - Mr Jakes wife. Rupert Devereaux - LJ's Interior Designer Brodie Reid - Clothes Designer Nicole DuBois - Opera singer
King Roger of Aquamaine ... King of Chrysland Prince David – Heir to the throne of Aquamaine. Christine Bowers - Fiancée of Prince David
King Myles - King of Lizondia Prince Steven - Prince of Lizondia
Governor Walt Simms - Texas rancher / Belle's husband (was Governor) Belinda Tremaine Davison - LJ's guardian (was Vice President) William Tremaine - LJ's attorney / Belle's father Arnold Tremaine - Attorney / Belle's brother Peter Tremain - Belle's oldest son Bobby Tremaine - Belle's son Richard Tremaine - Belle's twin son Barnaby Tremaine - Belle's twin son Governor McMahon - Governor of Texas and Walts cousin Signor Andre De Luca - Italian Prime Minister
President Masters - President of the USA Professor Phillip Masters - President Masters father and LJs mentor Professor Bryan Masters -President Masters brother and LJs tutor Dean Reynolds - Dean of university and LJs mentor Judge Reynolds - The deans brother Professor Absom - Class tutor Martin Japp - PI
Maria Gonzalez - Spanish speaking class member Lincoln Struthers - LJ's friend in class Cace Nelson - Italian speaking class member and LJs partner Colt Nelson - Cace's Pa
Thomas – LJ's Major-Domo Simon – LJ's Footman - Todd's lover Mike Russo - LJ's security guard Mickael Russo - Mike's nephew Dave - LJ's security guard Gunny Wilks - LJ's security guard Todd Wilks - LJs Friend and Security guard General Wilks Marcus - Charlie's security guard Coach Ord - LJ's Sensei with Dave Mr Stevens - Hotel manager
------------------------------------------------------------------------- Titles ------- Lord Ravenswood - 14th Duke of Ravenswood and Aeden Viscount Ravenswood Earl of Lizonby Earl of Aylsgart Baron Rooksfeld
Viscount Aeden Viscount of Kingsmere Viscount of Reymire Viscount of Rooksfeld
Marquess of Reymire Earl of Kirkowen Lord Mallamtap
Baron of Crogdun
Lord Aquamaine Duke of Rookfort Marquess of Conroy Baron of Kingsmere
17th Duke of Valkland
Marquess of Reyesford
Baron of Lizonby Viscount of Iddlesworth
12th Duke of Vauxland Prince Of Bowland
Countess of Aylsgart
Marquis of Vauxland 8th Duke of Caderis 15th Earl of Perisand 19th Marquis of Ironsea 5th Duke of Shadehaven
------------------------------------------------------------------------- Locations ---------- Chrysland (Nation) Lizondia (Neighbouring nation)
Towns and areas in Chrysland ----------------------------- Lizonby Aylsgart Valtland Jusland Sifton Park - Aquamaine Aquamaine
Properties ----------- Rooksfeld Manor (Near Lizonby) Aquamaine Palace (Home to the kings of Chrysland) Aquamaine House Florida Ocean Front House Oklahoma Ranch Texas Ranch (Main Home) Aquamaine Mansion - Washington DC Penrise Hall Iddlesworth Hall
All businesses controlled by "The office of the Prince"
Aquamaine LLC ------------- Aquamaine Fruit and Vegetables - Florida Aquamaine Horse and Cattle Company - Oklahoma and Texas Aquamaine Wineries - Califormia and Texas Aquamaine Hotel Several Shopping Malls in differnet States Two Theme Parks Aquamaine Men (Menswear) Aquamaine Retail (departmental stores) Aquamaine Real Estate - Various Rental properties Aquamaine Dude Ranch - Montana
Bravender LLC -------------------- Bravender Gallery Bravender Art
Roksfeld Accounting and Auditing Co.
Lord Aquamaine --------------
Chapter 9 – All is not well
With the graduation the "Office of the Prince" was formed and soon Aquamaine Holdings LLC. Bravender LLC and all of my other interests were handled by this office. I did not want to merge them all into one. Certain things, like the same audit team would work in all of them and they would be Rooksfeld Accounting and Auditing co. Being all under one roof made it easier to run but they were individual entities.
We formed a board with people over certain areas and the board of the company depended on exactly what the company did. It was made up as follows...
President = Lord Lancelot Jefferson Bravender Esq.
My PA ... Ryan Crow - a young man that Thomas hired and he attended board meetings to make sure any thing that I needed to act on he had notes of. He and Thomas worked well as a team.
C.E.O – Ian Masters once released from his term as President. Cace was rather surprised it was not him. Serves him right!
The board itself was made up as follows:
HR / Company secretary – Kaitlyn Finance – Thomas Auditing - Dwight Retail Operations Director – Maria Hotel Operations Director – Kurt IT director – Skyler Real Estates Director – Jet Farming and Wineries Director – Mary Beth Ranch Operations Director – Tony Oil division Director – Taji International division Director- Roman Legal Director – Lincoln Marketing Director– Amy.
At first Cace would not talk to me about not being on the board, but without asking he knew why and why I would never give him a position in Aquamaine. He became area manager for any holding company within the state of Texas. I wanted him close to home.
We moved the office from the mansion and set up office in Dallas Texas, closing the mansion in DC for the foreseeable future. The offices were built like our hotels only on a smaller scale and five floors high. It had three wings with the north wing left open so the shape was a U with the open area to the front of the building where the staff were encourage to spend their lunch and we provided a canteen for them to enable that to happen. We also provided a swimming pool and gym for staff use as well.
The building was approached on the opposite side of the employee plaza and the south wing. Other than the reception the wing was made up of meeting rooms and the main board room. The place was like the hotels bit on a smaller scale and would hold all of the operations needed to run an international business. The east and west wings were split between all of the divisions and businesses.
I loved my business and my world as I was able to take time with my children knowing that I could leave Ian Masters in charge of the Aquamaine. He had fallen into his role and found that he really loved the challenge of helping to run the company with me. He never went back to teaching. Neither did Absom who also joined the company.
A new thing that developed in my life was my singing career as it had taken off soon after our graduation. My first album broke all world records for sales and sold worldwide. Since then we produce a new album on a yearly basis and always try to accommodate requests to sing.
The most recent album had been a little fun as it was duets with country singers and instead of my opera voice I was singing country. My fans loved it and cried for more so now we produce a country album as well as our usual.
As time progressed the kids started school and all of them excelled in everything and we arranged home tutoring if needed. Even when Annabelle started school she was the pride of the school as she excelled and followed her brothers. She loved dancing and soon became a master of all ballroom, Latin and tap dances.
Baron had chosen horses for each of the children and they all took after him. What was interesting is I think Baron could sense Cace character and refused to let him ride one of his family.
Charlie's foal was almost full grown and no longer a weakling. In fact he had chosen his own mare and was a daddy. We lost his brother when he was young as he developed Foal Septicaemia. He must have developed it soon after he was born, but we never noticed until it was too late. I was heartbroken as I held him during those last moments of his life. As usual Baron mourned with me, we had both lost this time.
