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.

my skull, you know. Vivienne asked me

and his own research at

somehow

stop gawking. It’s embarrassing,” Vivienne groaned, wishing she could vanish into thin

far too soothing for the situation. “Embarrassing? I should record this and post it online. People

love stirring the pot,

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

entire story, were too scared to

slap

attention shifted from their work

“Ms. Hawthorn!”

Brody and Brian shiver at

poking

her mother’s and her own life’s work. And those

had managed to

word, Vivienne passed a wooden box

my lab, huh? Do you even

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

eyes narrowed, recalling the failed elixirs of immortality they’d found at Samantha’s villa. A shiver ran down

sample we brought back

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

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

Hawthorn, he was the one

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

trying to play the

but you can blame me. I didn’t realize the stuff

‘normal’ the teaching

eyes! How are Vivienne’s protégés so…

out his phone,