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.

face that he had only discovered upon arrival

Interesting.

swore to protect the nation

Vivienne silent, Soren paused before addressing Anna, "Anna, rejoin the

not understand why they were after

Vanguard operative,

a frosty

Anna, "You've been hanging out

few days, the once-sweet girl

order you as Squad Leader to fall back into line!" Soren

Percival are clear:

just sighed heavily. He glanced at the order on his display, then aimed his weapon at

lips. "Evidence suggests you're the mastermind

nearly laughed out

Vanguard agents. He limped, leaning on a cane,

had never met him in person, but his face

old

700 feet before her and smiled, "You look so much like your mother,

with a hollow smile, "But let's skip the trip down memory lane and get to

talk

a

to earn more time outside prison, implicating you in every

nodded. "Is there

"Here's footage from the club where you handed off the Boar Poison to Fiona and the transaction records to the engineer who attempted to take out Carl.

nodded again.

"Next, we'll be seizing this lab, the film studio down at Eastlake Bay, all properties in your name, and we'll be monitoring all your close contacts, including Dorian's family, the Brooks family

a laugh. "So, are you planning to monitor these

but he did

silence was as

"Just so you know, you probably can't take us

Percival. We should be

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