We purchased a few bus type vehicles so that we could take all of the children to school together. With my reputation I found that I spent lot of time with the classes volunteering and it wasn't long before I was asked to serve on the board of governors.
I found I was pulling more and more away from the business and spending more and more time with the kids. I loved it. At the same time Cace was moving the other way and was spending more and more time away from the family. Even though he was over Texas operations more and more of his time was away from Texas.
I think I closed my eyes to what was happening and just enjoyed life with the kids. The kids were everything to me.
Time went quickly and we had soon been a board and family for several years. Charles was ten years old and as far as I was concerned we were happy. I was twenty two and we were still a strong family unit.
Cace seemed to travel more and find reasons why he had to be away from me. I think at this time I did not want to know what was happening as we were good when we were together. When we were separate I hated every minute.
Even though he was happy if I had been honest I hated life. The only thing that made it tolerable was the kids and I think the children sensed this sadness.
Possibly more upsetting was that I now never had contact with Roger. He seemed to avoid me whenever I was staying in Chrysland. David and I remained close and I was his best man when he and Christine Bowers married.
I became a lifelong friend with Christine and we always enjoyed the good gossip and catch up whenever we met. In deed we often spoke on the phone for hours just like David and I used to do.
Cace did not attend the wedding and not surprisingly neither did King Roger. Christine made it known that neither liked her and she did not like them. Myles was there with Steven and we became even closer than we had in the past.
One evening Charles came into the library where I was sat reading the most recent hotels report. They looked right, but there was something wrong and I just could not pin it down. "You know father you really ought to listen to your most recent country album. We all think it's spectacular. You do know that they are saying that you will receive an award for the best male artist again this year in both country and opera."
"Charles you know me I do not like to listen to myself."
"Then will you listen to me? As I really need to talk to you as something is breaking my heart."
"Charles! What on earth is wrong?"
He handed me a package. "Ezekiel, when his father started not coming home and always having a reason to be away got me to hire a private detective. What we found is breaking our hearts daddy. You have to know, it is just not fair. Everyone else seems to know and is just closing their eyes to it thinking that you're happy."
"Charles if you mean that Daddy Cace is having an affair with Linc then I know. I believe it has been going on since I was shot as he has never been the same. He just seems happy to ride our money more and more."
"Will you just look at the pictures and the information?" I opened the envelope and there were pictures of Cace in several compromising clinches with several different men, but everyone had one man in common and it was not Linc.
I was shocked I had been sure it was Linc and I could close my eyes to that, but it appeared he and Jet not Linc were having an affair. "It is not Linc. In fact daddy he has tried to talk to Cace to get him to change. I think he loves you. In fact I know he does, but is engaged to marry his childhood sweetheart." Linc was true to me as were most of the board.
Not only were Cace and Jet in an affair, but I was becoming the laughing stock of the business world. I looked at Charles. "What do you want to do Charlie? It's time!"
He opened the library door as he said, "We knew that you would ask, as you always allow us to make decisions for ourselves." As he came back from the door there was Annabelle, TJ and JR and Ezekiel.
JR started, "First we have timed this so that school is out and you have nothing to worry about on that score. We have also checked and found that he is currently in Conroy for a two week break. In your castle we believe."
TJ, with tears in his eyes continued, "Daddy he is not only with Jet. He is also with Manny and Uncle Roger. They meet often and have done so for years." Roger? With Cace, how could they? I suddenly felt totally and utterly betrayed.
Annabelle looked at me, "You own the castle. We want to fly out there. We want to face Uncle David and Aunt Christine with this information. Then we want to visit them in the middle of the night. The maid reports to Thomas that they are only using one bedroom and she appears to be the only member of castle staff that is loyal to you."
Ezekiel was the strongest one, but had been hurt the most. "We've had Uncle Arnold draw up a new will for not only you, but all of us cutting him out of our lives. If he leaves willingly then we will not ruin them. We have Judge Reynolds downstairs to allow me to be adopted by you and emancipated from him. I hate him daddy for what he is doing. He is just an overpaid... what was that word Charlie?"
"Whore."
"That is it. He is nothing but a whore, like King Roger."
TJ stepped in, "If they do not leave and sign back all that they have stolen from you, we will ruin them. We have had Dwight audit everything. He has been able to verify what's been happening. We have all of his accounts blocked until you give the password. We have also called in Aunt Belle and Uncle Walt and Ian to help as you will need them once we're in Conroy. With the accounts blocked it will not take long for Stevens and Cace Nelson to find out so we have to act and act now. None of the Aquamaine flight will respond to requests for flights for him either or any of them either."
Charles continued, "Sorry it does involve Stevens and several others in your companies. For the man called Cace we will give him nothing. This will not be another Davison family hanging around our necks. We will insist that the king abdicates or we will create a scandal that the House of Aquamaine will never recover from and neither will the throne."
JR looked at me, "Uncle David is happily married with his own children so you would now be fourth in line to the throne if David becomes king. We have to stress no one... not David, not Uncle Myles nor Signor DeLuca or anyone knew what these men were doing."
Charles hugged me as all of my children encased me in love. "We have to move tonight father otherwise they will ruin you and you will lose everything." I nodded my head and Belle came in to make sure that I was okay with what we had to do. The children had turned to her to talk everything through as Belle and Walt had been there for them as they were gathering all of the information.
Within the hour Linc and Ian Masters arrived at the Texas ranch. What surprised me most was with them was Colt Nelson who simply came up to me and hugged, "We are so ashamed sire." Nothing else was said we just hugged each other. Ma had not come out as Cace's actions had gradually made her ill and she was failing quickly. Linc's future wife had stayed with her as she was training as a nurse and Ma needed help.
Linc hugged me as a brother and simply looked at me and said, "I am so sorry sir I have tried to keep him true, but he is just a cock whore and never gives up. I am so ashamed that I failed you."
"You have not. It's me that failed. I've known for a long time that all was not well. I'm sorry! I thought it was you Linc as you became distant. I think that is why I never did anything as your friendship means the world to me."
"Sir, Mary and I have been preparing for our wedding. It is the one that you are going to say yes to being my best man at. You know if as your friend I can be your man at arms for the rest of my life, then you can stand with me this one time and be my man at arms."
We hugged and I just smiled from cheek to cheek as I still had my best friend. The one that nearly died to save my life and I am sure that he would do so again.
As agreed, we flew to Aquamaine Palace and met with Prince David and Princess Christine. I let Belle and the children present their findings as I was finding it hard to believe that Cace would do this. I knew that they had history, but thought we had successfully stopped it. Colt had me in his arms and Linc and Todd stood guard over me. I now knew why Linc had become so very protective towards me and the kids.
Prince David gathered everyone including an armed contingent that he would need and we were soon on our way to Conroy, some fifty miles away. Christine wanted to be there, but insisted that she would stay with the children and be there for us when everything was over. It was two in the morning when we arrived and we were all running on adrenalin.
I had my own key to the castle side gate so as not to alarm anyone of our presence we let ourselves in that entrance. I had always loved Conroy, but now it loomed on us like a foreboding monster. We worked our way through the ground floor and all was well. They must be in our suite.
