The Million-Dollar Heart by Rebecca Ryan

In the bowels of an unnamed city, a clandestine lab was the scene of yet another failure for Calista. Her frustration at yet another botched experiment reached a tipping point, and she sent glassware and papers flying off her desk in a fit of rage.

Why was she unable to develop the “Boar Poison”? And why, oh why, could she not surpass Vivienne’s accomplishments in medicine? She was just as competent, if not more so. Yet, this “Boar Poison” formula continued to elude her grasp.

The door to the lab burst open, and Calista jolted upright, stumbling backward in a panic. “Mr. B… I’m working on it. I’ll have it soon. I promise no more troubles, oh!”

However, before she could finish, a pair of iron-strong hands grabbed her by the hair, slamming her head against the sharp edge of the lab table. Blood gushed from a gash on her forehead, painting her vision in a haze of red.

Mr. B’s face twisted with fury as she continued to shake Calista by the head, bashing her against the wall and the table, unleashing his anger.

Calista felt the grim reaper’s presence, certain her last breath was imminent.

Finally, Mr. B ceased her onslaught, flinging Calista to the floor with a force that was calculated—cruel enough to torment but careful enough to keep her alive.

Blinking through the blood, Calista made out the scar that marked Mr. B’s face, a constant reminder of her cruelty.

Trembling, Calista knelt, pleading. “Mr. B, please give me another chance.”

Mr. B, with a nonchalant gesture, unscrewed a water bottle and poured its contents over Calista’s head, leaving just enough to quench his thirst.

Calista’s hair dripped, and a chill crept over her limbs.

Mr. B exhaled deeply, troubled by recent events. A bounty hunter had been snooping around, constraining her operations. Thankfully, her location remained a secret, or the hunter would have already been on her tail.

Turning back to Calista, she said, “Do you realize the lengths we went to to pull you out? Twice I’ve risked exposure for you, and you’ve been nothing but useless!”

Calista shuddered with fear. “I’m close to a breakthrough, I swear. The ‘Boar Poison’ will be ready soon.”

B looked

to secure the “Boar Poison,” but she had also narrowly avoided capture thanks to her

hope on Calista and that man was the only thing she

and her demeanor shifted as she walked to a quieter place and answered

“Hello.”

a passive and chilling voice

Mr. B glared at Calista again as

quickly lowered her head, afraid Mr. B

expected.” The person on the other side of the phone seemed to be doing a stretch. “I got a message

momentarily before asking, “What

she’s still of use to them. In exchange, they’ll give us the Boar

Fiona to be this important to them. Did

never committed that big of a crime. The Boar Poison

“Okay. Understood.”

and smiled, turning to

Calista’s chin, and said, “Recover well. I

as quickly as she could. “Okay, I got

…

husband. With her daughter gone and

you Fiona’s family? She’s sick and is eligible for

diagnosed with severe Organic cardiovascular disease, more commonly known as acute heart disease, something that could take her life easily if not

the news, shared a knowing smile. Fiona’s sudden

Leopold’s face flushed with rage. “That’s another one escaped. I’ve known Fiona for so many years and have never heard of her having any heart

and did

she was imprisoned and knew very well that Fiona was more than

Vivienne’s leftover fruit juice,

his