Chapter 6 - The Sanctuary in the Clouds
Evan adapted to his new surroundings with astonishing speed. The top floor of the Black Crown no longer felt like a cold, terrifying labyrinth of high-stakes gambling and dangerous men. To Evan, it became his personal observatory.
Roman frequently visited them between board meetings and international calls. Unlike the intimidating mafia boss the tabloids wrote about, Roman treated Evan with a quiet, patient respect that baffled his closest associates. Roman would sit on the plush carpet with Evan, watching him draw complex architectural diagrams on endless rolls of premium bond paper, occasionally asking the boy questions about how things sounded.
"Does this HVAC vent sound healthy, Evan?" Roman would ask, pointing to a blueprint.
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Evan would press his ear against the wall panel, listen for three seconds, and shake his head. "Too tight. The bolt is loose on the third floor. It’s clicking."
Roman would dispatch a maintenance crew immediately. Every single time, Evan was right. The boy’s hyper-acusis—once viewed by school boards and social workers as a debilitating disability—became the ultimate security asset for the most powerful man in the city.