I knew that there was a connecting security room that only I knew about and made everyone wait while I went and viewed the two way mirror. They were all awake and at that time Cace was fucking Roger. "What would you do if we were found out?" Cace asked.
"Oh come on! This has been going on since well before that little bastard got shot. He should have died then! First night we met you fucked me rotten and you know it. Then we went to Iddlesworth for a sex filled weekend. If he does not know now he never will." Thomas and Linc stood there with me as I cried.
Charlie was there as well, "The bastard!" We never corrected him as we were all thinking the same. We just made our way to the door of the room.
I looked at Charles, "Are you sure that you want to do this?"
At that Ezekiel opened the doors and we all walked in. Little Ezekiel fell into Linc's arms as he screamed at the shock of what they were not only doing, but saying.
Roger and Cace both said together, "We would have to have him and the kids killed if they found ..."
"Would you daddy?"
"Charles what the hell are you doing here? I was just ..."
Annabelle stepped forward, "You were just threatening to kill Lord Aquamaine and all of his children. How evil can you be? We all heard you and we have it on tape. We also have recordings of every time that you met in this room... Turn around and view the mirror you are on candid camera daddy dearest."
JR looked at the man he had called daddy and held up a gun that he had carried for the visit. "Daddy, stand up and step away from the king. Or should we say the whore that you're fucking."
Roger looked at him and just said, "Watch your mouth you little brat."
David stepped into sight, "No sir you watch yours. You have been warned over and over about the scandal your actions bring to the house of Aquamaine and now you have well and truly done it. Lord Aquamaine will deal with you eventually. Just lay there with your legs wide open like I am sure you're used to. Lying there like that is in itself an act of treason."
"Cace, I have known about you for some time, but thought you were with Linc for several years. I am sorry, because I judged Linc badly. He has proved to be a good friend. Let me get this going. JR, shoot anyone that tries to speak."
Todd knelt with him and held his own gun aimed at them all. "Jet, you are dismissed from your post in Aquamaine and you will also be struck from the American Bar because of the fraud that you have perpetrated. You will never be able to practice law in any form again or practice as a CPA. That requires trust. All bank accounts that you have extorted funds to have been locked and you will never be able to access any of them. Your only account is your own personal one.
I paused, "Your parents will be arriving in the morning to try to arrange an attorney for you as Aquamaine will be prosecuting you for embezzlement and extortion of funds. The funds available for an attorney will only be what are left after everything has been recovered." A naked tearful handcuffed Jet was led away by the FBI as he was an American citizen.
"Manny I thought we were friends. Your case is sad as a predator has used you. You will be arrested by the FBI and investigated to determine if you were involved in any of this. However, because you have conspired against one of your patients you will never be able to work as a physiotherapist again, or in any way with the public... Is that understood?" Agent Smith cuffed him and took him away.
"Roger, help me..." Roger simply ignored him.
"Now the part that hurts me the most, and Cace this is the King not you. We'll deal with you in a minute sir, for to all of us you are just scum to be dealt with... Thomas, gather the staff together downstairs and will you handle it for me? You know I expect loyalty and obviously they have shown none so they are all dismissed with exception of the maid that reported to you.
"We will also need to visit all hotels and properties that Cace has stayed at to determine how many people we need to replace as they will be dismissed without reference as well. It may take me some time to get things back to normal, but I want a list of every area of Aquamaine LLC and just who we needed to terminate and also of all the properties as well. Over to you Prince David!"
"Father... By order of the senate of the people as is required you are officially removed from the throne of Chrysland as a result of an act of treason against the nobility of the house of Rooksfeld the royal house. Namely sir that you did threaten and plan murder to not one, but six members of that same royal household. You are no better than the bastard son himself!
"Your actions have put into question your loyalty to not only the throne, but someone you once classed as your own son and whom you decreed should anyone harm him in any way will be guilty of treason. You sir are guilty by your own words! You seem to have forgotten that. You have systematically carried on a sordid affair with the Prince Consort of Bowland for several years. Long before the Prince was shot when Belle, Linc and Thomas warned you." They both looked at us shocked that we knew.
David continued, "Your sham has been discovered by the ones you called grandchildren. You have ridiculed your position because of your insatiable desire for sex even though Lance found you a partner that you supposedly loved. You will abdicate from the throne and disappear as is required by the ancient law of Chrysland. If you do not then you will be taken to the Castle Blackswale and be tried for treason and executed. May God have pity on your soul."
"How dare you! I am your father. I will never abdicate." He lunged at Prince David and Todd held up his gun as a warning. He stepped back.
"Yes you are my father and that's why you are breaking my heart at what you have done to LJ my brother and the fact that it was you who threatened to have him killed."
Roger looked at me and saw that Charlie had to hold me as I was a blubbering wreck. He had been for all intents and purposes my father. "At least let me dress." He walked to his clothes. As he picked up his jacket I noticed a bulge in the inside pocket. He looked at me and wept, "I am so sorry Lance, but we love each other." With that he held the jacket to his heart and pulled a trigger.
Belle went to Prince David who had made no effort to get to the king. "Ma'am his death itself is an act of treason and cowardice. I thought he was a better man than that." He just fell in to her arms and wept.
One of the men that were with Prince David walked over to Roger's body knelt and shook his head. Then looked directly at David and shouted "The King is dead! Long live King David!" We all knelt and bowed to the man who would become known as David the Great.
It was my turn now, but Colt stepped forward. "From this day forward you are a bastard sir. You have neither father nor mother. We disowned you as soon as we heard what you were doing. Your mother is seriously ill because of your expectation that we keep it hidden from the only decent person that we have ever known. Our son from this day forward is LJ and we gladly adopt him."
Ezekiel stepped forward and Cace tried to reach for him to pull him to him. Ezekiel spat in his face and slapped him. "Do not think that you can touch Lord Bravender ever again. You are nothing to me. I disown you officially. I hate you for what you have put us through. My father is Lord Aquamaine and it is he that I know loves me. You will never see me again sir."
Annabelle stepped forward with TJ and both slapped and spat at him. Annabelle spoke, "You have your basic clothes which have been packed and nothing else. All of your accounts have been locked as the funds in them are fathers for he gave you everything. We know of the money that you persuaded him to give you."
TJ continued, "We have left you only with what you were given in the first court case as damages for when Charlie was attacked. Do not fight this for we will ruin you. We are not and never will be connected to you as your children ever again."
JR stepped forward and like the rest spat at and slapped Cace. "That sir is for what you have done to father. We have contacted all businesses that you have ever dealt with on Aquamaine's behalf and told them what you have done. No-one will deal in business with you and none of Aquamaine LLC will have anything to do with you."
Annabelle looked up, "Your accomplice Mr Stevens who worked with you to meet with everyone has been dismissed for his actions and arrested for fraud as it was his idea to steal the funds. Sorry, you're just not clever enough for that daddy. We even believe you were in bed with him when news came to you that father had been shot."
Ezekiel chipped in now, "Signor DeLuca will never receive you. He is ashamed that his name has ever been connected to you. So do not try. I have agreed he can be my Grandfather as he has always been good to me."
