The Million-Dollar Heart

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.

he had only discovered upon arrival that

Interesting.

Agency that swore to protect the nation

Vivienne silent, Soren paused before

did not understand why they were after Vivienne. But she was now

was a Vanguard operative, duty-bound to

him a frosty

to Anna, "You've

few days, the once-sweet

as Squad Leader to

"My orders from Commander Percival are clear: protect Vivienne at all costs,

at Vivienne, "Vivienne Hawthorn, You're under arrest. Lay down your arms and

you're the mastermind behind CK, known as White

nearly laughed out loud,

emerged from behind the Vanguard agents. He

approaching figure. She had never met him in person, but his face had been etched into her memory since she

mother's old partner,

her and smiled, "You

that a lot," Vivienne replied with a hollow smile,

"Fair point. Let's talk about the matter at

a written

time outside prison, implicating you in every crime she committed on your orders, and the illicit funds you transferred using Commander Percival's

"Is there

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

again.

the film studio down at Eastlake Bay, all properties in your name, and we'll

you planning

but

silence was as good as an

her neck, scanning the circle of agents. "Just

pills were distributed to everyone here by Percival. We should be resistant to your poisons, right?" Micah smirked slyly at Vivienne, the

own Life-saving pill. But since you've partaken, remember to pay up. Five million a pop, but for Mr. Wolf's sake, I'll give