"You're not going alone."
Aria blocked the motel room door with her body while Marcus tried to push past her.
"Move," Marcus said. His voice was flat and dangerous. "Karen will die if I don't show up in fifty-three minutes."
"Karen will die anyway." Aria didn't budge. "You walk in there alone, they'll kill you both, and at least if we come with you, we'll have a chance."
"The message said I need to come alone."
"The message also said they'd release Karen if you complied." Aria grabbed his shirt. "Do you actually believe that? Do you think they'll just let her walk away after she's seen their faces and heard their voices?"
Marcus stopped trying to push past her, and his shoulders sagged slightly because he knew she was right.
"So what do you suggest? We'll all walk in together and get executed as a group instead of individually?"
