Chapter 13 - The Enemy Inside the Mansion
Vincent emerged.
Alive.
Blood covered his sleeve.
Not his blood.
Marco had escaped through the rear exit.
Again.
But his confession had been recorded.
Russo was arrested first.
Vale followed.
Several officials resigned before warrants could reach them.
Marco vanished.
The empire he had tried to steal collapsed around him.
Vincent returned to the mansion.
For two days, nothing happened.
On the third, Norah cooked breakfast.
Vincent ate eggs.
Actual eggs.
Not broth.
Norah stared.
“What?”
“You’re eating eggs.”
“I’m aware.”
“With pepper.”
“I’m recovering, not dead.”
She smiled.
Then Vincent pushed a folder toward her.
“What’s this?”
“Your brother’s debt.”
The account had been closed.
Paid.
Norah frowned.
“I told you—”
“Caleb paid it.”
She opened the folder.
Caleb had surrendered money recovered from accounts tied to his work for Marco.
For once, he had cleaned up his own mess.
Norah’s eyes filled.
“He wanted you to know,” Vincent said.
“Where is he?”
“Physical therapy.”
Norah laughed softly.
Normal life felt strange.
That evening, Vincent asked her to walk with him.
They stopped in the dining room.
The same table.
The same chandelier.
The same place where he had once stared at food like it was a weapon.
“I owe you my life,” he said.
“No.”
“Yes.”
“I made soup.”
“You stayed.”
“That was my mistake.”
He smiled.
Then his expression became serious.
“I don’t want you working for me anymore.”
Norah stared.
“You’re firing me again?”
“I want you free to decide whether you stay.”
He placed a new contract on the table.
Not employment.
Ownership.
Vincent had transferred the mansion’s kitchen business operation into an independent company.
Half belonged to Norah.
“No.”
His face fell.
She continued.
“Fifty-one percent.”
Vincent stared.
Norah smiled.
“I cook. I control the kitchen.”
He laughed.
“Fifty-one.”
She kissed him.
The mansion alarm screamed.
Vincent pulled her behind him.
A guard’s voice came over the radio.
“Breach. East entrance.”
Vincent’s expression changed.
“Who?”
Static.
Then the guard answered.
“Marco Bellini.”
Norah turned toward the doorway.
May you like
Footsteps were already approaching.
And Marco had somehow entered the house without breaking a single lock.
