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.

something worse waiting

joined the Nine Mystics Society, death would

opened the door, Draven entered.

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

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

was stunned

kennel of ferocious dogs used to punish traitors. For years,

to cross her. She had hoped she would never have to use it. But now, she

much

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

dealt with many from GTO, but none suffered as Mark

in her mother’s death. They were not GTO’s boss, and she never had any personal grudge against them. Thus, if they did not cross her, she might grant them a quick death if she was

Plus, she was attached to

pit. If he were betrayed

bloom. “I’m a law-abiding citizen. Why would I kill? Don’t you worry, you won’t die. You’ll be tended

Mark’s last hope. He sat, mouth agape, unable to utter

Aaron was waiting, having overheard everything. Mark’s betrayal was

course, would not

always been absent, and that only seemed

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

stated that upon his death, everything would

Mark was truly dead was irrelevant.

well that whether he could obtain complete control

the

pledge was filled with a young

patted his shoulder, her confidence in

have Matthew and Draven pull some strings for you