Just—
Pressure in the right place.
“She’ll pull back,” Sentinel continues. “Reduce communication. Limit exposure.”
A faint tilt of his head.
“She’ll think she’s protecting him.”
“And that gives you access,” the man says.
Sentinel doesn’t answer.
He doesn’t need to.
He turns back to the screen one last time.
To the still image of her.
Quiet.
Controlled.
Unbroken.
For now.
“You can’t be loud with someone like her,” he says softly. “You can’t push.”
His eyes darken slightly.
“But you can make her choose silence again.”
The room feels colder.
Sharper.
Because that’s not just strategy.
That’s understanding.
And understanding—
Is how he wins.
Sentinel reaches forward and powers the screen down.
Darkness settles instantly.
Clean.
Total.
“Set the stage,” he orders.
No raised voice.
No urgency.