Charles now stood in front of him and as his brothers spat and slapped him, "You like the King will disappear. You are no longer Lord Penrise. You are no longer Baron of Lizonby, Viscount of Iddlesworth or Duke of Vauxland all of those titles and properties fall back to the House of Bravender and the Prince of Bowland. You are no longer Master of Penrise. You forsook all titles handed to you when you committed treason against Bowland and Chrysland.
"All titles resort back to Lord Aquamaine and the House of Bravender. It sir is as if you never existed. All funds in your bank which are there as a result of the Dukes title are not your funds sir! They resort back to Bowland. You too are no longer a member of the American Bar and will never be able to practice law... It is sir, as if you were never born."
Belle looked up, "The FBI are here at the Prince's invitation to arrest you for fraud and embezzlement of funds. The house of Aquamaine and the Office of the Prince will pursue the case to the fullest and insist that you and yours serve the full term once convicted. Do not expect leniency as America knows what you have done and as you know America loves Lord Aquamaine and his family. I pity you and yours as prisons do not like people like you who have hurt their own. Take him away."
David looked up and shouted "No! ... You have committed treason knowingly against the house of Aquamaine. You will be taken to Castle Blackswale ancient prison of Chrysland's royalty. There to await the judgement of the Lords of both Bowland and Chrysland as is the ancient custom of the house of Aquamaine. A special sitting will be called for next week so judgement will be swift. If you are found guilty you will be beheaded at Blackswale never to see light of day again. Take him away... Sorry Ma'am, but treason has to be acted upon just as America would do."
Cace looked up still naked, "Lance, help me. You cannot let this happen. Charlie, why are you doing this to me? You know that I love you all. You cannot do this." He was sobbing and shouting.
I looked at him. "I do not know you anymore. It is three months since you even spent a night at any of the houses where your family have been. I have here a list of all of the people that you have slept with during that time. Believe me it is not just these three men that were in this room. Two others of the Office of the Prince will also be dismissed as a result." I felt sick as Taji and Kurt had always been close to me, but were secret lovers of Cace.
I suddenly felt weak so sat on the chair and looked at him. "Why? Help me to understand Cace. I gave you everything. Hell I even put $250,000,000 in your bank when you asked. Did you ever love me? Or was it a game with you using me for just my money all of the time?"
"Oh God what do you think? It was always money. You paid for me to get through university. You gave me a home. You gave me a place to live, a place to work, people to fuck. What the hell do you think?"
Colt looked at him and said, "He gave you all of the love that was in his heart and you threw it in the garbage. I suppose you were fucking Stevens as well."
Cace laughed, "Him and several other managers of the hotels that I met at meetings daddy dearest. Often during meeting breaks if we could slip away. God ... managers threw themselves at me so that I gave them all a good report. Check the payments they are all paying me you know. LJ you are so stupid, rich beyond imagination but so stupid. What did you expect?"
That was the last time I saw him as he was led out of the room by the Kings guard to stand trial for treason. Belle looked at me, "Do not worry my Lord we will handle everything, unless of course you want to.
"No Belle. We will return to America, but at the moment we'll stay with David until after the coronation. I'll need Dwight and a team of auditors hiring to travel to all of my businesses and a team from HR. I want all of the businesses and hotels audited and all of the employees of Aquamaine Holdings and all of my properties over here interviewing. Anyone that knew what was happening will be dismissed. I know you all knew, but were doing what you thought was best."
I sobbed and then looked up and continued, "Anyone who was paying him money will be dismissed and arrested for fraud. I give loyalty and loyalty is what I expect. I want the team to hit each site at the same time so that no one gets a warning. This is a crime can the FBI be utilised as well? I will leave it to you, Walt and Ian to co-ordinate. I know that I can trust you all as you have always been there for me."
David put his arm around me. "Come on Lance let's go home to the palace. Belle, Walt, Ian we will see you and the Masters at the coronation."
"Ian please put in place what I have just said we are going to blitz the whole organization and rip this cancer out of it. Cace has become a cancer and we need to purge everything for we cannot allow this cancer to spread. Can you step in as acting CEO until I return then we will talk again."
"Prince David I need to stay with the Prince as he needs a friend at the moment and I will never turn my back on him at his time of need. I am in the middle of organising my wedding though so can we move Mary over here as well so that we can be together."
"Linc of course you and Mary can stay as long as you need. We need to get him right for I have loved him as a brother for so many years that I too will not turn my back on him. The kids will stay as well and attend school with mine. Their Aunt Christine will organise everything for them. Is that okay Charlie?"
Linc looked at the King, "Aunt Christine and Aunt Mary sir."
We had been up all night and yet there was this little one. The only one left awake hugging me as I wept. "We stay with daddy Uncle Linc. We stay with daddy." With that he put his head on my shoulder and promptly fell asleep.
As I walked down stairs to the staff they all knew what had happened and they had seen a naked Cace led away. "Ladies and Gentlemen Cace Nelson Bravender has been arrested today for treason against the house of Aquamaine. The King has shot and killed himself because of his act of treason as well.
"As he was here with other guests we assume that you were all aware of what was going on. So in a way you have committed treason as well by the simple act of not informing us. You are dismissed as Thomas has said without reference. Thomas arrange with Mr Jake to replace all but one staff member. The maid that was true to me you have place in my household if you want to live in America."
With that we left and went into seclusion at the palace for the next few weeks. I was unable to be seen until I was ready to face questions and the public. Ian Masters and Linc looked after everything for me depending on which side of the ocean it was on. William Tremaine and Belle fielded all questions and made any announcements that were needed as my attorneys.
King Myles arrived and I was so angry with him that I ended up punching him in the jaw. It turned out that he never knew except for the incident when I was shot and he and Steven had been true friends to me.
Belle, Walt and Ian took over control of all of my holdings for me along with Judge Reynolds, Dean Reynolds and William Tremaine. They all had my interest at heart and were true friends. They met regularly and also met with the children who like me when I was their age had thrown themselves into managing the holdings so that I wouldn't have to.
The kids refused to let anyone near me. All I wanted to do was sell all of the hotels as I felt as if they had been the cause of me being debased and abused by the one person that I gave everything. I would not have a partner again for a very long time and then it would be a good friend, one that had been hurt possibly more than me.
When I think back to how he had played me and how my love for him made me trust him no matter what. I felt used. Dirty. I hated myself. I felt abused more than I had when my father beat me. Believe me the wounds went a lot deeper as well.
I had given him $250,000,000 without even thinking. I mean it was only a morsel compared to my bank balance. I found myself withdrawing and not wanting to continue. I felt so, so used. I hated life and even tried to take my own. How could someone ever love me?
Thomas found me and took care of me not letting anyone know. He never let me sleep in a room by myself again and was always in the dressing room. Often on my worst night Linc or David would creep into my bed and spooned me to them as it was times like that that I slept peacefully. Charlie and the boys also became protective and spent many nights as a family sleeping in a huddle in the one bed.
Over the six months leading up to the coronation I started to return to my old self and travelled around the holdings taking Linc with me. I thought that I had got everything sorted until I heard of the execution of Cace and then I fell apart and the doctor wanted to hospitalise me.
