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

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 death

she opened the door, Draven entered. “Young

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

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

Draven was stunned

kennel of ferocious dogs used to punish traitors. For years, no human had

temperament. No one dared to cross her. She had hoped she would never have to

much Mark’s

A simple betrayal might have ended with poison, but Mark had joined GTO, the organization that had killed Vivienne’s mother, and she

many from GTO,

in her mother’s death. They were not GTO’s boss, and she never had any personal grudge against them. Thus, if they

Mark. Plus, she was attached

would throw Mark into the hound pit. If he were betrayed by someone

Don’t you worry, you won’t die. You’ll

crushed Mark’s last hope. He sat,

Aaron was waiting, having overheard everything.

course, would not forgive Mark

absent, and that only

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

will. It stated that upon his death,

Mark was truly dead was irrelevant. What mattered

he could obtain complete control of the Miller family

you. I promise, the Miller family will never

filled with

his shoulder, her confidence in him

and Draven pull some strings for you