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.

clear from Soren's face that he had only discovered upon

Interesting.

swore to

silent, Soren paused before addressing

they were after Vivienne.

a Vanguard operative, duty-bound to

a frosty

twitched, a silent message to Anna, "You've been hanging out with

days, the once-sweet girl had adopted Leopold's brash

Squad Leader to

"My orders from Commander Percival are clear: protect Vivienne at all costs, no

weapon at Vivienne, "Vivienne Hawthorn, You're under arrest. Lay down

suggests you're the mastermind behind CK, known as

nearly laughed out loud, "What

the Vanguard agents. He limped, leaning

in person, but his face had been etched

mother's old partner,

smiled,

Vivienne replied with a hollow smile, "But let's skip the trip down

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

presented a

Black Dragon, also known as Fiona, CK's second in command. Three days ago, she confessed to earn more time outside prison, implicating you in every crime she committed on your orders, and the illicit funds you transferred using Commander

nodded. "Is

footage from the club where you handed off the Boar Poison to Fiona and the transaction records to the engineer who attempted

nodded again.

addressed Vivienne, "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 of Rivenwood, your

are you planning

flickered, but he

silence was as

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

Percival. We should be resistant to your poisons, right?" Micah

But since you've partaken, remember to pay up. Five million a pop,