The Million-Dollar Heart by Rebecca Ryan

Scott had mulled over the idea of bringing Brody into the fold more than once, but the folks he had sent out to extend the olive branch had all met untimely ends, and a few had even vanished without a trace, their bones yet to be found.

Those in the know about Brody understood one thing clearly: He was not beholden to any organization. It all hinged on whether he was interested, and no one could force his hand to save or snuff a life.

Calista sucked in a sharp breath, the memory of Brody’s brutal methods during her treatment sending a shiver down her spine.

Scott exhaled slowly. “You should head back. Get the job done as soon as you can. Once you’re back with the Brooks family, don’t breathe a word of seeing me. You know what’s at stake.”

“Yes, I understand.” Calista quickly rose, snatching her purse and scurrying out the door.

The room lapsed into a moment of silence as Scott leaned back on the couch, a frown creasing his forehead.

He had overplayed his cards this time.

Vivienne had played him like a fiddle.

The lab had been a pet project of the boss, meticulously overseen to completion. Neither sensor probes nor thermal imagers could detect an exit.

Vivienne had been calm, deliberately cryptic.

And with his cover blown, he had mistakenly thought the lab’s location had been compromised.

To think he had actually led Vivienne and Percival straight to the lab.

What a blunder.

Scott chuckled wryly, a shade of melancholy crossing his face as he murmured, “As expected from your daughter, Karen.”

At Percival’s private clinic, Vivienne treated two children whose lives had been hung by a thread.

Thankfully, they were regaining vitality, and their hearts were beginning to regenerate.

With close observation over the next few days, they could be discharged.

children’s parents had been

twins supposed to be spitting images of each other?” Leopold

playfully smacked his head. “Ever heard

rubbed the back of his head. “Vivienne, you must’ve struck

you’re just plain dumb,” A man and

aback, eyed the pair—Vivienne and the

his arm around Vivienne’s waist. She looked every bit the intelligent beauty in her white

a sight to behold. His wife was

Thomas approached. “Percival, the kids’

“Yasmine, Natalia.”

voice echoed from behind

over, Vivienne saw a woman in her mid-thirties, dressed simply yet in

it together. We

Yuri Perez, the fourth son of the old man Jasper, who had recently bought the plagiarized

Yuri said

nodded. “Yes, the children are here. Have a look, but

Yuri and Zelda see

onto a medical report she had not yet passed on. Revealing their

to see a

my fault.” Zelda’s tears streamed down the glass as she collapsed against

to react, caught her. “Zelda, it’s not your fault. Please,

that the children’s

serious. Vivienne sensed his mood.

like I’ve seen that

“I thought I was

first time she laid eyes on Yuri, she felt as if she had known him long ago, and there

out Vivienne’s name from

Vivienne. You didn’t respond, so I…” Yuri said apologetically, then asked,

to discuss the situation with Yuri the next day to give him time to digest the news, but here he was, seeking

a rueful smile. “They must’ve suffered. I can’t be oblivious

Percival and Vivienne holding hands, Yuri said awkwardly, “Erm, I’m

think?” Percival thought but remained