Chapter 1 - The First Test
Grant waited in the silence of the terrace for her answer.
Hannah slowly set the silver tray on the glass table next to his chair.
"The water is gray today," she said quietly.
"Is it gray like cold iron, or gray like burnt ash?" Grant asked without moving his head.
Hannah did not hesitate for even a second.
"It is like ash, sir."
"And what about the boats out there?"
"There are three small sailboats heading east, and one heavy barge moving slowly toward the city."
Grant nodded, his mind calculating her level of detail and absolute honesty.
For five years, his men had told him the water was just blue and empty to spare him the effort of imagining it.
"I need you to do something for me, Hannah," he said, lowering his voice so the guards by the door could not hear.
"Anything you need, Mr. Mercer."
"I want you to bring whatever medical equipment you need to look into my eyes properly."
He heard her breath catch in her throat.
"Sir, if Dr. Hale finds out I am practicing without a license, he could have me arrested or fired."
"Dr. Hale works for me, and he will never know about this."
Hannah was silent for a long moment, weighing the immense risk of crossing a mafia boss against her medical curiosity.
"I can buy a basic ophthalmoscope from a pharmacy in the city tomorrow morning," she finally whispered.
"Do it, and use my personal petty cash from the kitchen safe."
Before she could agree, heavy footsteps echoed loudly against the stone floor of the terrace.
Grant instantly recognized the heavy, uneven stride of his second-in-command, Daniel Cross.
"I thought I heard voices out here," Daniel said, his tone thick with sudden suspicion.
"Hannah was just describing the weather to me," Grant lied smoothly, keeping his face perfectly still.
Daniel stopped right next to Hannah, and Grant could hear the leather of his shoulder holster creak.
"Dr. Hale just called the front gate, Grant."
Grant frowned, sensing a dangerous shift in the carefully planned routine of his house.
May you like
"His appointment with me is not until tomorrow morning," Grant replied coldly.
"He said there was a problem with your usual medication batch, so he is coming up the driveway right now to administer a new formula."
