The Million-Dollar Heart by Rebecca Ryan

Brody snorted coldly at Vivienne. “Just you wait. I’ll concoct a poison that makes yours look like cherry soda, and you won’t even know what hit you when you’re lying six feet under!”

Without missing a beat, Brian’s hand connected with a resounding smack to the back of Brody’s head. “What’s with that tone? You talking to Vivienne like that? Looking for a knuckle sandwich?”

“You already gave me one!” Brody roared back.

Brian, unimpressed, hoisted Brody up by his collar and started fiddling with his face, poking and prodding. “Your face is quite real, isn’t it?”

Right now, Brody was tied up tighter than a Thanksgiving turkey, unable to make any moves, much less poison anyone. His sharp tongue was about the only weapon he had left.

Seizing a moment of distraction, Brody sank his teeth into Brian’s finger. “This is my real face!”

Instantly, Brian’s finger started to turn a shade of purple as vivid as a ripe eggplant.

Vivienne casually dusted some powder on Brian’s hand, then looked at Brody. “You’re quite the spring chicken.”

She had to admit Brody’s disguise was top-notch.

Back in the loony bin, she had not even realized he was in disguise.

She had truly thought that the nerdy loser look was Brody’s actual face.

Tsk.

She had underestimated her adversary.

“The secret’s in the moisturizer!” Brody panted, plopping onto the floor. “Brian, cut me loose. I’m a small fry, really. I’ve got bigger fish for you.”

Brian’s interest was piqued, poison forgotten. “Bigger fish? Who?”

Brody wiggled a bit. “Untie me first.”

“Spill first,” Brian retorted, unmoved.

Brody took a deep breath, feeling like a caged lion taunted by mutts.

“Ever heard of GTO? They’ve got a second-in-command, who goes by Mr. B. I’ve seen her. The bounty on her head…”

have turned into dollar signs as he

interest was piqued,

visage not even the likes of

darted around. “She’s a dame,

Brian nodded eagerly. “And?”

you cut me loose,

confidence swelled again. “Believe me,

threat. “Do it. Poison me. Then, say goodbye to Mr. B’s bounty, too. Go ahead, I dare

at

it, any leads on Mr. B’s bounty –

Brian’s world, looks did not matter; high bounties were the true

face. “Cut me loose, and you have

was not one to

kind of bounty hunter would he be if

played Brian like a fiddle, then stepped forward with a smile, retrieving a potion

eyes were full of anguish as he watched his

you. Plus, I can offer you a lab to continue your research

side,

had spoken, not even his

eyed Vivienne warily. “You’d

course. Just tell me what Mr. B looks like, and I’ll make sure you

could potentially spill the beans – easier to handle than a wildcard

to let

still could not believe it, eyeing

who can unlock the secrets of this potion. Your expertise isn’t just in poisons. If you wanted to create antidotes, you’d do it with ease. Even this potion, I’ve been at it

serious?” Brody could

just any recognition; it was from

could scarcely believe that his long-time rival was actually showing

How could that be?

you can help me find the antidote for this potion, my respect for

that antidote right now!” And so, with flattery from Vivienne,

hear was her saying how much more

to one-up the Specter Healer? He

he was convinced, he was the only one

into

was