He asks, "What stopped you?"
I think about his voice telling me to sleep, his note, and the way he said my name in the lobby, sharp, furious, and concerned. I admit, "You did."
Something flickers across his face. I can't tell if it's guilt or more pride. He carefully states, "We'll talk more about that, but I want to be clear. Your safety can't hinge on me."
I nod, even though the idea makes my chest ache. "I know."
"Do you?" he asks gently.
I don't answer right away.
He lets the silence work until I'm about to explode.
I sigh. "I'm trying."
"That's good. Why don't we dive into some other topics?" he suggests.
"Like?"
"Let's talk about your family."
My stomach flips. "What about them?"
Red doesn't flinch. He sets his pen down carefully, like he's removing a weapon from the table. "Your support system, the pressure points, and the expectations you live under."
I laugh, short and brittle. "You make it sound like a PowerPoint."
"Most families have those three things," he replies.
I sink back into the couch, crossing my arms. "My family isn't the problem."
He sits back and presses his fingertips together. "I didn't say they were a problem, but they definitely influenced you. It's especially true when someone struggles with control."
I scoff.
Red arches his eyebrows and waits.
More silence builds between us.
I offer, "My father likes order, structure, and rules."
"And how does that land on you?" he asks.
I shrug. "It's just how things are."
Red watches me until the silence feels heavier than talking. He breaks first this time, softly asserting, "Blue, people don't poke themselves with safety pins because everything is fine."
My throat tightens. I look away, toward the window and the familiar blur of the city that's safer than his eyes.
He prompts, "Tell me about your father. Is he affectionate?"
I hesitate, then lock eyes with him. "Adrian Ivanov isn't warm to everyone, but he is to his children and others he loves."
"How is he to those he doesn't love?"
I huff out a breath. "He's powerful. He doesn't like unpredictability, embarrassment, or anything that makes him look like he doesn't have control of his family."
Red's gaze sharpens just a fraction. "Does he try to control you?"
