Page 102 of Trained Royal

Slipping back inside the room, he closed the door behind him. “We have a situation, Your Majesty.”

Andrew stood. “What’s wrong?”

“The guards at the door are gone. I don’t know if it was by force or if they’re aligning with Charlotte, but you’re sitting ducks here.”

He grabbed a couple of chairs from next to the door and pushed them under the handles. It wouldn’t stop anyone from getting in, but it would slow them down.

“What do you need us to do?” Freddie asked.

Kieren paused. “Who can fight?”

Several people gasped, but Patrick stood, as did William Senior, William Junior, Damon, Douglas, Christian and Freddie.

Kieren glanced at Freddie and shook his head. “Not happening, Your Highness.”

“You need people,” he gritted out.

“Yes, but you’re the heir to the throne. You and Andrew need to be the safest of us all.”

Douglas gripped his brother’s shoulders. “You know this, Freddie.”

“I need—”

“I need you to help keep the rest safe,” Kieren interrupted. “I have no idea what we’re up against.”

The door to the kitchen burst open, and Damon, who was the closest, took the man to the wall with a hand to his throat and another hand to the wrist holding a gun.

Kieren raced over. “Who are you?” he asked, though he knew, having memorised the faces of the hidden guards.

“Landon Kirk, Brett’s hidden guard,” the man gasped.

“Code?” Kieren asked, knowing they had given every hidden guard a unique sentence.

“The sun shines on the east of Windsor.”

Kieren relaxed marginally. “Let him go, Damon.” He clapped Freddie’s best friend on the shoulder. “Good, fast work. Nicely done.” He focused on Landon. “Do you have a spare gun?”

Landon stood tall and reached behind him, holding out another gun, which Kieren took. “Be my guest.”

“Thanks.” Kieren felt better with a gun in his hand. “Has Brett been in contact?” he asked Landon.

Landon nodded. “He relayed what you told him. The kitchen is secure. There were three of us in there.”

A knock sounded, but Kieren ignored it.

“Good. That might be our only way out, depending on what else is happening out there.” Kieren faced the royal family, ignoring more shouts and knocking at the door. “Okay, I’m splitting us into two groups. I need William Senior, Damon and Christian to stick with Andrew, Lou, Freddie, Henry, Robert, Kean and Oscar. Landon, you’re in charge of getting them to the safe room. Douglas, William Junior and Patrick,” He swallowed hard at the thought of the royal family in danger but knew he had no other choice, “you need to stick with me, Mav, George, Timothy, Eddie and Sophia.” He focused on Landon again. “Leave one of the other men behind with me. Take the other with you. If you are not sure if they are friend or foe…” He didn’t finish the sentence, hoping Landon realised what he meant.

“Understood.”

Someone began banging on the door. “Go,” he said, gripping the gun tighter as he moved towards the entrance door. “I want everyone to plaster themselves against the walls here.” He pointed to the wall where the door was. “Either side, press as close to the walls as you can. Usually, when a guard enters, they’ll sweep from one side to the other. If you’re hidden behind the decorative beams, they shouldn’t see you.”

“What about you?” Patrick asked.

Kieren grimaced. “I’ll be waiting, front and centre.”

“No,” Patrick said.

Kieren took a second to cup his chin. “I need their focus on me, not you. They’ll see me as a threat, not you. You can surprise them.” The banging continued. “Go.”