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.

piercing scream that seemed to

cry, the lights in the

back, her wrist still captured, Mara looked

was no empty

and the woman holding her wrist with an icy glare were all present,

Aaron? He stood

you…” Mara couldn’t handle the shock, her vision darkening as she crumpled to the

“Vivienne, you called in the cavalry for this

puzzled. “Seriously, not to mention you, your Aunt

is tough as

you so protective? It was just a figure of speech!” Maddox rubbed his

couch. “Enough bickering. What do we do

and said, “Wow, this girl’s got a scary face. Lucky for Natalia and Yasmine, they’re not

brothers shared a look: Seriously, bro? That’s your

thumb to Mara’s philtrum. The unconscious Mara

snapped open to find the

Don’t hurt

knife to my mom’s throat, did you think you’d be begging like

“She… she’s

so young? She seemed about Percival’s age. How could it

“Aren’t you an orphan?”

are you calling an orphan?” Yuri

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

will

already gearing up to make good on

may I please have a word

men finally settled down,

pulled up a chair and sat down, with Aaron and Percival

shock wore off, and Mara realized Aaron had

you had me fooled,” She glared at

won him over, rejoicing that her mission was progressing

had

told me were quite

“What’s that?” Mara demanded.

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