1093 The Plus-Size Accountant Who Nailed the Mob Boss’s Embezzling Ring Was Protected by Him in Public—Until Her Hidden Computer Code Cornered the Real Mastermind

The federal marshals lowered their weapons, looking uneasily between their superior and the unyielding wall of men surrounding the desk. Catherine Hayes slowly exhaled, her hands trembling slightly as she closed her briefcase. The cold, untouchable prosecutor facade had been completely stripped away, leaving only a cornered conspirator.

"Send the marshals outside," Hayes demanded in a harsh whisper, her eyes darting toward Matteo and Gabriel. "I want to talk. Alone."

Gabriel gave Matteo a subtle nod. The giant security guard released the marshal's wrist, and with a sharp gesture, ushered both federal agents out into the hallway, closing the heavy glass doors behind them.

The office grew heavy with an intense, suffocating stillness.

Hayes turned her venomous gaze directly onto Khloe. "You have no idea what you've stepped into, you arrogant little amateur. You think this is a game about corporate embezzlement? Pendleton and Julian were setting up an international shipping corridor for foreign intelligence assets. If the syndicate gets exposed, the fallout will crash half the commercial ports on the East Coast."

"Which is exactly why you helped them hide Pendleton," Gabriel interjected, stepping closer to block Hayes from getting any closer to Khloe. "You wanted a cut of the infrastructure control. You sold your office to the highest bidder."

"I preserved national security interests, Moretti!" Hayes hissed, her voice rising in desperation. "If you drop that flash drive to the media or the Attorney General's office on Monday, the scandal will destroy the entire judicial circuit. They won't just lock you up; they'll raze Moretti Tower to the ground."

"Then it's a good thing I don't care about your judicial circuit," Gabriel replied coldly. He reached down, picked up the flash drive, and slipped it into his breast pocket. "Here is how this plays out, Catherine. You sign a full confession detailing your collusion with Julian Vance and Arthur Pendleton, clearing my family of the original federal charges."

Hayes let out a bitter, shrill laugh. "And if I refuse? You'll ruin my career?"

"If you refuse," Gabriel said, his voice dropping to a terrifying, quiet whisper, "I won't give this file to the Attorney General. I'll give it to every rival family and syndicate boss from New York to Miami. Let's see how well your federal protection holds up when the entire underworld knows you sold them out."

Hayes stopped laughing. The threat was absolute, real, and entirely inescapable. She looked at Gabriel, then slowly turned her eyes to Khloe, who stood quietly behind him, watching the exchange with unwavering composure.

"You're a monster, Moretti," Hayes spat out, her voice shaking with rage.

"Maybe," Gabriel agreed flatly. He slid a blank piece of institutional letterhead and a pen across the table. "Write."

Ten minutes later, the confession was written, signed, and countersigned. Catherine Hayes grabbed her briefcase, her hands shaking so badly she could barely snap the latches shut. She turned toward the door without another word, defeated, her career and freedom entirely in Gabriel's hands. As she pushed past Matteo and disappeared into the elevator bank, the heavy tension in the room shifted into something electric.

Gabriel turned around, walking slowly back toward Khloe. The office was quiet again, the morning sun finally cutting through the clouds to flood the room with golden light.

"Well," Gabriel said softly, a genuine, warm smile finally reaching his eyes. "You survived your first federal shakedown."

Khloe let out a long, shaky breath, her knees finally giving out just a fraction as she leaned back against her desk. "I think I need a vacation. Or a very, very long nap."

"Both can be arranged," Gabriel murmured, stopping just inches away from her. He reached out, his warm, calloused fingers gently cupping her face, his thumb brushing over her cheekbone with a tenderness that completely defied his ruthless reputation. " কিন্তু first... there is one loose end we need to tie up before Monday morning."

Khloe looked up into his stormy, intense eyes, her breath catching. "What loose end?"