The Million-Dollar Heart by Rebecca Ryan

In Rivenwood, in the depths of an off-the-grid prison unlike any other, the inmates were not your garden-variety criminals. Not even the hardened murderers found solace within these walls.

At present, this prison housed a mere trio of prisoners.

Flynn, Scott, and Fiona Ellington.

Fiona, though her body was a patchwork of decay, possessed sensory faculties that rivaled a healthy man in his prime. However, this heightened perception meant she also endured agonies far beyond the ken of ordinary humans.

Flynn, too, lived each day in excruciating pain, a modern-day Prometheus, his vitals ravaged daily, only to regenerate each dawn anew. This was Vivienne’s brand of retribution.

Scott, in contrast, seemed almost content. Free from the physical torment, his punishment was a Sisyphean task of endless paperwork. He accepted his fate with a disarming calmness, even pointing out errors for correction by his wardens from the Vanguard Agency.

Many said Scott was the quietest of the three.

Vivienne and Karen arrived to find Soren and Anna waiting at the gate.

“Ms. Vivienne, Ms. Karen,” Anna greeted as she adorned their wrists with security bands.

Back then, Vivienne was Percival’s wife, and Percival was the deputy. Thus, she had never needed such measures before, but times had changed.

Soren collected all their communication devices, casting curious glances at Karen. She gave him a playful warning, “Hotshot, any more staring, and you’ll be crossing a line.”

“My apologies, Captain,” Soren blurted a tad too quickly.

His curiosity stemmed from wondering why Percival respected Karen so much to call her master.

“Don’t call me Captain; I have no plans of returning to the Vanguard Agency,” Karen said with a smirk before stepping through the threshold.

and protocol. Freedom was what Karen thrived on, and the

Vivienne gestured toward a

to the left, to a cell

the former head boss of CK, known as White Tiger,”

nodded, but something about that cell made her skin crawl—a reluctance mingled with an

sensed Karen’s unease and offered, “Mom, do you want to

snapped back to reality. “No, let’s move

to find him making the most of his confinement by exercising in

enjoying yourself,”

GTO and had not been Belle’s stand-in, he and Karen

up. Without turning, he knew—it was her.

exited without saying a word. She could tell just how strong Scott’s feelings toward Karen were, or he would not have

care about that at

Karen’s old flame, it was only

a seat. “Old friend, long time

his hands shook as currents

her. She

like old times, but the electric barrier

her characteristic smile. “Looks like I’m doing

current vanishing from his nerves. “Karen, have you been well all

voice cracked, betraying

nodded. “I’ve been

sadly, words failing him. Thousands of thoughts choked in

silence for a moment before

come here to walk down memory lane,” she said, “I actually wanted to ask you about someone.

to the present. “Noah? The name rings a bell. Back in the day, I got sold to the GTO by the Brooks family. Once, this Vanguard Agency guy took a dozen of us, including me, from the base.