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

the Nine

door,

for a print, and walked out, leaving

a fevered pitch, “Young Master, I beg you. I’ll never betray you again. Please, you can kill me, but don’t send me to the hound

was stunned by her

used to punish traitors.

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

much Mark’s betrayal

organization that had killed Vivienne’s mother, and she was relentless in her quest for vengeance against it, swearing to

with many from GTO, but none suffered as Mark

she never had any personal grudge against them. Thus, if they did not cross her, she might grant them a quick death if

was attached to

why Vivienne would throw Mark into the hound pit.

exit, hearing Mark’s begging, she smiled, a poisonous bloom. “I’m a law-abiding citizen. Why would I kill? Don’t you worry, you won’t die. You’ll

sat, mouth agape,

having overheard everything. Mark’s betrayal was now

of course, would

father had always been absent, and that only seemed more

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

stated that upon his death, everything would pass to

truly dead was irrelevant. What mattered was

knew very well that whether he could obtain complete control of the Miller

disappoint you. I promise, the Miller family will never

filled with

shoulder, her confidence in him

Matthew and Draven pull some strings for you