Charlie and Linc refused and it was because of them that I got through. Charlie was on the phone straight away and the next day Nicole was holding her boy as he grieved for his first love lost.
With the coronation looming David approached Nicole to sing at the cathedral, but she suggested that she play and that he ask me to sing. The Student Prince has several beautiful songs, but he sings "I'll walk with God" as he prepares for his coronation. I loved my David and promised that I would sing. I also suggested to Nicole that we do, "I vow to thee my country" as it seemed fitting.
The cameras of the world were on Chrysland yet again and I found myself in a landau carriage heading to the Cathedral. This time though I was not with Cace or Roger my guardian as they had both betrayed me. I was with David's children.
As he and Christine were crowned King and Queen of Chrysland I stood walked to the piano and played the Hallelujah Chorus from the Messiah, in the background as the crowning was taking place.
Once they were crowned the Bishop stood and said "I call upon The Crowned Prince of Bowland to step forward." I was expecting this to be taken from me as it should have been with the Kings family.
"Lord Aquamaine, Prince of Bowland I call upon thee as the Prince of our land to pledge allegiance to the King and Queen. Do you Lancelot Jefferson Bravender of the house of the house of Bravender pledge to protect and uphold your king in all things?"
"I do." I was sobbing.
"Do you promise to place the land and the people before your own personal needs?"
"I do." I was still sobbing.
"Lancelot Jefferson Bravender, of the House of Rooksfeld Aquamarine have reviewed and upheld the constitutions of Chrysland and Bowland. Both constitutions have changes and as a result that makes your family holders of the title Prince of Bowland ad infinitum.
"No longer will you be of the House of Rooksfeld both David of Aquamaine and Lancelot Bravender are adopted into the new House of Aquamaine and all of your decedents to follow. This is the renaming of the great house of Rooksfeld as a result of the shame that has past.
"It is therefore that we crown you Prince of Bowland to rule the land for and on behalf of King David the Great. To make sure, in that land, that they are ruled over by the King and Queen in fairness and equality. Be it known to all people that Bravender of the House of Aquamaine will be forever more the Kings Men at Arms and champions for his people."
As I bowed to be crowned and blessed all of the kids stepped forward so that they could have a blessing as well. What touched me most was the oldest son of King David stepped forward and took the hand of Annabelle and they both knelt as well to be blessed.
As the kids took their place the bishop continued, "Lancelot Bravender do you accept all of these responsibilities as we have laid them out to you?"
"I do."
"Then it is with great pleasure that I crown thee Lord Aquamaine Prince of Bowland." As I bowed the ancient crown was placed on my head once and the bishop smiled to himself and he worked his way along the line of kids all of them had a simple band of gold placed on their heads as well. Prince David's son, Richard was blessed with my family and had a band also. Little did I know that he would one day be my son-in-law and Annabelle would be his Queen.
Here we stood my wonderful family. I was just twenty two and had lost everyone that ever meant anything to me. It was not until recently that I realised how much Roger had come to mean and because of that how deep his betrayal went.
Twenty two and I had a ten year old son, three six year olds and a very mature four year old. Sure I was in love, but I was in love with my family and wonderful friends.
Once the coronation had taken place and we had stayed at Chrysland while the happy couple had gone on a world cruise touring all of the lands and nations that we had grown to know and love. Of course when they needed to they had my blessing to stay at the Aquamaine and often Christine would call me with observations that she had noticed while they stayed.
They returned to an open top tour of their own land and it was obvious that the people loved them. The tours finished in Bowland where my people and family toured with them and we all stayed in the Palace of Sighs, now my official residence.
We were thronged wherever we went and the crowds always wanting pictures of me with my children. We had taken the gold band idea that the kids had placed on their heads and now even the king and queen wore simple bands wherever they went.
We were not the only one that were thronged the same was seen with David and Christine, they now had little Princess Adora as well. The kids become known as the people's prince and princess. You see as they were now the children of a prince that had a lifelong title the ruling was that the title went to all of his children though the actual "Prince" would always be me or the eldest son.
Where ever Annabelle went Prince Richard was seen and though he might be only six you could tell that they already had feelings for each other. They both knew that they had to be parted though as my place was in America and his in Chrysland. The time away only served to make them closer and as the years grew on so did their love for each other.
Our stay was finalised by the wedding of Mary Casterton and Linc Struthers in Bowland Cathedral. As Queen Christine was involved with the organization it was quite a splendid affair. Belle suggested Brodie Reid design all of the wedding dresses for the bride and bridesmaids as Mary loved the dress that Belle had worn.
I stood as his best man and the children all played a part in the procession of the bride. Even King Myles and King David's children played a part. All of us including Linc and the children were dressed in the ceremonial military uniform of the Princes of Bowland.
As everyone was linked to the Prince of Bowland the royal purple sash with the Bravender coat of arms was worn on the Left shoulder and attached to a ceremonial sword at the waist. The uniform was navy blue and gold and so all of the male attendants looked stunning.
Princess Zorina the daughter of Myles was the matron of honour being almost the same age as Mary. What we did not realise is that they were roommates in university the year before. All of the female attendants wore midnight blue dresses designed by Brodie Reid. Zorina's dress was offset with an ivory lace overdress long coat ending in a slight train, but she still had the midnight blue.
Mary was resplendent in an ivory gown identical to Zorina's with the same lace coat. Only this time the coat was shaped to flow into a six foot train. All of the ladies had corsages of cornflower blue and cream to match the bride's bouquet.
As Aquamaine's wedding gift they had a two week holiday of their choice staying at whatever hotel they wanted. When they returned there was a five bedroom house just outside of town for them. Not too far away from where either of them worked. This time it was my thank you to Linc for being a friend.
When everything was over I felt sorry for myself as it meant that I was once again on my own. I always had been as I had no one that I could share my life with. It was only when I was at my lowest that I realised that I never had. Cace had supposedly been my partner, but it had just been a ploy and whatever love was there I realised was one sided.
More importantly I realised that my life had love that I never knew about. I had fans that adored my music and made my albums sell out all over the world. I had children that looked to me for everything and now I also had my law that I was beginning to turn to as it was something I loved.
Tears were shed all around when we waved the married couple off and then again when we boarded the plane for home and returned to America in readiness to be there for the start of the school year.
Again the children were tested and were placed in the year above them as Chrysland was further advanced in their education. Even Annabelle was at school. Miss Anna became the mother of the house again and looked after all of the kids allowing me to have time to get on with my business. We also now had Evangeline who had moved with us from Conroy and who reported to Anna.
I had a meeting with the Office of the Prince and there were a few new faces that I did not expect, but realised that the scandal had meant that we lost not only Cace, but Taji and Kurt. Ian was turning out to the best CEO that any company could have. Belle was serving as the Hotel Operations Director and Uncle Walt was over the Oil division. Neither of them had ever been managed so well. New on the board also was Dwight as finance director.
Linc stood by me for the last year and so I offered him the Vice President's role, but he refused as he loved the law division. So I set him the challenge of developing the Aquamaine Law as I also wanted to practice.
