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.

parents had been located and

can’t tell these kids are twins. Aren’t twins supposed to be spitting images of each other?” Leopold peered through the glass of the

his head. “Ever heard of fraternal

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

dumb,” A man and a

aback, eyed the pair—Vivienne and the unwilling-to-admit-it Percival. “Alright, a duet you two

looked every bit the intelligent beauty

was a sight to behold. His

Thomas approached. “Percival, the

“Yasmine, Natalia.”

sobbing female voice echoed from behind

woman in her mid-thirties, dressed simply yet

keep it together. We need to

none other than Yuri Perez, the fourth son of the

Yuri said as he supported Zelda, politeness in his

look,

Yuri and Zelda see

report she had not yet passed on. Revealing their

not bear to see a

It’s all my fault.” Zelda’s tears streamed

react, caught her. “Zelda, it’s not

relieved that the children’s condition was stable and no longer required her

hospital, Percival’s expression was serious. Vivienne sensed his mood. “What’s on

seen that Yuri somewhere

paused. “I thought I

eyes on Yuri, she felt as if

they pondered this, someone called out Vivienne’s

so I…” Yuri said apologetically, then asked, “May I inquire about my daughters’ condition

She had planned to discuss the situation with Yuri the next day to give

“They must’ve suffered. I can’t be oblivious as

Yuri said awkwardly,

Percival thought but remained