Chapter 325

Pearl walked back to the room and looked at Sebastian.

He nodded and smiled. "You are amazing." He said. Fi smiled and hugged her.

"Thank you, Fi. We could not have pulled this off without you. You are so special to me. I love you so much." Pearl said.

"Are we good? Has it been released?" Sebastian asked.

"We are good. The Daily Telegraph is releasing it first thing in the morning. That's in about 3 hours. The rest of the media with be on it soon after." Q said. "I have sent a copy of the tape and a photo of the written confession to the local authorities as well."

Sebastian nodded. "Is the jet ready?" He asked.

"Yes." Blake said.

Sebastian looked at Pearl. "Are you ready to go?" He asked. They were flying to a remote town in the US to hide out until this all came out and was handled. Blake was in charge of their safety.

"I am." Pearl said.

He walked them out the car, thanking the actors and Fi. "You all were incredible." Sebastian said.

"I will meet you, Jim and my son at the airstrip." He said to Pearl.

She nodded and got in the car. "Bash." She said, rolling down the window.

"Yes?" He asked.

"I love you." She said. He smiled and nodded. He was afraid if he spoke, he would cry. And he had a job to finish.

He walked back inside, and into the interrogation room where Erik was sitting, looking forlorn and defeated.

"You and Pearl... the baby." Erik rambled to him.

"Yes. Apparently we found sanctuary in each other's arm while you were taken. Who would have known our instincts to cling to each other were correct?" Sebastian said.

"And you love her." He said. It wasn't a question.

"I do. Very much." He said.

"Please cousin. Don't go to the press. Please. I promise I will leave you and Pearl to live your lives. I won't bother you, my father will not bother you." He pleaded.

"Yeah. My father tried that. And I tried that with Anna. Didn't work out, did it? No, cousin. I don't think so. Not this time." Sebastian said.

"How could you betray me like that? With my wife? With all of this?" He asked.

"You seem to know a lot about betrayal. Why don't you tell me?" He asked. Erik shook his head, and didn't respond.

"Erik, I did betray you. I was behind this entire thing. Me. And me alone. I've been wanting to show how ugly you are to the world for years." He looked at him, directly in the eyes. "And I would do it again, and again. And again." He said, smiling.

Erik looked at him, seething with anger.

"I can't wait to get out of here and get some rest. It's been a long night. Curl up next to Pearl, my arms wrapped around her beautiful body, breathing in the soft lavender scent of her hair. Hearing my son coo in her arms. What bliss! How could a man possibly want anything more?" Sebastian asked.

Erik looked at him and began to cry.

"Yes. There it is. That's the image I want to take with me tonight." Sebastian said. He stood up and walked out. M came in and released Erik's cuffs. "You are free to go." He said. Erik stood up and smoothed his suit. M handed him his keys and left the room. Erik hurried out and got into his sports car, speeding to the airport.

Sebastian and M gathered the camera footage and written confession.

"Take this to the Telegraph. They are waiting for you. Make copies. Many copies. I will see you in a few days." Sebastian said.

"Son, I didn't know you until a couple of weeks ago, but I have to tell you, I am proud to say I worked with you. You're a good man and will make a great leader. I look forward to working with you in the future." He said.

"I hope you will. I couldn't imagine not having you on my team, Marcus." Sebastian said, hugging him.

They walked out to their cars and Sebastian drove to meet the rest of the team, waiting at the jet Blake had arranged for them.

*************************

Erik boarded the plane and breathed a sigh of relief. He knew his father would take care of things. He asked the flight attendant for a tall bourbon and drank half of it in one gulp.

He settled into the seat and closed his eyes. Sebastian and his team had conspired against the throne, committing espionage and treason. He would see them all rot in prison after this was over.

"What is taking so bloody long? I need to get to Ireland, now." Erik asked the flight attendant.

"Fueling up. Should only take a few more minutes." She said, smiling.

He looked at her, agitated and exhausted. "Fine." He said.

After another 15 minutes had passed, he grew even more irritated.

He stood up and made his way to the pilot. Just as he got halfway there, the doors of the plane opened and several swat team members invaded the cabin.

"Get on the floor and put your hands where I can see them!" A man in full swat gear with an automatic rifle pointed at Erik's head commanded.

"You are mistaken. I am the prince of England. I have had espionage committed against myself and my family. I need to see my father, the king." Erik said, calmly.

"No. We are taking you into custody." The man said, reading him his Miranda rights. This time it was real.

"Listen to me. My cousin and a team of spies committed espionage and treason. They are who you want." Erik said.

"Yes. It appears they did. But Espionage isn't always illegal, sir. It may be a legal tool of law enforcement if the need for it is proven. And based on the information we have received, it seems as though that is the case here." The officer said. They cuffed Erik and took him to the police station in London.