The Million-Dollar Heart by Rebecca Ryan

Vivienne glared at the scene for a solid thirty minutes before she finally averted her gaze.

At that moment, Calista had just danced with the reaper, her toes still dangling over the edge of the abyss.

“Easy there, I just tossed away her eyeball yesterday,” Vivienne remarked dryly, casting a sidelong glance at Brody.

Brody nodded in understanding. “Don’t worry, I know what I’m doing.”

As they spoke, the poison coursing through Calista’s veins was neutralized.

Vivienne did not linger. She motioned for Anna to follow, and they left the lab.

The moment she shut the door, Brody’s voice boomed from inside, “Vivienne, you’re a real asshole!”

Anna peered through the glass and saw Brody awkwardly propped up on hands and feet, his head stretched upward, resembling a turtle stuck on its back.

“Ms. Vivienne, you sure take revenge promptly,” Anna said with a quiet chuckle, giving Vivienne the thumbs up.

Vivienne flicked her hair dismissively. She was not about to take Brody’s scolding for nothing.

“Let’s go,” she said, looping an arm around Anna’s neck as they exited the lab.

Just as they approached the car, both women tensed and swiftly rolled away to either side.

Two tranquilizer darts thudded into the seat where they had just stood.

Vivienne stood by the car’s rear, her face a storm as she eyed the direction from which the darts had come.

Anna, positioned at the front, looked in the opposite direction with equal vigilance.

Suddenly, operatives wearing the uniforms of the Vanguard Agency special squad emerged from all around, led by none other than Soren.

Clad in tactical gear and goggles, Soren’s surprise was evident even through his battle-hardened facade. “It’s you?”

Vivienne’s expression remained calm and unreadable.

It was clear from Soren’s face that he had only discovered upon arrival that his target was Vivienne.

Interesting.

Agency that swore to protect the nation and

before addressing Anna,

were after Vivienne. But she was now

was a Vanguard operative, duty-bound

him a frosty

Anna, “You’ve

few days, the once-sweet girl

to

behind Vivienne, “My orders from Commander Percival are clear: protect Vivienne

argue further, just sighed heavily. He glanced at the order on his display, then aimed his weapon at Vivienne, “Vivienne

her head slightly, “And the

suggests you’re the mastermind behind CK, known as

nearly laughed out loud, “What

the Vanguard agents. He limped,

on the approaching figure. She had never met him in person, but his face had been etched into her memory since

old partner,

about 700 feet before her and smiled, “You look

a hollow smile,

nodded. “Fair point. Let’s talk about the matter at

a

more time outside prison, implicating

“Is there

another page, “Here’s footage from the club where you handed off the Boar Poison to Fiona and the transaction records to the engineer who attempted to take out Carl. Only your fingerprint could authorize that

nodded again. “You’re

at Eastlake Bay, all properties in your name, and we’ll be monitoring

finally let out a laugh. “So, are you planning to

flickered, but he did not

silence was as good

scanning the circle of agents. “Just so you

skills. Your life-saving pills were distributed to everyone here by Percival. We should be resistant to your poisons, right?” Micah smirked slyly at Vivienne, the cunning in his eyes

thought I’d be in a bind because of my own Life-saving pill. But since you’ve partaken, remember to pay up. Five million a pop, but

to be

her wrist. “Free for Mr. Wolf,