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?"

switchblade on the table 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 no big

from his room. "Even if they're a bit delayed, it's fine. The Abernathys can't pull any

opened his eyes slowly, a sense of unease

continued to

the room flickered with light and shadow, creating

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

at him. "Don't jinx us. The online buzz is still brewing, but with our legal summons, the tide is turning. The Littletons are

he could finish, Kaitlyn, who had been asleep, suddenly burst out of

tightly, her frantic gaze sweeping the room for Vivienne. Not

Littleton!" Anna, who was closest, quickly grabbed Kaitlyn. "Mrs. Littleton, Ms. Vivienne hasn't returned yet. Are you

Can you call her, ask her to come back quickly? There's really no time left!" "What's happened?" Thomas asked, a sense of

and strode over. "Mrs. Littleton,

gripping her phone since the start,

wait for her consent before reaching out to

clear-headed and resilient, was now filled with

from her hands, murmuring repeatedly about the lack of time, looking utterly

"Bastards!"

upon the phone, and he

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

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

comforting Kaitlyn, looked over, and the warmth

do now?" Thomas clenched his