The Million-Dollar Heart by Rebecca Ryan

Mark knew his fate was sealed. Betraying the Nine Mystics Society and harming his brethren had left him no escape.

His only option now was to divulge what he knew about GTO to save his own skin.

“Young Master, my latest orders were to shift our operations to Sea City and locate someone named Imogen to await further instructions. That’s all I was told, Young Master. Please, can you spare my life?”

Vivienne’s eyes narrowed.

Imogen had fled to Sea City, the turf of the Perez family.

Mark continued to plead as a tear traced his cheek.

Vivienne brushed off the man’s insincere tears and pressed, “Once in Sea City, how will you find Imogen?”

“I don’t know, but our base there is at a virus research facility. I haven’t been given details.”

Seizing a thread of hope, Mark blurted out, “Young Master, I’ll make amends. I’ll go to Sea City, uncover the research facility, and deliver this woman, Imogen, to you. I swear I’ll complete the mission.”

His voice was urgent, punctuated by fits of coughing that suddenly brought forth blood. His heart felt pierced with a thousand needles, suffocating him with pain.

Vivienne stood, dusted off her jacket, and said indifferently, “I gave Flynn a poison that’s tearing him apart from the inside. Yours is a hundred times stronger. You’ll spend every moment in agony.”

Mark collapsed, his face ashen.

No one knew better than him the potency of the Young Master’s poisons.

His pleas were in vain.

Just as he thought this was the harshest punishment, Vivienne spoke slowly, “You think this is enough?”

Mark shuddered.

worse waiting

down upon him. “I’ve always said, from the day you joined the Nine Mystics Society, death would never be the best outcome. For a traitor… even a

door, Draven

document, pressed Mark’s thumb for a print, and walked out, leaving behind a chilling command, “Throw him

escalated to a fevered pitch, “Young Master, I beg you. I’ll never betray you again. Please, you can

was stunned by her

to punish traitors. For years, no

knew of its existence and Vivienne’s temperament. No one dared to cross her. She had hoped she would never have to use it.

how much Mark’s betrayal

simple betrayal might have ended with poison, but Mark had joined GTO, the organization that had killed Vivienne’s mother, and she was relentless in her quest for

had dealt with many from GTO, but

never had any personal grudge against them. Thus, if

she trusted Mark. Plus, she was attached

understand why Vivienne would throw Mark into the hound pit. If

I kill? Don’t you worry, you won’t die. You’ll be tended to every day,

last hope. He sat, mouth agape, unable to utter

having overheard everything.

would not forgive

absent, and that only seemed more accurate than

Aaron the document and said, “From today, you are the head

that upon his death, everything would

dead was irrelevant. What mattered was

he could obtain complete control of the Miller family still depended on

promise, the Miller family will

filled with a

his shoulder, her confidence

pull some strings for you