Chapter 5 – [THE EMPTY VAULT]

The next morning, the mansion felt like a tomb.

The catering staff was gone. The decorators had fled.

I was in the kitchen brewing coffee when Nico walked in.

He looked like he hadn’t slept in a week.

“They froze everything,” he said, leaning against the marble island. “The bank accounts, the trust funds. Sabrina’s father is calling in all the debts my uncle accrued.”

I handed him a steaming mug of coffee.

“What will you do?”

“I have one hidden asset left,” Nico said quietly. “A safety deposit box in a private bank downtown. It holds bearer bonds my grandfather left behind for an emergency. It’s enough to pay off Whitmore and keep the house.”

Gabriel wheeled into the kitchen, looking determined.

“I’m going with you to the bank.”

Nico shook his head. “No, Gabe. Whitmore’s men are watching the gates. It’s too dangerous.”

“I am not hiding anymore,” Gabriel said fiercely. “This is my family too.”

Nico stared at his brother.

Then, a small, proud smile touched his lips.

“Alright. We go together.”

I stepped back to let them pass, but Nico stopped and looked at me.

“Harper. I need you to stay here. Lock the doors. Do not let anyone in.”

“I will,” I promised.

Two hours later, I was dusting the library when the front doorbell rang.

I froze.

Nico had told me not to open it.

But when I looked through the security monitor, my heart stopped.

Standing on the porch was my mother.

She looked terrified, flanked by two men in dark suits.

I threw open the door.

“Mom!”

“Harper,” she cried, stepping forward.

One of the suits grabbed her arm, holding her back.

Sabrina stepped out from behind them.

She was wearing a long designer coat, a triumphant smirk on her face.

“Hello, Harper,” Sabrina said. “Did Nico really think he was the only one who knew about the safety deposit box?”

My blood ran cold.

“What did you do?”

Sabrina held up a small, silver key.

“My father’s men emptied it an hour ago. Nico and Gabriel are walking into an empty vault. And right now, I need you to do exactly as I say, or your mother loses her house… and maybe a lot more.”

TITLE: THE MAID’S GAMBIT

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