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.

to protect the

paused before addressing Anna,

were after Vivienne. But she was now a

Vanguard operative, duty-bound

him a frosty glare. “Rejoin

a silent message to Anna, “You’ve been hanging out with Leopold

days, the once-sweet girl had

you as Squad Leader to fall back into line!”

Percival are clear: protect Vivienne

display, then aimed his weapon at Vivienne, “Vivienne Hawthorn,

tilted her head slightly,

“Evidence suggests you’re the mastermind behind CK,

out loud,

Vanguard agents. He limped, leaning on a

figure. She had never met him in person,

mother’s old partner,

and smiled, “You

hollow smile, “But let’s

point. Let’s talk about the

presented a

as Fiona, CK’s second in command. Three days ago, she confessed to earn more time outside prison, implicating you in every crime she committed on your orders, and the illicit funds you transferred using Commander Percival’s

nodded. “Is

you handed off the Boar Poison to Fiona and the transaction records to the engineer who attempted

again.

“Next, we’ll be seizing this lab, the film studio down at Eastlake Bay, all properties in your name, and we’ll be monitoring all

a laugh. “So, are you planning to monitor these people or use them to threaten

but he did

as

of agents. “Just so you know, you

Your life-saving pills were distributed to everyone here by Percival. We should be resistant to your poisons, right?”

tongue. “Never 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,

it supposed to be free?” Micah raised

for Mr. Wolf, not for