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 located and were en

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

smacked his head. “Ever heard of fraternal

back of his head. “Vivienne, you

you’re just plain dumb,” A man and a woman

and the unwilling-to-admit-it

waist. She looked every bit the intelligent beauty

to behold. His wife was beautiful in every

approached. “Percival, the

“Yasmine, Natalia.”

female voice echoed

a woman in her mid-thirties, dressed simply

it together. We

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

must be Vivienne, hello. I’m Yuri, and we’re the children’s parents,” Yuri

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

let Yuri and Zelda

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

to see a

Natalia, I’m so sorry. It’s all my fault.” Zelda’s tears streamed down the glass as she

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

left the family to their moment, relieved that the children’s

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

like I’ve seen that

I was the

if she had

they pondered this, someone called out Vivienne’s name from behind. It

name, Vivienne. You didn’t respond, so I…” Yuri said apologetically, then asked, “May I inquire about my daughters’ condition in more

the situation with Yuri the next day to give him time to digest the news, but

hesitation, gave a rueful smile. “They must’ve suffered. I can’t

hands, Yuri said awkwardly, “Erm, I’m not disturbing

do you think?” Percival thought but remained