098:

"He is your brother, no?" Carlos laughed.

She couldn't speak. She had brothers.... Step-brothers, adopted brothers, and half-brothers. She only had one full sibling, and she had been born at the same time as that one. Megan was the only one. All her other siblings were through her mother. She'd had no idea that her father, Raine Maverick had sired any other children. She wondered if her mother knew. Probably not. She wondered if her father had actually known.

Thoughts raced randomly, though her mind in just a few seconds. Raine had been young, in the military, partying... she didn't know when he'd joined the church or changed his life, if he had, or if he had been simply inactive, or just a slip-up. She had no idea, she wasn't sure her mother knew the answers to everything about Raine. He'd been a brief, if very loving part of her life. She always said Raine was her first real love, and he was a good man, the best. Her dad, Richard, had known him as well, and had admired him, respected him, and always spoke of him with real sincere love and honor. But had either of them known his past?

There was no way for her to know at this moment, nor did it matter.

"Manuel is your brother, Melia. He shares your blood, and therefore, he shares your DNA as well."

Now her mind sharpened, she felt a dawning inkling of adrenaline wash through her.

DNA?

Was this....? He planned to kill her for her.... DNA?

"He is my only surviving kin. He is my blood too, and he must live to carry on the empire I have built. You and Megan are the keys to his life. He needs a transplant, Melia. And you will provide it. He has a disease, Melia... and he's going to die, if I don't provide what he needs."

She shook her head, horror struck. "What kind of transplant?"

Carlos shook his head, examined his fingernails and then pierced her with a stare. He leaned forward. "Heart." He said.

Melia drew in her breath sharply.

Megan... where was Megan?

Being prepared... he'd said.

Prepared to be... harvested...

"You. Leave. Megan. Alone." She hissed through clenched teeth. "I swear, I will kill you if you touch her."

Carlos reared back, laughing. "I didn't expect you to say that." He laughed longer, squeezing the solemn boy at his side.

"Carlos." Her face was right next to the screen. "Take me. Take anything you want from me. Take my heart. But you leave Megan alone. Stop whatever it is you're doing and let her go. I- I'll give it willingly, legally, but I swear, you let her go...."

"She's the more humane choice now that I have her already, Melia. You're a mother. Your children may need you a while longer. I will bring you all here and then we will see which of you is the better donor." He decided and the screen went dead.

Melia pounded the table with her fist and then turned, and punched the waiting thug right in the face. The last thing she heard was a round of ugly and brittle laughter before a return volley laid her out.

******