I was stuck for the position of Vice President until I realised the Colt was at his wits end since he retired and would love something to keep him busy. Since his wife became ill they had sold the farm and when we moved back to Texas they moved in to the ranch with us as live in grandparents for the kids. It was the best thing we ever did. So that placed me as President and Pa as my Vice President.
That first day I had taken Charlie into work with me as he had a visit to the doctors and wanted to see everyone. He noticed that Maria though seeming to be Okay never looked in my eye or had anything to do with me.
Being the boy that he is after lunch he voiced that he would like to ask the board a question and that they had to be honest or the he would know.
He went round everyone and asked the same question. "Have you ever known something that would hurt Lord Aquamaine and never acted on it?" Everyone looked into his eyes and as one he felt that they were honest and that when they had they had always come to me. Maria was different. Something was wrong and even I felt it.
He paused and looked at me. "Maria you either tell me what is wrong or you will be dismissed and taken from the premises." She stood up and where she had managed to hide everything coming in we noticed that she was very heavily pregnant. Suddenly she was sobbing.
Ian Masters walked to her. "Tell us what's wrong as this is not like you sweetheart."
She looked at me, "I was always true to you sir. When he visited the store I was working at eight months ago I caught him having sex with the manager. I immediately terminated the manager because of his behaviour, but when Cace found out he raped me to teach me a lesson never to cross him. Sir I do not know what to do. I'm catholic so could never get rid of the baby, but..."
Colt looked up, "You have the baby darling and you let Lord Aquamaine adopt it. It is not the baby's fault that his papa was a bastard. We will look after it and will look after you as well if you need to talk to someone. Mama's sister is a psychologist and will be able to help you."
Maria looked at me and then I realised, "Oh sorry, Mama is Cace's mom and Colt is his father. They disowned him and as far as we are concerned are my mom and dad." I smiled at Colt who had tears in his eyes. "He is right your life should not be affected because of what has happened to you and we will not let it."
Charlie was on the phone in a shot. "Mr Thomas we need to arrange the adoption of Miss Maria's unborn baby so please call Judge Reynolds for Lord Aquamaine as a matter of urgency. Please attend as soon as possible so that we can arrange everything. Bring Mama and Aunt May as they need to be here. The child was Cace Nelson's. Maria was raped."
I looked at Ryan Crow my PA, "Arrange private health cover for the imminent birth and make sure that Maria has everything that she needs." Maria stood as if to go to the toilet but stopped and bent over and screamed in pain as her waters broke. "Call an ambulance now!" I shouted as Linc caught Maria as she had passed out and was unconscious.
Charlie stood and watched as the drama unfolded and simply said on the phone, "Mr Thomas meet us at the hospital as Miss Maria has gone into labour."
We were shocked when we realised that Maria was so ashamed that she had not been to a doctor at all and had tried to cope with the feeling of self hate that she was experiencing. We were shocked when she started to have a seizure. We called for Mike who was a medic in the marines to see if he could help her and Belle was at her side.
Within minutes Todd came running in with the ambulance crew and a doctor that Charlie had arranged once he saw Maria fitting. No one knew what she had, but it certainly looked like eclampsia and as she had not been to a doctors warning signs could not have been picked up.
The hospital was only blocks away, but with Maria in this condition it was impossible to take her that far. A caesarean had to be carried out and NOW. We cleared the conference room and the emergency stuff from the ambulance was setup. Mike as Dave both medics assisted the doctor as well as the ambulance staff and Belle stayed so that she could take care of the baby once born.
We were sat on tender hooks outside the room when we heard the screams of new born, but nothing else for some time. Once Maria was stabilised they then rushed her and Belle with the baby to the hospital and we all followed. Ian stayed behind to get everything sorted and said he would meet us as soon as it was done. Ryan stepped in and took over so that he could come with us.
It was a boy and we called him Colt Nelson Bravender after his grandpa. We all sat waiting around the ward as Maria was classified as critical. As soon as the drugs wore off and she was able to rest we thought that she would be okay.
We were wrong as the seizures came back and no matter what they did they got stronger and stronger so much so that she suffered a heart attack and in the early hours of the morning she passed away in Amy's arms.
We had been taking turns to sit with Maria, but as she slowly got worse through the night we all stayed with her and the Study Group were all there at the end. We were heartbroken.
Colt Jr would never know the woman who had bravely carried him and hid her shame to protect him and me. As he grew he would fight for the rights of women that had been destroyed like his mother.
Since I was adopting him he became The Honourable Lord Bravender, Marquess of Vauxland taking a lower rank of his father's original title. Charles vowed that once they were all grown Colt Jr would be Duke of Vauxland.
We tried to contact her family only to discover that she was alone in life as her family had died when she was in university and she never told anyone. As she knew something had been wrong with the pregnancy she had a will created that left everything to the baby and if it had died in birth everything came to my kids. Judge Reynolds pushed the adoption through and when the christening took place was also the main godfather for Colt Jr.
Colt had called David and Christine with what was happening and it was late that morning that they arrived with Princess Zorina and Linc's Mary to make sure that Colt Jr had everything that he needed.
King David, bless his heart was in tears as he held the little one thinking about what Colt Jr's mother had been through. "Lance it is my right as a godfather of this child to bestow upon him a gift and my gift shall be 8th Duke of Caderis, 15th Earl of Perisand. He shall never feel hated or unwanted again and with you at his right hand shall always have family.
I looked at Mary, Zorina and Christine. "I know that it's unusual but would you all be his god mothers? I also would like to ask King Myles to be his other God Father.
We were shocked when from the door we heard, "I would be honoured LJ. Now as god father it is my pleasure to bestow up him... What do you think Zorina darling?"
"Oh let me think the two areas that I love most in our land are the Vale of Shadehaven and the coastline of Ironsea so why not the dormant titles of 5th Duke of Shadehaven and 19th Marquess of Ironsea."
"So be it! Colt Nelson Bravender, Duke of Caderis and Shadehaven – Marquess of Ironsea and Earl of Perisand. With all of the properties and chattels that go with those positions. From this day on he has the protection of Lizondia and we will be listed as his family."
We all attended the reading of the will and were shocked when Colt Jr inherited a $25,000,000 estate and several businesses. We put Aquamaine as manager of the estates until he was of age to take over his inheritance. It came as a surprise when Zorina insisted that she manage his inheritance with Aquamaine so that there were always two people making decisions.
Charlie was incensed as he wanted to manage the estate. Instead Zorina agreed that it was a fantastic idea that he and Zorina work together with Mr Jake and Johan managing the land and properties for him. Aquamaine LLC as co partner to ensure that his properties in America were properly managed. It was also agreed that Dwight's team would audit all of Colt's estate on a regular basis.
Arnold Tremaine contacted my office just after the royal family had returned home and asked me to visit with him at the office. I arranged it for the next day and Linc insisted on attending with me. Where law matters were concerned we made a good team.
"Lord Aquamaine, thank you for meeting at such short notice. As you know we don't often consider taking on criminal cases, but felt that you would want to know about this. Boy A and Boy B happy with each other's company if you understand me were caught by Boy A's father a renowned preacher. Boy B did a quick runner and left Boy A with this abusive person. This preacher beat and systematically tortured BOY A to force the "Gayness" out of him."
