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.

had only discovered upon

Interesting.

swore to protect the

paused before addressing Anna, "Anna, rejoin

they were after Vivienne.

a Vanguard

a frosty glare.

to Anna, "You've been

days, the once-sweet girl had

you as Squad Leader to fall back into line!"

orders from Commander Percival are clear: protect Vivienne at all

display, then aimed his weapon at Vivienne, "Vivienne Hawthorn, You're under arrest. Lay down your arms

"Evidence suggests you're the

nearly laughed out

the Vanguard agents. He

the approaching figure. She had never met him in person, but his face had been etched

mother's old

stopped about 700 feet before her and smiled,

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

Let's talk

presented a

in command. Three days ago, she confessed to earn more time outside prison, implicating you in every crime she committed on your

"Is

Fiona and the transaction records to the engineer who attempted to take out Carl.

again.

studio down at Eastlake Bay, all properties in your name, and we'll be monitoring all

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

but he did

silence was as good as

scanning the circle of agents. "Just so you know, you probably can't

your pharmaceutical skills. Your life-saving pills were distributed to everyone here by Percival. We should be resistant to

bind because of my own Life-saving pill. But since you've partaken, remember to pay up.