The Million-Dollar Heart by Rebecca Ryan

The Abernathy family's voices clashed like cymbals in a brass band gone rogue. Each member took turns stepping forward, yet not a single one was willing to really throw down. Vivienne's patience wore thin with the cacophony. With a slight raise of her hand, Matthew seized the opportunity during the family's chaotic shift in positions to charge forward. He grabbed one of them by the collar and hauled him over, his voice booming, "Keep it up, and I'll send this guy to meet his maker!"

"You... you can't!"

Nimue had thought they were cops here to crack the case. She didn't expect them to play so dirty, and Matthew's sudden burst of action left her speechless and stunned.

The remaining two, a pair of young bucks, froze in their tracks. Emrys, barely daring to breathe, stretched out a shaking finger toward Vivienne. "What in the world do you want?" Vivienne's eyes sparkled with scorn. "We're here to overturn the Littleton case."

"That's impossible!" Nimue shot back, her voice like a whip crack, "The Littletons, those harbingers of disaster, they got what they deserved! To even think of overturning the case, you're dreaming!" Percival interjected, "We're not asking for your permission."

"Wha-what?" Emrys gulped, his eyes meeting Vivienne's hawk-like fierce gaze, and he felt a chill run down his spine. He had a sinking feeling. Could they have found out his son wasn't dead? Vivienne's impatience flickered across her face as she casually cleaned her ear. "You have two choices: come with us back to Rivenwood and recant your testimony, or we take you by force. Whether you get hurt in the process isn't my concern. Think about it."

"How could the Littleton's remedies be anything but poison?" Nimue, despite the shiver Vivienne's icy gaze sent down her spine, stood her ground defiantly. "My son is dead because of them, and now you expect me to lie for a murderer? How much did the Littletons pay you to sell your soul and do such vile deeds?"

Vivienne let out a cold laugh. "Seems like you're not willing to come quietly."

Percival flicked his wrist, tapping his watch twice.

Hidden allies sprang from the shadows, and a pack of young guns clad in tactical gear stormed into the Abernathy estate.

Emrys had been timid moments ago, his eyes uncertain, but now his gaze hardened, and he stood tall, his voice filled with disdain, "You think you can intimidate the Abernathys with this motley crew? You're living in a dream!"

"Damn, he's really an Abernathy!" Matthew's eyes widened in disbelief as Emrys' presence swelled with defiance. "What kind of family sends their own to rot away in this backwater?" Vivienne didn't say a word. At the moment Emrys made his move, she and Percival charged in.

you from the ancient warrior lineage? Who sent you?" Emrys gasped after just one exchange with Vivienne, overwhelmed by the torrent of inner strength she possessed. At twenty, he wasn't even half as skilled as

not worthy of that

movements became even more ruthless, every strike aimed

in ancient martial arts, was no slouch in

of rural living, stood

the attack, shouted, "Now,

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Percival, Vivienne closed in and struck his chest with her palm. Emrys' roar was cut short as he flew back like a leaf in the wind, crashing heavily to the ground. Meanwhile, the rest of the team had subdued Nimue

and handed it to Matthew. "Make them take this. Call Leopold; we're heading back to

me, I won't reverse my testimony!" Nimue's shrill voice pierced the air, annoying Matthew to

Emrys from the ground. "This little pill is called the Gut-Melter. Without the antidote every day, your insides will start

pale, Vivienne chuckled. "So save your energy, and don't bother

stay here

leave Nimue behind. "Mr. Wolf, let's see what secrets this place

The Abernathy estate.

and Harrison struck a

entered the main hall, where they saw

as if the heavens had burst, and the boxes looked as though they had been unearthed from the mud, their yellow and black stains

— their shape, their aura

unease.

her, glanced over