We sat listening and were horrified at what we heard. "Boy A was kept locked in the cellar of the church by his father and after six months of this torture he found an opportunity to escape. Only thing is he found himself on the street eating out of bins. So to try to survive he took to crime and also whoring himself out. It was then that the police decided to step in."
I looked and just asked "They hadn't been involved before? Even for the missing child report that must have been lodged..."
"No sire it was never reported."
I said dumbfounded. "So what are we looking at?"
Arnold sighed, "That's just it he won't talk, says that he'll only talk to you. From what I can understand no one believes him. So he's clammed up. Wouldn't you? His only plea is to have you as his attorney."
"Okay you have my interest let's go and see him to find out what's going on if nothing else." We drove to the Child Protective Agency and as we did so I was reliving the day that I was almost thrown into oblivion by them.
Arnold had called the police and arranged for us to see the boy. When we arrived we were shown into a room and I was shocked by the treatment that the child received from the people there. I looked at the person that bought him in, "Get me the director now. I need to talk to him."
"Sorry he isn't here." He snapped at me.
"Well unless it's a vacation he should be. Where is he?"
"On the golf course, he has been all day."
"Okay. Listen to me and listen well. Call the director now and get him here to do his job and at the same time I will call my friend the President and do the same thing. We will also get representatives of the special Agents and FBI here to audit your offices. Now move your fat ass out of here and do what I said." I pulled my phone, "Yes Lord Aquamaine Esq. here, I need to speak to President Myers... Yes I'll hold."
The boy was just looking at me, "Martin, long time no see how are you? ... Oh we're doing well. I need you out here as soon as possible at the Child Protective Services in Houston. There is a situation with one of the boys here, but more importantly the director seems to like golf more than his job. I know I never call you for anything, but you didn't see how they were treating this kid. I will see you soon. Thank you."
"Sorry Arnold, but I do not talk to middle men. Now..." I looked at the boy, "Arnold why is he not in the hospital? He has clearly been beaten and recently." I looked at Linc, "Call the governor and get him here with a doctor NOW!" He could not have been more than twelve years old, "Do you want to tell me your name son?"
He shrugged, "Not sure that you can help anyway. They all have it in for me because of my money."
"Who?"
"My Pa! Him that got rid of me, but he wasn't, was he...? You know, my Pa that is. He married my ma a year ago so that made him my step dad. Soon as they were wed she took ill. Within months she was dead and he claimed she left him everything."
He broke down and cried, "God sir I miss her so much. We were best friends. See he's lying she told me about her will. It was odd as it had to tie in my grandpa's as well. Gramps left everything to me and my brother as she had all she needed. Now he has everything and even has my little brother. I heard he is never seen anymore so I am really worried.
"Why haven't police done anything? You have told them..."
"The man she married was a preacher. People believe preachers, but even if he weren't, his brother's the sheriff."
"Okay I've come across sheriffs like this before, and won. Let me ask this who was your grandfather as his will and your mothers have to be registered if it was done through an attorney."
"Oh that's easy, Thomas Thompson sir of `Thompson, Thompson and Thompson' the famous law and advertising companies. He was the last Thompson other than me and my brother so he left everything to us. Ma had her own ..."
I interrupted him, "She had her own successful design company. Designing fashion clothes for men and boys. What was it called? Sam's Design...? No...! It was Thom's Boys and Thom's Men. I often wondered why not women."
"Oh that one is easy to answer. She said designers always gave women everything and there was never anything for the men or boys."
"She was right. She became really famous and people came to her from all over the world. I remember wearing her clothes and meeting with her many times over the years as she always made my outfits after I came to live in America. This may even be one of hers."
"Exactly..! So he fixed it when she died that this kid at school would come to do homework with me and seduce me. I'm not gay sir, they drugged me. He used it as a way of getting rid of me and beating me to a pulp. He has my little ten year old brother using him to keep me from going to anyone. You're my last chance. I don't know what to do and I fear that my Troy may be suffering as he's not well anyway."
"Your ..." Arnold looked at me as tears rolled down my cheeks and Linc put his arms around me.
"LJ it is not your Troy. Are you listening to me LJ? You did all you could for your brother and we will do the same for this Troy." Linc said.
I looked at the boy, "Son what's your name?"
"LOR sir, well Lancelot Oscar Ryan but I prefer LOR."
"Lancelot and Troy; I had a twin called Troy and my name is ..."
"Lancelot I know. Ma called me after you and little bro after your brother. She always followed your life as you grew up." At that moment the room opened and in walked the Director of the CPS. Immediately Lancelot clammed up again.
I looked at the man, "You would be?" I watched Lancelot he was clearly terrified of the man.
"Howard Greaves the director of these facilities and who the hell are you?"
"Then as director you know that any child is entitled to protection and to meet with his attorney."
"What do you mean his attorney? He can't afford anything like that. He's a keeper and we will make sure of that." He looked at the boy and laughed.
"You obviously do not know me then sir." He looked at me questioningly, "I am Lord Aquamaine, but you may not know that you have to add ESQ at the end of my name now. I'm an attorney at law and my law partner is contacting a judge as we speak. Now tell me why he is a keeper? It wouldn't be because his step father is paying you to keep him would it?"
"I don't know what you are talking about. I have never set eyes on his father before. The boy was found on the streets and arrested because of it."
Lancelot became very animated, "That's not true you used to visit when ma was alive and you paid father to fuck me on more than one occasion."
"Well what if I did no one will believe you and do you honestly think this charade is going to work?"
A voice from behind him suddenly asked, "What do we have here Greaves?"
"Sherriff the little brat has got himself an attorney."
"It matters not we'll soon have the funds as we have petitioned the courts to release the estate. Then he can do what the hell he wants."
At that time Judge Reynolds, now of the Supreme Court and the President walked into the room. Judge Reynolds said, "Yes we know the petition has been made and we were going to grant it, but now I wonder just what the hell is happening. President I want the boy, Lord Aquamaine and Linc as his attorney and anyone else you feel fit to visit the preacher with me tonight."
The sheriff clearly flustered, "You can't do that. You have no right."
I looked at him, "For a sheriff you know very little about the law. We feel not only has a hate crime has been carried out, but you are stealing this boys inheritance and torturing his brother. We can and we will visit your brother Sheriff. I still wonder why you arrested the boy when you knew he was your nephew and you had been fucking him for so long as had the director of this facility."
The President looked up, "Arrest these men. Are there any other men involved?" I looked at Lancelot and he whispered something in response.
"Yes sir, officers called Daily and Smith every night since he has arrived have been having fun with him while he was tied and gagged. His blood has dripped on the floor in the basement so many times that I think many that works here are indeed involved."
The President looked at the FBI agent. "I want this place closed and stripped. Children tested and looked after and everyone else arrested."
The CPS director looked at him, "You will regret that sir."
I looked at the FBI agent, "Arrest him now for treason as he has threatened the President."
