The library queen

Chapter 5 Audit

Sam kicked the door open. "Jeffrey just called an emergency vote. Ten minutes ago. They’re going after the medical trust."

Maya dropped her pen. "Owen's fund."

"It's a full audit," Sam confirmed. "They’re freezing the Zurich accounts by the end of the day."

Maya didn't hesitation. She grabbed a thick black binder off the shelf and shoved her chair back so hard it screeched against the floorboards.

"Maya, that’s a closed-door meeting. You can't just—"

"They're trying to murder my brother, Sam!"

The heavy boardroom doors didn't stop her. Maya slammed them open, the wood crashing into the wall. Twelve elders turned around at once, cigar smoke swirling over the massive mahogany table.

Jeffrey Forster was leaning over the wood, pointing at a map. "We cut the dead weight. That medical trust is draining our—"

SLAM.

Maya marched straight to the center of the table and threw the heavy binder down. It hit the polished wood like a gunshot.

Jeffrey didn't touch the binder. He sneered. "You don't have a seat at this table, girl. Get the hell out."

"You’re messing with my family, you old bastard!" Maya roared back, her eyes turning into pure fire. "You want to talk about bleeding cash? Look at those routing numbers! I saved you idiots thirty million before you rigged the Panama accounts yesterday! You think I can't count?"

"Your numbers don't mean s**t!" Jeffrey stood up to his full height, his face turning red.

"You planted that fake contract, you senile piece of trash!"

"You're a stupid librarian who thinks she can play with the big boys!" Jeffrey spat.

The room went completely chaotic. Men slammed their fists, shouting at once.

Renn sat at the head of the table, arms crossed, watching the circus with dead eyes. Finally, he raised his right hand. Silence hit.

Renn looked straight at Jeffrey. "The medical trust stays open," he ordered, his voice smooth and terrifyingly quiet.

Jeffrey gripped the table. "Renn, you're protecting a money pit. It's a mistake."

"I don't break my deals," Renn said flatly. Then, he turned his cold stare directly onto Maya. "Control your house, Maya. Keep your problems away from my table."

Renn stood up, buttoned his jacket, and walked out.

The elders grabbed their coats, mumbling curses. As Jeffrey marched past Maya, he intentionally rammed his heavy shoulder into hers.

Maya didn't stumble. She caught her balance instantly, grabbed the silver water pitcher from the table, and hurled it straight at the back of his head. CRASH.

The metal pitcher bounced off his shoulder blade, drenching his custom suit in ice water. Jeffrey spun around, his face purple with rage.

"Enjoy it while it lasts, you old fossil," Maya whispered, her voice dangerously quiet as she stepped right up to his face. "The next time you touch me, I won't format your Panama accounts. I’ll leak them straight to the IRS. Get out of my sight."

Jeffrey backed away, his jaw tightening as he fled through the double doors.

The basement archive room was freezing. Maya marched inside, her hands rock steady. She didn't cry. She didn't fall to the floor.

She slammed her remaining files onto the desk.

The archive door exploded inward, splintered wood raining down.

Miller Savier staggered into the basement, reeking of cheap whiskey, a jagged iron key clutched in his fist.

"Hiding down in the dirt, huh?" Miller slurred, his eyes bloodshot and wild.

Maya didn't flinch. She backed up against the reading table, her hands flat on the wood. "You’re not supposed to be here, Renn locked this section."

"I don't give a s**t what Renn locked," Miller barked, kicking a stack of ledgers across the floor.

He took a heavy, swaying step forward, completely blocking the only exit.

"The council sealed those, genius," Maya sneered, her voice dropping into a lethal, steady rhythm. She didn't beg. She let her shoulders drop, making herself look small. "Back off. Don't make a mistake you can't undo."

Miller let out a loud, nasty laugh. "Look at you, shaking like a leaf. Smart girl."

Maya took another step back, her fingers secretly brushing the climate control dial. She knew every inch of this room.

Miller lunged past her, throwing his huge body right in front of the vault. He was standing exactly under the high-pressure ventilation pipe.

"This family is mine," Miller growled, jamming the iron key into the lock.

"It's a shame you can't read blueprints," Maya whispered.

She grabbed the pressure dial and yanked it to the maximum limit.

The old machinery let out a deafening scream. The overhead valve blew completely open with a violent BANG.

A massive blast of high-pressure air shot straight down. Decades of toxic black mold and rusted iron powder slammed Miller right in the face.

Miller choked, letting out a suffocating roar as he frantically clawed at his eyes.

"You b***h!" he screamed.

Maya didn't waste a second. She ducked low, stepping out from behind the shelf and walking right into his space.

Miller swung his fists wildly, smashing a glass reading lamp. "I'm gonna snap your f*****g neck!"

Heavy boots thundered down the hallway. Renn blasted through the door.

Miller swung his massive arm through the dust, but Renn didn't even flinch. He caught Miller’s fist mid-air, twisted his wrist, and broke it.

Miller dropped to his knees, screaming. Renn slammed his knee straight into Miller’s spine, crashing him face-first into the stone.

Renn pinned the broken arm, his face completely calm.

Miller gagged, blood dripping from his lip. "She’s robbing us, Renn!"

Renn slammed his heel down onto the broken wrist. Miller let out a high-pitched shriek.

Renn said flatly. "You don't touch her turf." He lifted his dead eyes, finding Maya. "Get over here."

Maya walked out of the dust cloud, her hands rock steady. Her eyes turned into pure fire as she looked down at Miller.

Renn looked at the shattered valve, then back at her. "You rigged the pipe."

"I used what I had, boss," Maya shot back, crossing her arms. "Next time, I’ll use something heavier. Try me."

Renn nodded, and Victor walked in like a shadow. "Get him out of here," Renn ordered. "Throw him in the lower cells until he’s sober."

Victor grabbed Miller by his collar like a sack of garbage, dragging him out.

The room went quiet.

"I need a new lock for that door. A real one. I don't feel like wasting chemicals on trash every night."

Renn paused at the threshold, "I’ll put two guys outside with rifles. You did good tonight."

Renn walked away, the door clicking shut.