By sunrise, the mansion had become a chessboard.

Nobody knew Dante had nearly died.

Nobody except Sadie, Marco, and whoever had been responsible.

Vincent remained downstairs.

That was exactly what Dante wanted.

Sadie stood inside the study while Marco brought security records.

“We found the source of Patrick's credential,” Marco said.

“Where?”

“Old personnel archive.”

“Who accessed it?”

Marco hesitated.

“Rosa's terminal.”

Sadie's heart sank.

“No.”

Dante remained expressionless.

“Bring her.”

Minutes later, Rosa entered.

She saw Sadie.

“You.”

Sadie swallowed.

Rosa turned to Dante.

“I told her never—”

“I know.”

“Then why is she here?”

“She saved my life.”

Rosa's face drained of color.

Dante placed the security report on the desk.

“Your terminal was used.”

Rosa stared at it.

“I didn't do this.”

“Who knows your password?”

“Nobody.”

Sadie suddenly remembered something.

“Wait.”

Everyone looked at her.

“Three nights ago Vincent came into the kitchen.”

Rosa frowned.

“So?”

“He asked you about linen inventory.”

“Yes.”

“You logged into the staff system while he stood beside you.”

Rosa's expression changed.

Dante asked, “Could he see the password?”

Rosa whispered, “Yes.”

Marco exhaled.

Dante nodded.

“Good.”

Rosa looked offended.

“Good?”

“It means I don't have to fire the best housekeeper I've ever had.”

Rosa's eyes became glassy for half a second.

Then she looked at Sadie.

“You still broke rule three.”

Sadie almost laughed.

“Apparently.”

Rosa pointed at her.

“We'll discuss that later.”

Even Dante smiled.

But the evidence wasn't enough.

Dante needed Vincent to expose himself.

Sadie had an idea.

“Tell him you found my father's records.”

Marco shook his head.

“Too dangerous.”

“That's why it'll work.”

Dante studied her.

“Explain.”

“Vincent thinks my father left something behind. That's why he's been squeezing money out of me.”

Dante's eyes narrowed thoughtfully.

Sadie continued.

“Tell Vincent I found whatever he's looking for.”

“And then?”

“He'll come for it.”

Marco objected.

“Absolutely not.”

Sadie looked at Dante.

“You want proof?”

“Yes.”

“Then let me give him something worth confessing over.”

Dante stared at her for a long time.

“No.”

Sadie blinked.

“No?”

“No.”

“You literally run a criminal empire.”

“Correct.”

“And suddenly you're cautious?”

“When the plan involves you, yes.”

The room became strangely quiet.

Marco looked away.

Rosa pretended to reorganize papers.

Sadie lowered her voice.

“Why?”

Dante's expression hardened.

“Because your father trusted me.”

“That's not the whole reason.”

“No.”

“Then what is?”

“Not now.”

Eventually they modified Sadie's plan.

That afternoon, Vincent was allowed to overhear that Sadie had discovered a flash drive hidden among Patrick Gallagher's possessions.

There was no flash drive.

But Vincent didn't know that.

At 9:40 p.m., Sadie entered the empty library carrying an envelope.

Dante and Marco watched through a concealed camera.

Five minutes passed.

Then Vincent entered.

“Sadie.”

She turned.

“Mr. Russo.”

“Vincent.”

He smiled.

“We're practically family around here.”

“I don't think that's how employment works.”

His smile tightened.

“I hear you found something belonging to your father.”

Sadie said nothing.

Vincent glanced at the envelope.

“What's inside?”

“Why do you care?”

“Patrick and I were friends.”

“My father never mentioned you.”

“That doesn't mean much.”

“It does to me.”

Vincent stepped closer.

“You've been making payments.”

Sadie's stomach tightened.

He shouldn't know that.

She kept her voice steady.

“How do you know?”

Vincent realized his mistake.

Too late.

Sadie pushed.

“You're the one collecting them.”

His expression went cold.

“You should've stayed downstairs that night.”

Sadie froze.

“What night?”

Silence.

Then another voice came from the doorway.

“That's the question I was hoping you'd answer.”

Vincent turned.

Dante stood there.

Black tailored suit.

Dark open-collar shirt.

Tattoos visible along his neck and hands.

Marco stood behind him.

Vincent's face changed.

“Dante.”

“You knew Sadie went upstairs.”

“I guessed.”

“No.”

Dante stepped forward.

“You knew.”

Vincent laughed nervously.

“You're trusting a maid over your own blood?”

Dante's answer came instantly.

“She saved my life.”

“And I'm your family.”

Dante looked at him with absolute calm.

“Family doesn't make you trustworthy.”

Vincent's confidence cracked.

Dante placed the silver cuff link on the table.

“You left this upstairs.”

Vincent stared.

Then unexpectedly smiled.

“No, I didn't.”

Dante paused.

Vincent continued.

“Check the engraving.”

Marco examined it again.

Vincent laughed.

“My initials aren't V.R.”

Sadie frowned.

“Vincent Russo.”

“My legal name is Vincent Anthony Russo.”

He pointed toward the cuff link.

“That engraving isn't initials.”

Dante turned it beneath the lamp.

Sadie suddenly saw tiny lettering beneath the V.R.

A company name.

Vanguard Restoration.

Marco went still.

“Who maintains the mansion's security system?”

Nobody answered.

They all knew.

Vanguard Restoration.

And the person who had signed their newest contract was not Vincent.

It was Rosa.