He didn’t flinch as the doctor cleaned the wound with a stinging antiseptic.

“You need six stitches,” Dr. Patel said, threading a curved needle with practiced ease.

“Just tape it,” Roman muttered, his eyes never leaving the security monitors.

“I will stitch it, and you will sit still,” the doctor replied, his voice firm with the authority of a man who had treated this family for decades.

The room remained quiet except for the rain tapping against the high windowpanes and the soft click of the doctor’s instruments.

The door opened again, and Elias Ward stepped inside, his wet boots squeaking on the hardwood.

He looked pale under the dim lights of the security console, holding a black tablet tight against his chest.

“Sir, I ran the logs through the secondary server to be sure,” Elias said, his voice low.

“And?” Roman asked, his voice tight as the doctor pulled a suture closed.

“The bypass code used tonight wasn’t just old,” Elias explained, showing Roman the tablet screen. “It was the master override.”

“Only three people ever had that sequence,” Roman said.