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.

that seemed to split the night,

in the

captured, Mara looked

no

with an icy glare were all present, along

supposed ally, Aaron? He stood among them,

the shock, her vision darkening as she crumpled to

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

“Seriously, not to mention you,

nudged Maddox with his shoulder, “Zelda is tough as

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

couch. “Enough bickering. What

and said, “Wow, this girl’s got a scary face. Lucky for Natalia

a look: Seriously, bro? That’s

pressed her thumb to Mara’s philtrum. The unconscious Mara

the Perez brothers standing behind Vivienne,

Don’t hurt me,

to my mom’s throat,

“She…

seemed about Percival’s age. How could

“Aren’t you an orphan?”

are you calling an orphan?” Yuri was the first to

four uncles right here, no orphans in sight!” Luke added his voice to

and I will rip your

up to make good on that

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

men finally settled down, stepping

a chair and sat

wore off, and Mara realized Aaron

little twerp; you had me

over, rejoicing that her mission

she had been

chuckled innocently at Mara. “The things you told me were quite convincing, but you

“What’s that?” Mara demanded.

eyes gleamed with a cunning that belied his youthful face.