The Million-Dollar Heart by Rebecca Ryan

Mara finally came to, her return to consciousness accompanied by the cold, hard reality of the floor beneath her and an awkward blush creeping across her cheeks.

Vivienne, having just finished checking Karen’s pupils for any irregularities, heard Mara stir and casually tossed her a smartphone.

“Didn’t forget our chat from last night, did you?”

Mara pushed herself upright, a thread of hope in her voice. “So, if I help you out, we’re square?”

Vivienne chuckled while adjusting Karen’s blanket, her gaze still fixed on Mara. “You should get it straight, Mara. You’re helping yourself.”

Mara paused, the warning in Vivienne’s words chilling her to the bone. She dropped to her knees, desperation quivering in her voice. “Vivienne, please, I’m begging you. Save my brother. I’ll do anything, work day and night, anything at all. I had no choice!”

Vivienne perched herself on the edge of Karen’s bed, her eyes dancing with amusement at Mara’s plea. “And what exactly can you offer me in terms of service?”

Mara bit her lip, words failing her.

Compared to Vivienne, she felt utterly powerless.

Watching Mara’s flustered attempts at negotiation, Vivienne lost interest in prolonging the conversation. “Keep your nose clean, follow my instructions, and once your treatment is done, I’ll see to it that you keep your life.”

Mara’s tears, unbidden, streamed down her face. “My brother’s stuck in some godforsaken asylum in M State, Vivienne. It’s a loony bin! For the love of all that’s holy, he never did you wrong. Please, get him out. He’s all the family I’ve got left in this world!”

Vivienne nearly laughed at the absurdity of it all.

What did that have to do with her?

Was she expected to forgive and go out of her way to rescue Huxley just because he’d never crossed her?

Ridiculous.

Disinterested, Vivienne’s voice turned icy. “Do as I say, or not even you will make it out alive.”

With those final words, she stood and left the room.

Mara slumped to the floor, a portrait of despair.

If Gillian found out she had betrayed her, Huxley’s fate was sealed. Yet, failing to comply with Vivienne meant her own demise.

caught between a rock and

had been watching the drama unfold with a detached curiosity, couldn’t fathom Mara’s

straits,

Willa couldn’t understand it.

meant choosing between her own life and Sasha Perez’s, she

having been kicked out of Vanguard Agency by Vance, she needed to find a way out of this mess fast or risk becoming

grovel. She wouldn’t be cast aside after

her phone suddenly

up, “Boss, is

“It’s Mara.”

“What

“I… I killed someone.”

a killer? If you had the guts, you wouldn’t be in

sobs, Mara insisted. “I’m serious! It was Karen, Vivienne’s mother. Boss made me do it. What now? I’ve pinned it on Aaron, but Vivienne will trace it

“You actually

catches me, you’re the first name I’ll give up.

that, Mara hung

“Boss, I shouldn’t disturb you, but Mara’s killed

man’s deep voice

aloud. She double-checked the number, correct

was a

Gillian pressed, “Who are you? Where’s the

about who I am, Gillian. Your mission is

and before Gillian could process what had just happened, her

phone’s remnants scattered on the floor, sparking and hissing before falling

repair; its insides

Gillian collapsed, sweat beading on her

Had she been

Panic set in.

unsure of her

she couldn’t be a castaway

stormed out,

Gillian’s on the

“Her destination?”

tablet, Draven replied, “Judging by the

Linklater Mansion? What could Gillian be seeking