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

a farce. Not only had she failed to secure the “Boar Poison,” but she had also narrowly avoided capture thanks to her

that man was the only thing she could

shifted as she walked to a quieter place and

“Hello.”

side, a passive and chilling

at Calista again as she said

quickly lowered her head, afraid Mr. B might give her another

side of the phone seemed

was stunned momentarily before

prefer us to bail Fiona out because she’s still of use to them. In exchange, they’ll give us the Boar

Boar Poison in exchange for Fiona? I didn’t expect Fiona to be this important to them. Did

that big of a crime. The Boar Poison is more important than that. Things

“Okay. Understood.”

and smiled, turning to look at

slowly squatted down, raised Calista’s chin, and said, “Recover well. I

as quickly as she could. “Okay,

…

her husband. With her

sick

she was sent to the hospital and was diagnosed with severe Organic cardiovascular disease, more commonly known as

the news, shared a knowing

known Fiona for so many years and have never

simply smiled and did

imprisoned and knew very well that Fiona

juice, looking at the signature on Fiona’s medical parole

his direct