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.

Vanguard Agency that swore to protect the nation and its

before addressing Anna,

were after Vivienne. But she

Vanguard operative, duty-bound to

him a frosty

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

the once-sweet girl had adopted Leopold’s

Squad Leader to fall back into line!”

are clear: protect Vivienne at all costs,

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

tilted her head

his lips. “Evidence suggests you’re the mastermind

out

behind the Vanguard agents. He limped, leaning

She had never met him in person, but his face

mother’s old partner,

700 feet before her and smiled, “You

a lot,” Vivienne replied with a hollow smile, “But let’s

Let’s talk about the matter

presented a

earn more time outside prison, implicating you in every crime she committed on your orders, and

nodded. “Is

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

again.

the confession and evidence to Soren, 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

“So, are you planning to monitor these

eyes flickered, but

was as

agents. “Just so you

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

since you’ve partaken, remember to pay up. Five million a pop, but for Mr. Wolf’s sake, I’ll

supposed to be free?” Micah raised his

twirled her wrist. “Free for Mr. Wolf, not for