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.

skull, you know. Vivienne asked me

snorted. With Vivienne’s project and his own research at stake,

persisted, and somehow their verbal

Vivienne groaned, wishing she could vanish into

deep chuckle was far too soothing for the situation. “Embarrassing? I should record this

love stirring the

always vying for your attention. They want to challenge me? They’re not even in my

the entire story, were too scared to make

slap echoed through

lab ground to a halt as everyone’s attention shifted from their work to where Brian and Brody stood, frozen, staring in one

“Ms. Hawthorn!”

Leopold noticed Brody and Brian shiver

subtly poking

was well aware that his girl was all about the bottom line. This lab was her mother’s and her own life’s work. And those azure countertops with their beakers

these two had

word, Vivienne passed a

party in my lab, huh? Do you even

spilled potion;

failed elixirs of immortality they’d

we brought back from M State,

sheepish grin, Brian chimed in, a chilling sensation creeping up his spine as he nudged Brody, “What

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

the one pestering me

sharpest tool in the Emerald Mountain shed, he retorted, “Vivienne, don’t listen to his nonsense! You know me. How

blinked innocently, trying to play

Brody here was so gullible? Sorry, Vivienne, but you can blame me. I didn’t realize the stuff Brody left at the corner of the table

‘normal’

eyes, my eyes! How are Vivienne’s

out his phone, faithfully documenting