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

paused before

not understand why they were after Vivienne. But

was a Vanguard

a frosty glare. “Rejoin my

lip twitched, a silent message to Anna,

the once-sweet girl had adopted Leopold’s

as Squad Leader to fall back into

“My orders from Commander Percival are clear: protect Vivienne

display, then aimed his weapon at Vivienne, “Vivienne

her head

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

out

a figure emerged from behind the Vanguard agents. He limped, leaning

figure. She had never met him in person,

old

her and smiled,

I get that a lot,” Vivienne replied with a hollow smile, “But let’s skip the trip down

talk about the

a

confessed to earn more time outside

nodded. “Is

and the transaction records to the engineer who attempted to take out Carl. Only

again.

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,

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

flickered, but

silence was as good

rolled her neck, scanning the circle of agents. “Just so you know, you probably can’t take us

Your life-saving pills were distributed to everyone here by Percival. We should be resistant to your

you’ve partaken, remember to pay up. Five million a pop, but for Mr.

supposed to be free?” Micah raised

her wrist. “Free for Mr.