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

interest was

Mr. B’s face, a visage

a dame, about

Brian nodded eagerly. “And?”

loose, then I’ll spill

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

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

was at a

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

Brian’s world, looks did not matter;

dilemma brought a smirk to Brody’s face. “Cut

was not one

bounty hunter would he be if he was

stepped forward

full of anguish as he watched his pilfered potion taken from

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

stood by her side, wisely

Vivienne had spoken, not

“You’d do that

me what Mr. B looks like, and I’ll make sure you have

seen Mr. B and could potentially spill the beans – easier to

not about to let this chance slip

could not believe it, eyeing

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. Even this potion, I’ve been at it for ages with no luck,

serious?” Brody could

was not just any recognition; it was from the Specter Healer

that his long-time rival was actually showing

How could that be?

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

work on that antidote right now!” And so, with

could hear was her saying how much more

to one-up the Specter Healer? He

the only one who could

curled into a

really was an easy