Chapter 109 Ending it All

Chapter 109 Ending it All
The courtroom felt… colder than I expected.

Not the kind of cold you could fix with a jacket.

The kind that sat quietly in your chest and refused to move.

Rows of polished wooden benches stretched out, filled with low murmurs and watchful eyes.

Everything about the place felt controlled—measured—like even breathing too loudly would earn you a warning.

I sat still, hands clasped tightly in my lap.
Trying not to think too much.

Trying not to feel too much.

“All rise.”

The voice rang out, sharp and practiced.
Everyone stood.

A second later, I followed.

The judge walked in, expression firm as he took his seat.

“Be seated.”

The chairs shifted. The room settled.

Then—

“Bring in the accused.”

My fingers tightened slightly.

The doors opened.

And he walked in.

Ronan.

Escorted by two officers, restrained but composed, like none of this could touch him.

But I knew better.

His gaze moved once—

Then snapped to mine.

My breath caught.

Just for a second.

Then, just as quietly, he looked away.

Like it didn’t matter.

Like I didn’t.

I swallowed hard, forcing myself to stay still.

“State your name for the record.”

“Ronan Callahan.”

His voice was calm.

Too calm.

The charges were read out one after the other—organized crime, conspiracy, corruption… things heavy enough to bury anyone standing in that position.

The kind of things that didn’t end well.

My throat felt dry.

The judge leaned forward slightly.

“Prosecution, present your evidence.”

There it was.

Everything hinged on this.

The prosecuting team moved quickly—files opened, papers shuffled, quiet exchanges passed between them.

One of them flipped through a file again.

Then another.

Brows furrowed.

Another leaned in, whispering something under his breath.

I watched carefully.

Something was off.

They checked again.

And again.

Faster now.

Less composed.

Their movements lost that clean confidence they walked in with.

My gaze shifted, just slightly—

Landing on Anthony.

He stood at the back, like he didn’t belong to any side.

But he did.

His eyes met mine for a brief second.

And we both smiled.

Just a little.

It didn’t last.

But it was enough.

When I looked back, the tension had spread.

The murmurs had started.

Low at first.

Then growing.

The prosecution was no longer hiding it.

Papers spread out across the table.

Files opened and reopened.

Hands moving faster, rougher.

Searching.

But finding nothing.

“They had it…”

“Where is it?”

“Didn’t they say—”

The whispers grew louder.

Uneasy. Restless.

“Order!”

The sharp crack of the gavel cut through everything.

“I said order in this court.”

The judge’s voice carried authority this time.

Instant quietness.

His gaze settled on the prosecution.

“What seems to be the issue?”

One of them stepped forward, clearly unsettled.

“Y-Your Honor… we—”

He hesitated.

Swallowed.

“We are unable to locate the evidence.”

A ripple moved through the courtroom.

The judge’s expression darkened.

“Unable to locate?” he repeated.

“Yes, Your Honor,” another added quickly.

“The documents were prepared but… they are missing.”

The word sat heavily in the air.

The judge leaned back slightly, irritation clear now.

“And you brought this case before me without securing your evidence?”

No one answered.

No one could.

A brief pause.

Then—

“This court will not tolerate incompetence.”

The words landed hard.

“If the prosecution cannot present sufficient evidence…”

He glanced briefly at Ronan.

“…then there is no case.”

My chest tightened.

This was it.

“The accused is hereby released on the grounds of insufficient evidence.”

Silence.

For a second, it didn’t feel real.

Then—

Everything broke.

Voices. Shock. Movement.

But I barely heard any of it.

Because my eyes were on him.

Ronan stood there, still as ever.

But something had shifted.

Not relief.

Not exactly.

Just… something quieter.

When his gaze lifted—

It found mine again.

And this time, it didn’t look away.

Not immediately.

My breath slowed.

A small, almost unnoticeable smile touched my lips.

Because this time—

It was over.

And for once…

He was walking out free.

………

The prison gates were taller than I remembered.

Cold. Metallic.

I stood a few feet away, arms folded lightly against myself, more out of habit than the weather.

People passed occasionally—guards switching shifts, a few waiting families, low conversations that didn’t quite reach me.

My eyes stayed fixed on the gate.

Waiting.

It felt strange being here like this… not as an agent, not as someone watching from the shadows.

Just… me.

The seconds stretched.

Then—

The gates opened with a low mechanical sound.

My breath caught before I could stop it.

And he stepped out.

Ronan Callahan.

No restraints. No guards holding him.

Just… free.

For a moment, he didn’t move far. Like he was adjusting to it. To the air, to the space, to the fact that nothing was holding him back anymore.

Then his gaze lifted.

And found me.

Something flickered in his eyes—brief, unreadable—before he started walking.

Slow.

Unhurried.

Like he knew I wasn’t going anywhere.

My heart picked up, steady but noticeable, as he closed the distance between us.

Up close, it was easier to see the changes.

Subtle, but there.

“You lost a bit of weight, it seems like prison didn't do you any good”

“Prison doesn't do anyone any good Agnes....or should I call you detective mara instead.”

“Just Mara.”

“Mara..... it sounds much better,” he paused, his gaze lingering just a second longer than necessary. “I always knew you were never an Agnes, no matter how you tried, you never could appear plain.”

“So you're saying Agnes is a plain name”

“It is plain.”

Silence settled between us.

The kind that carried everything neither of us was saying.

“Why? I knew you had an inkling that I was not to be trusted, seeing as you were always watching me like a hawk. Why didn't you take action towards that thought.”

I looked away briefly, my thoughts catching up with me before I could filter them.

“I don't know......maybe I was just tired of it all, still holding on because I had people who looked up to me but all I wanted was for it all to end.”

The honesty of it hung in the air.

“So...what are you going to do now?”

He stepped closer.

Too close.

Close enough that I could feel the shift in the air between us, the space narrowing until there was barely any left.

“There's something I'd like to do first,” he murmured softly. “Something I've always wanted to do.”

Before I could process it—

He closed the distance.

And kissed me.

I froze.

Not out of rejection.

Just… surprise.

Everything stilled for a second.

Then—

My lips moved against him too.

Like my body made the decision before my mind could catch up.

It didn’t last long.

He pulled away first.

And suddenly I was very aware of everything—my heartbeat, the closeness, the warmth rising to my face.

I blinked, still trying to process it, as a blush crept up my cheeks.

“I've also been meaning to ask, now that I'm no longer a Mafia boss, would you like to go on a date with me as a normal man?”

“Huh?”

“I'm over 6ft tall, handsome, I have a lot of legal businesses and money, I'm very capable—”

I didn’t let him finish.

I kissed him this time.

Quick.

Just enough to shut him up.

And it worked.

His fingers curled around my waist, pulling me closer until there was no space left between us.

This time, I didn’t freeze.

We stayed like that for a moment.

Not rushing.

Not thinking too much.

Then I pulled back.

A small smile found its way onto my face.

“Since you fit the criteria, I can't very well say no, can I?”

He grinned. “I guess not.”

For the first time in a long while…

Things felt… simple.