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…”

might as well have turned into dollar signs as he

interest was piqued,

face, a visage not

eyes darted around. “She’s a dame, about five-six, with chestnut

Brian nodded eagerly. “And?”

cut me loose, then I’ll

Vivienne. His confidence swelled again. “Believe me, I’ll let Vivienne here poison you

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

was at a

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

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

face.

Brian was not one to let

of bounty hunter would he be if he

a fiddle, then stepped

he watched his

offer you a lab to continue your

her side, wisely holding

not even his greed could

eyed Vivienne warily. “You’d do

I’ll make sure you have everything you

Mr. B and could potentially spill the beans – easier to handle than a wildcard like

to

not believe

the most talented poison master I’ve ever seen. Your concoctions have earned a place in my collection, 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 with ease.

Brody could hardly trust

recognition; it was from the Specter

believe that his long-time rival was actually

How could that be?

can help me find the antidote

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

saying how much more she

one-up the Specter Healer? He would

was the only one

into a sly

was an easy