(Yuri's POV)

The place hadn't changed.

Dark. Silent. Controlled.

Exactly how they liked it.

I stepped inside slowly, my eyes adjusting to the dim lighting. A single bulb flickered above, casting long shadows across the room. A few men stood scattered around—watching, waiting.

Shark Loan.

Their presence alone was enough to make most people turn around.

I didn't.

Because I couldn't.

"Finally decided to show up."

The voice came from the corner.

Cold.

Mocking.

I didn't need to look to know who it was.

Kaizer.

I stopped a few steps away, my jaw tightening. "I'm here."

A low chuckle echoed through the room.

"Not by choice," he replied.

Silence followed.

Heavy. Suffocating.

I could feel every pair of eyes on me, measuring, judging.

Waiting.

Kaizer stepped forward, his presence instantly shifting the atmosphere.

Power.

Control.

Danger.

"All this time," he continued, circling slowly, "I wondered how long you'd keep running."

"I'm not running," I said flatly.

"No?" He smirked. "Then what do you call hiding?"

I didn't answer.

Because there was no point.

Kaizer stopped in front of me, his gaze sharp.

"You know why you're here."

I clenched my fists.

"Say it."

Silence.

"Say. It."

"...Keifer," I said finally.

His smile widened.

"Good."

He snapped his fingers.

One of the men stepped forward, placing a file on the table.

I didn't move.

"Open it," Kaizer said casually.

I already knew what was inside.

Still—I reached for it.

Slowly.

Carefully.

The moment I flipped it open—

My chest tightened.

A list.

Names.

Marked.

Targeted.

A hitlist.

And right there—

Keifer Watson.

"You're going to finish what others couldn't," Kaizer said.

My grip tightened on the paper.

"I'm not—"

"Careful."

One word.

And everything stopped.

Kaizer's expression changed—slightly.

But enough.

Enough to remind me exactly who I was dealing with.

"You don't get to refuse."

My jaw clenched harder.

"This isn't my fight."

Kaizer tilted his head slightly, almost amused.

"No?"

He took a step closer.

"Then maybe this will make it yours."

He nodded at one of his men.

The man pulled out a phone... and turned the screen toward me.

My breath stopped.

Two images.

Clear.

Sharp.

Unmistakable.

My grandfather.

My sister.

Alive.

But not safe.

"They're comfortable," Kaizer said calmly.
"For now."

Something inside me snapped.

"If you touch them—"

"I won't have to," he cut in smoothly.
"Unless you give me a reason."

Silence.

Deadly silence.

"You have one job," Kaizer continued.
"Keifer signs everything over... or he dies."

My mind raced.

"No."

The word slipped out before I could stop it.

Kaizer's eyes darkened.

"No?" he repeated.

I shook my head, my voice low but firm.
"I'm not killing him."

A pause.

Then—

Kaizer smiled.

And that was worse.

"Who said anything about killing?"

I froze.

His gaze sharpened.

"You're going to make sure he signs."

A file was pushed closer to me.

"Contract papers. Transfer of inheritance."

My heart pounded.

"And if he refuses?"

Kaizer's smile faded.

"Then you make him regret it."

A beat.

Then—

"Oh, and one more thing."

He turned slightly, glancing at his men.

"They already have the girl."

Everything went still.

"...What?"

My voice came out lower than expected.

Colder.

Kaizer looked back at me, completely unfazed.

"Jay, isn't it?"

My blood ran cold.

"You said you didn't want her involved," he continued casually.
"I simply removed that option."

My fists clenched so tightly it hurt.

"You weren't supposed to touch her."

"And yet," he shrugged, "here we are."

Anger burned through me.

Sharp. Dangerous.

Uncontrolled.

But I forced it down.

Because losing control now—

Would cost me everything.

"What did you do to her?" I asked quietly.

Kaizer studied me for a moment.

Then smirked.

"That depends on you."

He stepped closer, lowering his voice.

"Bring Keifer to me."

A pause.

"Make him sign."

Another pause.

"And maybe..."

His eyes locked onto mine.

"...she walks out alive."

Silence filled the room.

But inside—

Everything was breaking.

Jay.

This wasn't supposed to happen.

Not to her.

Not like this.

I exhaled slowly, my expression hardening.

Because now—

I didn't have a choice.