The Million-Dollar Heart by Rebecca Ryan

In a clandestine surveillance room somewhere.

Calista’s wrists were bound by handcuffs, surrounded by stark white walls that seamlessly blended with the door. A shiver ran down her spine, and fear pounded in her heart.

She had been knocked unconscious by Percival and when she came to, she found herself trapped in this sterile cell, too terrified to resist.

Had her research on the viruses been discovered? Would that mean the death penalty?

No, it couldn’t be!

Lost in thought, Calista was jolted back to reality by the sound of the door unlocking. Her eyes widened in alarm as she watched the door intently.

Soon after, a figure in a black trench coat entered the room. It was Mr. B, who tossed a key toward her without a word.

It was the key to her cuffs.

“Mr. B, what’s going on? Where am I? Do I still have to return to the lab?”

Before she could get her bearings, Calista was met with a slap that sent her tumbling to the floor.

Blood trickled from the corner of her mouth as the blow nearly knocked her out.

“Fool, who gave you permission to collaborate with Fiona behind our backs?” Mr. B’s voice was harsh and undisguised. There was no need for pretense anymore; Calista’s identity had been exposed, and from now on, she could only operate under strict surveillance.

Calista was stunned. Mr. B was a woman?

Mr. B removed her hat, revealing Astrid’s familiar face, the disguise still in place, “Tell me, where is Boar Poison?”

Calista, regaining her senses, was shocked to see Mr. B’s true appearance.

“You’re Vivienne’s sister!”

Mr. B merely rolled her eyes, “Answer my question.”

Fiona didn’t give me Boar Poison. She said she’d hand

her

to seize Boar Poison, but Fiona had hidden

past transactions involving vital goods for GTO had

assumed Fiona was working alone, never suspecting she had an organization backing her, one with the capability to

especially since Karen’s research had been largely destroyed and couldn’t be

had resurfaced, GTO

floor, Mr.

Calista hesitated before placing her hand

arm might rip from its socket. The next instant, Mr. B had her by the neck, “Calista, do

through Calista. The gentle face before her inspired a deep-seated terror, “I…

If you can’t produce the Boar Poison within a month, your life becomes

through her. She was playing with fire, one false step from

it, I’ll definitely

and with a few

longer an option for you. You’ll be taken to your new lab, remember, you only have one

wiping her hands disdainfully, Mr. B turned and

If only she had known Vivienne was Specter Healer, she never would have

…

At TCL Labs.

had brought

not

“Carry on with

said no more, casting a sidelong glance at the hat-wearing woman behind Percival, his

who would dare to look twice at Mr. Percy’s

better, Holden averted his

Vivienne to Calista’s office door,

from nowhere, he slid it through the reader and with a beep,

you’re full

pocketed the card, “It’s a necessary skill when you’re out in

essential skills at