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.

a rock and

who had been watching the drama unfold with a detached

dire straits, shouldn’t self-preservation

Willa couldn’t understand it.

if it meant choosing between her own life and Sasha Perez’s, she would save herself first, then find a way

kicked out of Vanguard Agency by Vance, she needed to find a way out of

grovel. She wouldn’t

her

snatched it up, “Boss, is

“It’s Mara.”

heart sank. “What do you

“I… I killed someone.”

If you had the guts, you wouldn’t be in

serious! It was Karen, Vivienne’s mother. Boss made me do it. What now? I’ve pinned it

demanded, “You

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

that, Mara

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

deep voice interrupted, “Mara

aloud. She double-checked

was

pressed, “Who are

worry about who I am, Gillian.

call ended, and before Gillian could process what had just happened,

stumbled back as the phone’s remnants scattered on the floor, sparking and hissing before

phone was beyond repair; its insides turned

Gillian collapsed, sweat

Had

Panic set in.

her house, unsure

couldn’t be

out,

on the move, and her phone’s out of

“Her destination?”

tablet, Draven replied, “Judging by the GPS, she’s headed to the Linklater

Linklater Mansion? What could Gillian be seeking