Chapter 8 - [THE VAULT REVEALED]
The heavy doors hissed open.
Nico and Gabriel were there, flanked by five armed Valenti enforcers.
The two guards holding my mother immediately dropped their weapons and raised their hands.
Nico's men rushed in, securing the threats and pulling my mother to safety.
I ran to her, wrapping my arms tightly around her trembling shoulders.
"You're safe, Mom. You're safe."
Sabrina stood in the center of the room, her composure completely shattered.
"Nico, you can't touch me! My father—"
"Your father," Nico interrupted, holding up a leather briefcase, "is currently being raided by the FBI."
Sabrina gasped, taking a step back.
Gabriel wheeled himself forward. He held up the silver key Sabrina had stolen.
"Did you really think we were stupid, Sabrina? We knew your father had spies in our banking network."
Nico smiled coldly.
"The vault you emptied this morning didn't contain bearer bonds, Sabrina. It contained ledgers. Fake ledgers that implicated your father in three decades of tax fraud and money laundering."
Sabrina collapsed onto the leather sofa, her face buried in her hands.
She had stolen the very evidence that would destroy her own family.
Nico turned to the guards.
"Get her out of my house. Turn her over to the Feds."
As Sabrina was led away in handcuffs, Gabriel looked at me.
"Harper, that was the bravest thing I've ever seen."
My mother squeezed my hand, tears of relief streaming down her face.
Nico walked over to us.
He didn't look like a mafia boss anymore. He looked like a man who had finally found peace.
He reached out and gently cupped my cheek.
"I told you I'd protect you," Nico whispered.
"You did," I smiled.
But as the police sirens wailed in the distance, Nico's phone buzzed.
He looked at the screen, and his smile vanished.
"What's wrong?" Gabriel asked.
Nico looked up.
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"Sabrina's father wasn't acting alone. He had backing from the New York families."
TITLE: THE FINAL RECKONING
