Rosa stared at the cuff link.

“I didn't sign that.”

Marco produced the contract.

“Your signature is here.”

“It's forged.”

Vincent leaned against the bookshelf.

“Now perhaps everyone will stop blaming me.”

Sadie wasn't convinced.

“You knew about my payments.”

Vincent's smile vanished.

“That still needs explaining,” Dante said.

Vincent sighed.

“I discovered them six weeks ago.”

“And said nothing?”

“I was investigating.”

“Without telling me?”

“You trust too easily, cousin.”

Dante almost laughed.

“That accusation is rich.”

They investigated Vanguard.

Within two hours, Marco found the connection.

The company was fake.

Its corporate paperwork led to a shell entity controlled by Leon Mercer, Dante's longtime financial adviser.

A man who had been inside the mansion for eleven years.

A man who had access to contracts, staff records, and Patrick Gallagher's old files.

Dante immediately understood.

“Mercer.”

Marco nodded.

“He arrives every Thursday at nine.”

“Tomorrow.”

Sadie looked at the clock.

It was already Wednesday night.

Dante said, “Nobody contacts him.”

Vincent crossed his arms.

“And me?”

“You stay.”

“You still suspect me?”

“I suspect everyone.”

Vincent smiled bitterly.

“At least you're consistent.”

Sadie stepped toward Dante.

“Why was my father involved?”

Dante looked at Marco.

“Leave us.”

When everyone was gone, Dante opened a locked drawer.

He removed an old photograph.

Patrick Gallagher stood beside a younger Dante Russo.

Sadie stared.

“My father knew you.”

“He saved my life once.”

“When?”

“Eleven years ago.”

Dante handed her the photograph.

“Before I controlled this organization, there was a meeting in a warehouse elevator. Patrick was repairing it. He overheard men discussing a plan against me and warned me.”

Sadie stared at her father's smiling face.

“He never told me.”

“I asked him not to.”

“Why?”

“To keep you safe.”

Sadie's eyes hardened.

“That worked wonderfully.”

Dante accepted the criticism.

“No. It didn't.”

“Is that why you hired me?”

“I didn't know you had applied.”

“But you knew who I was.”

“The moment I saw your name.”

“Why didn't you tell me?”

“Because I thought leaving Patrick's life buried was safer.”

Sadie looked toward the staircase.

“And rule three?”

Dante became quiet.

“That rule existed because my private rooms contain records that could expose people who depend on me.”

“So no women?”

“That part was Rosa's invention.”

Sadie blinked.

“What?”

Dante almost smiled.

“I said nobody except Rosa.”

“She apparently decided ‘no women’ sounded more frightening.”

Sadie laughed despite everything.

“So the terrifying mafia rule was exaggerated by your housekeeper?”

“Most terrifying rules are.”

Then his expression softened.

“But I'm glad you broke it.”

Sadie's smile faded.

“So am I.”

The next morning, Leon Mercer arrived at 8:57.

Perfect suit.

Silver hair.

Friendly smile.

He walked into Dante's office and stopped when he saw Sadie.

“Miss Gallagher.”

Sadie's stomach tightened.

“You know me?”

Mercer smiled.

“I know all employees.”

Dante sat behind his desk.

“You also knew her father.”

Mercer's smile disappeared.

Silence.

Dante slid the Vanguard contract across the desk.

Mercer didn't touch it.

“Where did you get that?”

Wrong question.

Everyone in the room knew it.

Dante leaned back.

“You recognize it.”

Mercer looked toward the door.

Marco stood there.

Vincent beside him.

Mercer's shoulders dropped.

“Patrick should've ignored the invoices.”

Sadie's breath caught.

“You were taking the money.”

Mercer looked at her.

“Your father discovered irregularities.”

“So you invented his gambling debt?”

“I needed to know whether he'd left records with his family.”

“You terrorized me for months.”

Mercer said nothing.

Dante's voice became dangerously quiet.

“And my study?”

Mercer looked at him.

“You were going to find me eventually.”

“So you decided to move first.”

Mercer nodded.

Dante's jaw tightened.

Sadie stepped closer.

“What happened to my father?”

Mercer looked at her.

For several unbearable seconds, nobody moved.

Then he answered.

“Nothing that I caused.”

Sadie stared.

“His accident was exactly that. An accident.”

Dante watched him closely.

Mercer continued.

“But after he died, I searched his files. When I couldn't find the evidence, I assumed you had it.”

Sadie finally understood.

Her father's death hadn't created the nightmare.

Mercer's fear had.

Dante rose.

“You're finished.”

Mercer gave a hollow laugh.

“You can't erase eleven years.”

“No.”

Dante looked toward Marco.

“But I can make sure you never control another dollar or threaten another employee.”

Marco escorted Mercer away.

No violence.

No dramatic confrontation.

Just the quiet collapse of a man who had believed secrets made him untouchable.

Sadie remained beside Dante.

“That's it?”

“For tonight.”

“What happens to him?”

“Lawyers. Financial investigators. Evidence.”

Sadie raised an eyebrow.

“That's surprisingly civilized.”

Dante looked at her.

“You seem disappointed.”

“Relieved.”

He smiled.

Then his face tightened.

Sadie immediately noticed.

“Sit down.”

“I'm fine.”

“You're bleeding again.”

Dante looked at his shirt.

A small dark stain had appeared beneath the jacket.

Sadie pointed toward the couch.

“Sit.”

He obeyed.

Marco watched from the doorway.

A grin appeared.

Dante noticed.

“Say one word and you're fired.”

Marco disappeared.

Sadie laughed.

“You terrify half of Chicago.”

“Yes.”

“And apparently I terrify you.”

Dante looked up at her.

“You have no idea.”