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

before addressing Anna, “Anna, rejoin the

they were after Vivienne. But she was

Vanguard operative,

a frosty

lip twitched, a silent message to Anna, “You’ve been

once-sweet

Squad Leader to

stepped behind Vivienne, “My orders from Commander Percival are clear: protect Vivienne at all costs, no

just sighed heavily. He glanced at the order on his display, then aimed his weapon at Vivienne, “Vivienne Hawthorn, You’re under arrest. Lay down your

her head

his lips. “Evidence suggests you’re the mastermind

out loud,

the Vanguard agents. He limped, leaning on a cane, his left leg clearly

in person, but his face had been etched

old partner,

feet before her and smiled, “You

replied with a hollow smile,

“Fair point. Let’s talk

presented a written

to earn more time outside prison, implicating you in every crime she committed on your orders, and the illicit funds you transferred using

“Is there

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 transfer. You can’t deny

nodded again. “You’re

addressed Vivienne, “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 your close contacts, including Dorian’s family, the Brooks family of Rivenwood, your

planning to monitor these people or use them

but

was as

scanning the circle of agents. “Just so you know,

should be resistant

because of my own Life-saving pill. But since you’ve partaken, remember to pay up. Five million a

supposed to be free?” Micah raised his

twirled her wrist. “Free for Mr. Wolf, not for you—we’re