The Million-Dollar Heart (Percival and Vivienne) novel Chapter 668

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.

She let out a piercing scream that seemed to split the night, "Ahh!"

At her cry, the lights in the room blazed to life.

Stepping back, her wrist still captured, Mara looked around in panic.

This was no empty hospital room.

Vivienne, Percival, and the woman holding her wrist with an icy glare were all present, along with a few men Mara didn't recognize, all staring daggers at her.

And her supposed ally, Aaron? He stood among them, grinning at her.

"You guys... you..." Mara couldn't handle the shock, her vision darkening as she crumpled to the floor.

Willa released her grip, wiping her hand with disgust. "Vivienne, you called in the cavalry for this piece of trash?"

Maddox was equally puzzled. "Seriously, not to mention you, your Aunt Zelda could've handled this one easily!"

Yuri nudged Maddox with his shoulder, "Zelda is tough as nails; she wouldn't even blink at this amateur!"

"Why are you so protective? It was just a figure of speech!" Maddox rubbed his shoulder where Yuri had hit him.

Fredrick stepped forward, hoisting Mara onto a couch. "Enough bickering. What do we do with her?"

Luke stepped up and said, "Wow, this girl's got a scary face. Lucky for Natalia and Yasmine, they're not here."

The Perez brothers shared a look: Seriously, bro? That's your takeaway?

Vivienne approached and pressed her thumb to Mara's philtrum. The unconscious Mara instantly gasped back to life.