We left the FBI at CPS to do its job and headed to the Preachers house. As we got there I knocked at the door. There was no reply. It wasn't Sunday so someone should have been there. Lancelot had tears in his eyes, "Sir for him not to hear he has to be with Troy."
"Gunny, knock the door down. NOW! Once we're in the building on guard, our mission is to protect the boys. President you stay here for your safety."
"To hell with that Your Grace a boy needs us. Now get your ass in gear."
It was a large house so before entering I asked Lancelot about the layout and where most likely Troy would be. It had eight bedrooms over three floors and the basement was a fully converted and used to be used for weight lifting and storage. The preacher took it and since then he had never seen it.
As we headed through the door we heard a scream and it was coming from downstairs. So Lancelot was correct he was down there, but who was with him? The secret service agents took control with Gunny and Mike and we walked slowly down.
As we got there we saw five men all naked and all with young boys on their knees. Troy lay on the floor in heap. He looked seriously in need of help. Two men were in the process of flogging a young man tied to a pinwheel attached to the wall. They were whipping him so hard that we could see flesh being ripped off his back and we noticed that he was unconscious.
Other than the President we were all assigned a group to try to make safe. I took the nearest. There were two naked men and one was busy fucking one of the boys. With a quick crack I managed to knock him unconscious and I am afraid that I may have hurt the other member of the group as he tried to attack me and I responded with my martial arts training and he was soon knocked hard against the wall and passed out.
Gunny pulled the men over to my corner and Todd took the boys over to the other corner with the President and started talking to them. They were all drugged. Lancelot had Troy in his arms sobbing and rocking him. Mike walked over to us with the Preacher very hard and erect. "Since when does the bible state though shalt sodomise my young and beat the shit out of them sir?"
"We were exorcising them..."
I looked at his erection and tugged it extremely hard. He howled in pain, "Yes I could see the type of exercise and all of them are under age. Prisons love child molesters. Now I have a question about Lancelot and Troy's mother's will."
"She never had one."
I took Mike gun and held it to his cock and clicked it ... "Wrong answer." I took Mikes cigar and just held it to the shaft of his cock and he screamed in agony. "Now about this will?"
"There isn't one." I held the cigar to his testicles and he screamed again and had tears rolling down his face.
"Wrong answer..! Now about this will?" He didn't answer. I pulled big Mike, my guard over and said "How big is your cock Mike? You see I've heard rumours."
He looked proud as he said "Dave my man says it is eleven inches, and as thick as a coke can. He loves it."
"Oh I bet he does. I want you to fuck the preacher hard till he tells us where the will is. Don't bother with lube he never did with any of the kids."
He screamed for us to fuck off and lashed out, so I shot at the floor and shattered his toe on his left foot. "Now tell me or your cock is next." He was silent so I sent a bullet flying close to his cock head.
He screamed, "It's in Lancelot's closet safe ... no one uses his room. Oh for god sake I don't ..."
Lancelot took off to his old room and ran back with the will. While he was out of the room though we managed to get the arrested men taken out and the ambulance arrived with the doctors and the governor.
I looked at him. It was a new governor and I realised that we did not know him. "George what have you done to these boys now? I warned you ..." He suddenly realised that it was not a normal situation.
I looked and said "You never responded to the call when we called for help at the CPS group home tonight. Care to tell me why?"
The President stepped into view, "Yes I would like to know as well."
He looked like a deer trapped in the headlights. Troy, who was being held by Gunny, lifted his head. "He was with me...Fucking me. Do a DNA test and you'll see! Not them ambulance men though. They're the ones he pays to make sure boys disappear when they're no longer of any use."
Linc was on it and called Belle to see if she could get a doctor and ambulance out to us. The governor was led away by the FBI and so were the fake crew.
As he walked passed me I looked at him, "I know that you have money to buy yourself out of trouble. Know this sir you are ruined as I will see to it that your family find out what you are involved in. I am sure you wife Doreen will be pleased. Oh isn't it her money that you have not yours?"
Lancelot had given us the wills and documents that he found. I looked at the will then at the stepfather. "You are arrested for murder, child endangerment and child neglect. Add to that, embezzlement of funds from your late wife's and her father's estates. You are also arrested for hates crimes. I do not know what else you were involved in, but if we can make it stick you are arrested for that.
"Officer, take him away and make sure that he is placed in a cell where everyone knows it was child prostitution that he was involved in. Make sure to do everything right I do not want him to see light of day again!" Lancelot was holding Troy because as he was being looked after, but the pain made him pass out and Lancelot thought that he had lost him. Troy simply opened his eyes and said, "You came back..."
"Oh Troy..." and with that they both cried their hearts out.
Margaret their mothers PA and best friend had been concerned when she had not seen them for a week and came running in when she saw all of the cars outside. She came running into the room and when she saw both of the children she fell to the floor and took them into her arms.
I sat with them, "Margaret, do you have a family?"
"Oh my no sir I worked with their mother in design until she died and never allowed men to show interest. Now I am too old to have a family."
"You know these boys need a guardian and an officer to look after their interests. I could petition the court to appoint you if you would like." Both boys were looking up at her with great big puppy dog eyes.
"With these precious little ones at stake how can I refuse?"
Judge Reynolds managed to get a position in the courts by the next week and we all attended. During the court case for the adoption we discovered that the governor got off scot free. At least the boys were safe and would never suffer again. His family knew about him and he was shunned by all of them. He was ruined as promised.
It wasn't many weeks later that we read in the paper that the governor had committed suicide as his wife had filed for divorce and taken all of his children away with her. More importantly she had all of the money and he would be penniless. At last the boy's family had justice. I still worried about how something like this could exist and have leaders in society involved
The preacher never lasted to the trial as the prisoners in the jail took out their own justice when they found out that he had been running a child prostitution ring with young boys. All of the men found in that room that night mysteriously died of a virus according to the papers.
When Martin Japp was released from prison soon after he contacted Linc and me and asked to see us. He was a father of two and could no longer be with his kids because of what he had done trying to give them a life. He had been misguided and we both felt he had served his time.
Martin begged us to employ him to be the private investigator so that he could repay his debt by helping others especially young kids like Lancelot and Troy.
Lancelot and Troy were easy to settle back to their family, but we searched with the police and were able to place all of the children.
When the mother of one of the boys arrived she was horrified at what had happened as her husband had told her that their son had run away. It turned out that he had sold the boy to the reverend. Needless to say we helped her divorce the bastard and he was arrested for child abandonment and neglect.
We soon developed a reputation of protecting children's rights and women who were in abusive relationships. With the help of Martin our law practice thrived and we were soon close friends with Martin.
That's all for now folks ... Chapter 10 - Life settles down until they visit Aunt Dotty and then we find out about the Stoneacre Affair and exactly who Charlie is. worst of all we nearly lose a little one.
The character list has been reduced by those that do not appear again...
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I would like to thank all of those that have written to me to say how much they are enjoying the syory. Many of you have already read my other story Moonside Manor (that one is in Beginnings as well). Continue to let me know what you think it really helps to inspire me ...
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A little about myself ... I'm from the UK and born in Yorkshire... Ancestors were miners. Me I'm and accountant. I have always loved writing and hope you enjoy...Let me know!!