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 nation and

Soren paused before addressing Anna, “Anna,

did not understand why they were after Vivienne.

was a Vanguard operative, duty-bound

him a frosty glare.

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

few days, the once-sweet girl had adopted

Leader to

are clear: protect Vivienne at all

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

head

his lips. “Evidence suggests you’re the mastermind behind CK, known as

out loud, “What

the Vanguard agents. He limped,

never met him in person, but his face had been etched into her memory

old

700 feet before her and smiled, “You

I get that a lot,” Vivienne replied with a hollow smile, “But

talk about the matter

a

in command. Three days ago, she confessed to earn more time outside

“Is

club where you handed off the Boar Poison to Fiona and the transaction records to

again. “You’re

then 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

are you planning to monitor these

but he did not

silence was as good

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

were distributed to everyone here by Percival. We should

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

it supposed to be free?” Micah

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