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…”

ten times yours!” Brian’s eyes might as well have turned into dollar signs as he crouched

was piqued,

Brody had seen Mr. B’s face, a visage not even the likes of

around. “She’s a dame,

Brian nodded eagerly. “And?”

you cut me loose, then I’ll spill the

His confidence swelled again. “Believe me, I’ll

say goodbye to Mr. B’s bounty, too. Go ahead, I

at a

letting Brody walk and, with it, any leads on Mr. B’s bounty – which would be a jackpot ten times Brody’s size – was

world, looks did not matter; high bounties were

dilemma brought a smirk to Brody’s face. “Cut me loose, and you have my

it!” Brian was not one to let go of

kind of bounty hunter would he be if he

stepped forward with a smile, retrieving a potion hidden on

were full of anguish as he watched his pilfered

lab to continue your research and protection from Brian’s hunting,” Vivienne

her side, wisely holding

Vivienne had spoken, not even his greed

Vivienne warily. “You’d

B looks like, and I’ll make sure you have everything you need for

was the only one who had seen Mr. B and could potentially spill

about to let this chance

not believe

and you’re the only one 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

Brody could hardly trust his

any recognition; it was from

long-time rival

How could that be?

nodded. “Yes, if you can help me find the antidote for this potion, my respect for

get to work on that antidote right now!” And so, with flattery from

could hear was her saying how much more she would

opportunity to one-up the Specter Healer? He would be a fool to pass

he was the only one

into

really was