YILENA HOLT POV

"He'll be here any minute now," I said, tightening the last strap around Kaiser's wrist. The chair creaked under him as I stepped back, making sure he had a perfect, unobstructed view of everything I was about to do.

"Do you really have to take it this far?" he asked, something like regret burning behind his eyes.

It made me hesitate, hope blooming in my chest. "If I don't… will you stay with me?"

His lips trembled, his mouth moving but not opening for the word he needed to get out.

I turned away as the doorbell rang, my heart beating fast in my chest as I...