Page 50 of Dark Prince

Sharon just smirks, unfazed. “A woman's gotta do what a woman's gotta do. Who knows? Maybe we'll be seeing each other again outside these walls before too long.”

That's all I need to hear. The confirmation of her betrayal, her complete lack of remorse, her willingness to sell out her allies and her own child… it all wraps up any lingering doubts about the kind of person she truly is. “Good luck with all that,” I tell her, my tone dripping with disdain.

Sharon hurls a few choice words my way as I stand to leave, but they’re insignificant and bounce off me. I've heard enough, seen enough. I nod to the woman in the booth next to ours, giving her the signal. Then, I simply walk away, leaving Sharon and her delusions behind.

As I'm about to exit the visitor's area, a sudden commotion erupts from the prisoner's side. A part of me wants to turn back, but I know exactly what's unfolding without needing to see it. A small grin spreads across my face as security alarms go off.

I reach the exit, allowing myself one quick glance at the mayhem before I leave. The guards are scrambling; their efforts focused on pulling the blonde woman I had briefly acknowledged earlier away from Sharon. She holds a shiv in her hand, tinged red with blood, and though I keep my expression neutral, there's a dark satisfaction in knowing that she's executed the plan—and Sharon—flawlessly.

The guard standing by the door, his face a mask of professional detachment, leans in as I pass. “You'd better get moving,” he murmurs, his tone low but urgent. “Doesn't look good, you being here while all this goes down.”

I nod, ready to leave the prison and its grim dealings behind. As I walk through the door, I can hear a guard's exclamation, “Jesus, she's dead!” The finality of those words, the closure they represent, only cause my grin to widen as I step farther away from the visitor's area.

Leaving the jail, what's just occurred doesn't burden me; instead, there's a sense of completion, of loose ends neatly tied up. Sharon's threats, her potential to unravel the peace and safety I've fought so hard to secure for Maura and our future child, are nullified in one swift, decisive act.

The world outside seems brighter, the air fresher, as I make my way back to the car.

Sliding into the plush confines of the back seat, the sense of a chapter closing washes over me as the vehicle glides away from the jail. My phone vibrates, a coded message lighting up the screen, a signal from one of the guards inside confirming the success of our meticulously laid plan.

Sharon Flanagan no longer exists; she’s now an eradicated threat, ensuring the safety of my family's future.

Without hesitation, I draft a message to my financial manager, instructing the confidential confirmation of payment to the woman who carried out the deed. She's not going to see the outside world for a long time, but her actions have secured a substantial sum for her family. Two million dollars can change lives, even if she's paying a hefty price for it.

And no price is too high to pay to ensure the safety of the ones I love.

I settle comfortably into the plush seat, my thoughts turning to Maura. She's the heart of all my actions, the reason I've waged wars and brokered peace. But how will she react to the lengths I've gone to protect us? The morality of my world is a far cry from the one she envisions for our child.

The reality that I'll need to share the day's events with her looms over me, and feelings of dread and necessity take over. Maura's strength and resilience are qualities I've come to adore, but what I need to tell her is a whole different beast. The truth about how I've ensured our safety, about the darkness I've navigated to keep danger from our door is a burden I wish I could spare her.

Yet transparency has always been the foundation upon which we've built our relationship. It's not just about the physical safety of our family but about the trust and understanding between us. As the car turns onto the highway, leading me back to her, back to the life we're building together, I prepare myself for a conversation I never imagined we'd be having.

An hour later, the car pulls into the driveway. In the quiet sanctuary of my study, I pour myself a drink, the amber liquid a temporary solace for the trepidation brewing within me. The door opens slightly, and one of the staff, ever discreet, informs me that Maura has arrived home. I steel myself for the conversation ahead.

Maura enters, radiant, her pregnancy lending her an ethereal glow. In that moment, with the soft light illuminating her features, she's the embodiment of everything pure and good in my world. She begins excitedly, “Luk, the ultrasound was amazing! The baby is healthy and—”

I raise a hand, gently stopping her mid-sentence. “Maura, I apologize, but there’s something I need to tell you before you go on,” I say, cutting her off. “Something happened today. Part of me wants to keep it from you, but you’ve asked for honesty, and I promised I will always give it to you.”

Confusion flickers across her beautiful face. “What are you talking about? What happened?”

Taking a deep breath, I let the truth spill out, raw and unembellished. “Sharon is dead. I arranged it,” I confess, watching her closely for any sign of how deeply my words have struck.

Maura's reaction is a mixture of shock and disbelief. “You... what? Why would you… How could you?” The questions tumble out, each one reflecting the turmoil I've just thrust upon her.

I move closer, needing her to understand, to see the necessity behind my actions. “I did it to protect us, Maura. To ensure our family's safety. Sharon was a threat, not just to me, but to you and our child. She had the means to get herself out of jail, and I couldn’t let that happen. She was going to come for you again, for all of us. I couldn't allow what she’d done to stand.”

The room fills with tension, a tangible force that seems to press down on both of us. Maura's eyes search mine seeking answers, clarity, perhaps even remorse. “I know this is hard to accept,” I continue, “and part of me hates the fact that she left me no other choice. But I need you to know, everything I do, every decision I make, is to protect what we have, what we're building together.”

Maura continues to search my eyes for answers as the silence stretches between us, a chasm filled with unasked questions and unspoken answers.

Chapter 30

Maura

“Are you... is this some kind of sick joke?” I ask Luk.

His face is serious, the look in his eyes grave. “No. It's no joke,” he responds, his voice steady, quiet.

I have no choice but to believe him. He places his hands on my shoulders, a gesture both comforting and grounding. “What are you feeling?” he asks, his concern for my reaction clear. “Talk to me.”

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