The Million-Dollar Heart by Rebecca Ryan

Aaron gently nudged the hospital room door open, slipping inside with Mara close on his heels.

In the bed lay Karen, her breathing steady and the machines around her showing no signs of distress.

Aaron tiptoed over, with Mara following suit.

As they drew closer, Mara pulled out a photograph and held it up for comparison, “It’s her. What do we do? Take her with us?”

Aaron nodded. “Yeah. I’ll disconnect the equipment. Get ready to lift her. I’m taking her to the Millers’ to squeeze out who she really is.”

“Aren’t we going to… you know?” Mara hesitated.

“Man, if he won’t do the deed, how am I supposed to complete my mission?” She thought.

Aaron replied as if it were the most obvious thing in the world, “What? Kill her? That’s illegal!”

Inside, Mara fumed. It was a good thing she had come along, or this mission would be a bust, and she would be the one in trouble!

As Aaron worked on the machines, Mara discreetly reached into her pocket and withdrew a small knife.

Holding the knife over Karen’s chest, she swallowed hard. Murder was not on her resume. She hadn’t even killed a chicken before. How could she go through with this?

But if Karen didn’t die, she would be the one to pay the price.

Aaron, the fool, not willing to dirty his hands with murder, was useless to her.

It was so dark; Aaron wouldn’t see. By the time he noticed, she’d be long gone.

Even if things went south, the boss would handle it. No worries.

Mentally pumping herself up, Mara closed her eyes and prepared to plunge the knife down.

Just as she was about to commit to the act, her wrist was caught in a vice-like grip.

Already strung tight with tension, the sudden grip nearly sent Mara’s soul flying from her body.

a piercing scream that seemed to split

in

still captured, Mara looked around in

was no

with an icy glare were all present, along with a

supposed ally, Aaron? He stood among them,

shock, her vision darkening as she

grip, wiping her hand with disgust. “Vivienne, you called in the cavalry for this

you, your Aunt

nudged Maddox with his shoulder, “Zelda is tough as nails; she wouldn’t

figure of speech!” Maddox rubbed his shoulder where Yuri

Mara onto a couch. “Enough bickering. What do we do with

a scary face. Lucky for Natalia

Perez brothers shared a look:

thumb to Mara’s philtrum. The unconscious Mara instantly gasped back

open to find the Perez brothers

hurt

that knife to my mom’s throat,

“She…

so young? She seemed about Percival’s age.

“Aren’t you an orphan?”

orphan?” Yuri was the first

nonsense, girl. We’ve got four uncles right here, no

Keep talking, and I will rip your mouth out!”

to make good on

back. “Alright, uncles, may I please have a word with

men finally settled

chair and sat down, with Aaron and

wore off, and Mara realized Aaron had

little twerp; you had me fooled,”

him over, rejoicing that her mission was

she had

chuckled innocently at Mara. “The things you told

“What’s that?” Mara demanded.

eyes gleamed with a cunning that belied his youthful face. “I know Vivienne better than