Chapter 9 - Clearing the HallsWithin twenty minutes, the Mediterranean villa was entirely silent once again.
The federal marshals had escorted Grant and my father out through the grand double doors and loaded them into the back of the unmarked federal SUVs waiting in the circular drive. The corporate guests had fled en masse, tripping over themselves to escape the association with an unfolding federal felony investigation.
Only Maribel remained, huddled on the marble floor of the foyer, rocking back and forth and muttering incoherently about ruined reputations and social humiliation.
Marcus Vance stood by the open front door, watching the tail lights of the federal vehicles disappear down the coastal road. He turned back, sliding his tablet into his briefcase and offering me an approving nod.
“Well, Commander,” Marcus murmured with a faint, satisfied smile. “That was arguably the cleanest asset repossession I’ve witnessed in twenty-five years of practice. The federal prosecutor is going to nail them to the wall on the wire fraud charges alone.”
“Let them experience what it feels like to have everything stripped away while people tell them to be graceful,” I replied coldly, setting my mother’s portrait gently on the entryway bench.
“What do you want to do with your sister?” Marcus asked, glancing toward the weeping figure on the floor. “She’s legally classified as an unpermitted occupant now that the family trust has been voided by court order.”
I looked down at Maribel. She was wearing my mother’s pearl necklace—the one she had stolen and flaunted like a trophy of her superiority.
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“Give her twenty-four hours to pack her bags,” I said flatly. “Not a minute longer. If she leaves a single piece of trash behind, have the cleaners throw it in the dumpster.”
“Consider it handled,” Marcus said, turning to leave. “I’ll file the final title reclamation deeds with the county clerk on Monday morning. The estate is 100% yours, Commander. Unencumbered and legally bulletproof.”
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