e fifth morning in Grey Franklin's

is not

he other. Comfort is softness. Safety is choice. Comfort is a bed tha

generously and withhe

body learned the rules faster than my mind did-don't sleep t

no shadows. I wondered if Grey Franklin had chosen it delibe

slowly, l

th

at has been engineered, reinforced, protect

on the heated floor. The warmth rose instantly

murmured

dn't

his height, everything looked orderly. Manageable. People reduced to movemen

his was how Gre

where did

robe that had doubled overnight. Everything fit. Everything

sguised as c

as if I'd activated it. Lights adjusted. Temperature

scent of tea

t assumptions. Fresh fruit, toast still warm beneath

pped

ld anyone how

ing, Miss

ression. No jewelry. No visible watch. She moved like someone wh

orning,

u sleep

ion felt

sle

pting the answer

crawled under my skin. "Ho

yea

efore

he Franklin fam

ys t

ver leave

first time. Her eyes w

es

e the word told

eing observed pressing in from all sides. Came

y room, a phone sat

Blac

ock

d it up

edia. No browser histo

en

riv

r

it bac

freedom. It was con

idn't come home

the house shift

ure. The air itself seemed to tighten, li

ht, Elena appe

uests your presen

ts. No

lowed

deep wood that smelled faintly of smoke and leather. Books

the window w

forearms. The city framed him in light

al," he said w

ked for

eyes sharp and u

dn't

not

crossed his face - no

n settling

one word

uld you

apt

nce. "Survi

didn't bring me here to

rought you here becau

lize noise wa

aid. "But silenc

. "And what ha

're not p

ppoin

xpec

watch and phone on the desk with precise

your file ag

fi

ployment. Fina

pa

dic

fened. "You c

essed

ot an

calmly. "You'r

tled me more than

cident, Iris," he continued.

that makes th

makes it d

. "You control e

es

pect me to

you to s

ed between us,

g the contra

skipped

ernal access. Li

the c

any me," he sa

wh

. Rooms where app

t decor

id. "You're

ce, sharp. "

You won't be humiliated

y m

scaped before

esit

or a m

me," he said quietly. "A

allo

that make

. "I think it ma

t agree

aid. "But

"You're not

er, not threate

that," he said soft

d hate me,

aid, surprised

ened. "That's

sleep came i

people who smiled too easily. Of standing beside Gr

nt arrived

not removed. Freedom defined

it thre

e phone and star

anted l

had becom

, I was learni