The Million-Dollar Heart by Rebecca Ryan

Gavin scoffed, the malice evident in his wrinkled eyes. "What can be done? The deed is done; they're gone. So, we'll just send Kaitlyn a picture of the urn, and let's see what she does. Will she cling to that useless old family recipe, or does she want to see her parents reduced to ashes?"

Victoria's eyes widened in horror.

Who the hell came up with this sick plan?

Was Gavin not afraid of being haunted by the Littleton's vengeful spirits?

Aurora Mountain Villa.

In a two-thousand-square-foot villa, the lights were off in every room except the living room.

Members of the Nine Mystics Society were stationed in every corner, ensuring the villa's security. Kaitlyn had been teetering on the edge of a breakdown all day. Finally relaxing, she collapsed into the first empty room she found and fell asleep.

Amelia's fever had broken, Tyler's wounds showed no signs of infection, and after taking Vivienne's pills, Sadie and Julian were out like lights.

Anna did a round of the villa before settling back in the living room.

Draven sat on the couch, silently cleaning his knives, an array of sleek switchblades neatly arrayed on the coffee table.

Having finished the tasks given to him by Percival, Thomas stretched his long legs, carelessly resting his head against the back of the sofa to rest his eyes.

Beside him, Raquel sat gagged, her eyelids fluttering with fatigue, yet she dared not sleep, fearing she might be taken out by Anna and the others if she let her guard down.

Anna's gaze swept indifferently over the group before she, too, took a seat, pulling out her phone to check the time. "It's almost dawn. Where are Vivienne and Percival? Shouldn't they be back by now?"

and sighed as if he had finished a monumental task. He poured himself a cup of water, taking a sip before speaking, "They should be here soon. Emerald City isn't far, and even if those guys are tough, it's

Jerry, now fully rested, said as he rubbed his eyes and emerged from his room. "Even if they're a bit delayed, it's fine. The Abernathys can't pull any more stunts against the Littletons at

his eyes slowly, a sense of unease lingering. "But why do

continued

across the night sky, and the room flickered with light and shadow, creating an

couldn't recall the last time he'd seen weather this severe, but he couldn't shake the feeling that something big

buzz is still brewing, but with our legal summons, the tide is turning. The Littletons are under our watch; what could possibly go wrong?" Thomas shook his head, unsure. "Maybe I'm just

he could finish, Kaitlyn, who had

her hands clutching her phone tightly, her frantic gaze sweeping the room for

grabbed Kaitlyn. "Mrs. Littleton, Ms. Vivienne hasn't returned yet. Are you looking

her hands trembling as she held her phone, "There's no time! Can you call her, ask her to come back quickly? There's really no time left!" "What's happened?"

his earlier premonition and strode over. "Mrs. Littleton, may I see your

had been gripping her phone since the start, and that was where the problem had to

consent before reaching out to

resilient, was

hands, murmuring repeatedly about

"Bastards!"

upon the phone, and

and the others gathered around, and as he stood, he made sure to pocket the

everyone to see, and the message from an unknown number was clear for all to

comforting Kaitlyn, looked over, and the

we do now?"