The Million-Dollar Heart by Rebecca Ryan

“Oh,” Karen muttered under her breath, realization dawning on her. So this was the infamous Gillian.

The incredibly foolish idiot!

It wasn’t surprising she described her that way; in Karen’s eyes, Gillian was just that.

Stupid, despicable, and needing a beating!

How had Vivienne not knocked her lights out?

Gillian, hands clutched around her neck, took several deep breaths, cursing under her breath at Thomas for being such a brute with no chivalry.

After a moment, she finally turned her attention to Karen.

The legendary former captain of the Vanguard Agency, known as Lark.

And, as fate would have it, Vivienne’s mother!

Gillian narrowed her eyes. “Who the hell are you? This is the secret Vanguard Agency prison! You think you can just waltz in here as you please? Thomas, let me tell you, you’re in for a punishment! Don’t think just because Vance told me to stay out of Vanguard Agency’s business that I can’t deal with you!”

Before Gillian could finish, Karen lunged forward, gripping Gillian’s throat tightly.

She slammed her against the wall, feet dangling, struggling in vain.

Even Thomas, standing aside, was taken aback by how swiftly Karen had acted.

Gillian was gasping for air, on the verge of passing out.

“Dying is easy, and I could help you with that,” Karen’s voice was as cold as the Arctic.

Gillian, twice throttled, was furious but no match for Karen. She wanted to fight back, but a twisted smile crossed her face instead. “Go ahead, kill me! Let’s see if you dare!”

Karen’s lips curled into a smirk, her free hand tracing Gillian’s contorted face, her fingertip grazing the skin, leaving a painful sting.

Karen’s icy gaze met Gillian’s, whispering with a devilish tinge, “Don’t rush. What’s so scary about death? The real terror is wanting to die but being unable to. Your life is in my hands now. I’ll decide when to send you to hell.”

Thomas looked at the wicked smile on her face, a spitting image of Vivienne.

– a

to the floor with controlled force. The fall drew blood and broke

her hands, Karen spoke, “By the way, this is the Vanguard Agency’s secret prison. If I decide

help

Gillian really think she stood taller

even Webster would dare

to return to the Vanguard Agency had been a choice of

of her name, the Agency would’ve

the prestige of this secret prison, and Karen could come and go

highest confidentiality

Thomas was merely an adherence to the agency’s

Thomas and then left the

wasn’t as simple as he seemed, and she suspected there were questions left

Thomas, not wanting to

while to regain her composure, gasping for air

than Vivienne. When would this

her chest, Gillian stumbled into Flynn’s

changed the

a pill.

been beaten up? Tsk, poor thing,” Flynn said, catching the pill and swallowing

sooner had he ingested it than his brow furrowed tightly, and he collapsed in agony, drenched in sweat,

watched, her brow

Truly horrifying.

what they

transfer you tomorrow. Try to avoid Karen if you can,” Gillian

the cell silently erased the footage of

…

at the YQ Research Center, Vivienne had finally made a breakthrough

smile played

the dark about Vivienne’s work, saw she was finished and ruffled her hair. “How’s it

muttered, “Didn’t she

shook her head. “I’ll eat later. I need to discuss something with my mom. When is

cue, Karen pushed open the door. “I’m back now, and I’ve got something to discuss with

and daughter shared a knowing smile, and Percival tactfully