"Better?" he asked.
"No, but I'm less alone."
He wrapped an arm around me, settling his fingers against my spine. Anchoring me.
"It wasn't about pleasure," I said after a moment. "I hope that's okay."
"Don't worry."
"I needed proof I was still real. That we were still real."
"You don't have to explain."
"Do you regret it?"
"No." He looked at me directly. "Do you?"
"No. But I'm scared about what it means."
"What do you think it means?"
"That you've become the only thing in my life that's still real. And that makes this dangerous for both of us."
Griffin nearly smiled. "I'd rather be dangerous together than safe alone."
"That isn't rational."
"Maybe, but it's true."
I moved closer.
"What happens tomorrow?" I asked. "When Kang decides?"
"I don't know. He might remove me. He might not."
"If he does—"
"Then we figure out what comes next. Right now, you need sleep. And I won't leave until you do."
Chapter fifteen
Griffin - LA - May 13
I'd been awake since 4:30, watching Rune sleep. His breathing had finally evened out after hours of restless shifting. Now he lay on his side, one hand tucked under his cheek, exhaustion smoothing the lines fear had carved into his face.
The briefing was at 8:00. Three hours to convince fourteen people I wasn't the variable they needed to remove.
My phone sat facedown on the nightstand. No messages. Soo-jin was somewhere building his case quietly and methodically.
Four incidents in eight days. Vancouver. Portland. The truss. The rerouted exit. They’d dress it up in careful language, patterns and escalation, but the conclusion was simple.
I was the variable they could remove.
Seattle was three days away. My city. It should have been home ground. Instead, it mapped like a kill box.
The conference room was on the hotel’s mezzanine level. I arrived at 7:52.
Kang stood by the windows. Do-hyun beside him. Legal took the seat at the head of the table, a woman in a dark suit, tablet inhand, warmth nowhere in sight. Management filled in along the sides.
