The Million-Dollar Heart by Rebecca Ryan

Jack and Ethan were both equally matched in strength, and mindful of the fact that they were in Vivienne’s lab, both of them hesitated to exert their full force.

But as the scuffle progressed, they got carried away, lost in their own world of grunts and thuds, oblivious to everything else.

Leopold was practically biting his nails off in anxiety. He glanced at Vivienne, who remained silent throughout, and then at Percival, who watched with a mischievous glint in his eye, and couldn’t help but mentally pray for Brody.

“Hey, Husky, what’s the scoop here? How did these two end up duking it out? And aren’t you accompanying Griffin Martinez?” Anna asked with the nonchalance of a spectator at a boxing match.

Leopold bristled at the nickname, “Don’t call me ‘Husky’, Anna! And what do you mean by that? I’m not tethered to the Martinez family. Can’t a guy get some fresh air without it being a big deal?”

He huffed, “You want to know so badly? Well, I’m not telling!”

Vivienne and Percival gave him a look that could freeze hell over.

Like a scolded pup, Anna could almost hear Leopold’s whimpers. “Okay, okay, I’ll spill it, Vivienne. I swear on my mother’s apple pie, this mess has nothing to do with me!”

“Get to the point,” Vivienne demanded, massaging her temples.

Leopold could be such a chatterbox; she’d be old and gray before he finished his story.

Leopold cleared his throat, “Well, the gist is, I was here to pick up some gear. Just as I arrived, I heard Brian arguing with Rex.”

Turned out, it was nothing serious.

Brian had been tasked by Vivienne to keep an eye on Brody, which meant Brian hadn’t been on any missions for a while and was itching for some action. He decided to try his luck with Brody.

“What’s up, big guy, feeling idle?” Brody rolled his eyes at the thought of being used as a pawn for Brian’s schemes again, especially after last time’s debacle with the bonus money.

Brody had finally landed a gig analyzing Karen’s artifacts. No way was he about to drop that for Brian’s wild goose chase.

though. “I’m bored out of my skull, you know. Vivienne asked me to babysit you,

snorted. With Vivienne’s project and his own research at stake, he wasn’t going

Brian persisted, and somehow their verbal tiff turned

groaned, wishing she

deep chuckle was far too soothing for the situation. “Embarrassing? I should record this and post it online. People love a

love stirring

young bucks are always vying for your attention. They

entire story,

slap echoed

hubbub of the lab ground to a halt as everyone’s attention shifted from

“Ms. Hawthorn!”

Leopold noticed Brody and Brian shiver

subtly poking fun,

her mother’s and her own life’s work. And those azure countertops with their beakers and vials

now, these two had

Vivienne passed

had quite the party in my lab, huh? Do you even know what’s inside

dipped a cotton swab into the spilled potion; the brownish-red liquid instantly stained

they’d

we brought back from M State, is

sheepish grin, Brian chimed in, a chilling sensation creeping up his spine as

grim smile, blurted out, “You’re toast! Vivienne’s going to kill

he was the one pestering me for help with some scam, and he’s the one who broke

as the sharpest tool in the Emerald Mountain shed, he retorted, “Vivienne, don’t listen to his nonsense! You know me. How could I possibly wreak havoc in your lab? It was just

innocently, trying to play

so gullible? Sorry, Vivienne, but you can blame me. I

awkwardly, wondering just how ‘normal’ the teaching standards were at Emerald

“My eyes, my eyes!

pulled out his phone, faithfully documenting the