Do-hyun's voice. "Griffin, you're moving off-grid."
I remained in motion. "I know. Stay with me."
My shoes hit wet asphalt and slipped half an inch before catching. My heart hammered. Shoulders burned.
The city watched me without eyes.
If I were going to be judged, it would be for something I chose.
I turned the corner.
The corridor ahead was empty, except for a door at the far end, swinging shut.
He was still ahead of me. Still running.
Chapter twenty
Rune - Seattle - May 17
Griffin was gone, and I didn't receive a response to my text message.
That didn't make the building emptier or less secure in any way that could be measured on a checklist. The venue still had perimeter guards. Metal detectors. Credential checks. Cameras everywhere.
What was missing was the quiet weight at my back.
He'd been off-grid since mid-afternoon. No texts or updates delivered in that dry voice.
He'd looked me in the eye before he left and said, "Stay with them."
Not stay with security or your handler. Stay with them.
I'd nodded as if that was easy.
In the dressing room, I sat with my hands on my knees and watched my fingers flex. Small checks. Small rituals. The makeup artist powdered my jawline without speaking.
Across the room, Taemin laced his boots. Minjae sat with his knees bouncing, hands clasped white-knuckle tight. Jinwooleaned against the counter, scrolling through his phone with practiced calm.
Do-hyun came in quietly. He placed a folder on the table.
"Update," he said.
One word. No drama.
Jinwoo looked up. "Is it him?"
Do-hyun didn't look at me. "Not directly."
He opened the folder. Color-coded pages. Printed. Official. "Management has issued changes. Post-soundcheck movement. Route adjustments. Staff reassignments. Security post swaps. All framed as streamlining for a sponsor's arrival."
Taemin glanced at me. A check-in.
Jinwoo set his phone down. "Is the sponsor real?"
Do-hyun hesitated. That was answer enough.
I stared at the neat columns. The signatures that meant nothing if the person holding the stamp was trying to hurt you.
My skin prickled.
