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.

let out a piercing scream that seemed to

the lights in the room blazed to

back, her wrist still captured, Mara looked

no empty

with an icy glare were all present, along with a few men Mara didn’t recognize, all staring

supposed ally, Aaron? He

handle the shock, her vision darkening as

with disgust. “Vivienne, you called in the cavalry for

equally puzzled. “Seriously, not to mention you,

nudged Maddox with his shoulder, “Zelda is tough

It was just a figure of speech!” Maddox rubbed his shoulder

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

a scary face. Lucky for

a look: Seriously,

thumb to Mara’s philtrum.

to find the

hurt me,

“When you had that knife to my mom’s throat,

“She… she’s your

mom looked so young? She seemed about Percival’s

“Aren’t you an orphan?”

are you calling an orphan?” Yuri was the

you go spouting nonsense, girl. We’ve got four uncles right here,

will rip your

up to make good on that

“Alright, uncles, may

finally settled down, stepping

pulled up a chair and sat down,

wore off, and Mara

deceitful little twerp; you had me

she had won him over, rejoicing that her mission was progressing faster

she had

“The things you told me were quite convincing, but you forgot

“What’s that?” Mara demanded.

belied his youthful face. “I know Vivienne better than