The Million-Dollar Heart

As soon as the door swung open, there was Jerry, lounging on the couch with a contract in hand, earbuds dangling from his ears, grinning at Finnian. "Finnian, long time no see, buddy."

Finnian slammed the door shut, immediately storming into another bedroom.

Holy smokes, Larry was here! He was fiddling with a pocketknife, grinning ear to ear. "Hey Finnian, missed me?"

Finnian had caught on by now. He stood at the door, taking deep breaths before bellowing, "You bunch of troublemakers, get out here, now!"

Door after door opened, and everyone except Leopold lined up in front of Finnian.

Smiles were plastered on their faces, but their eyes were full of schemes.

Dawson burst out furiously, "Do you have any idea how much your funeral cost me? Pay up!"

Jerry looked genuinely baffled. "Finnian, what's with the fake death stunt? You're breaking our hearts."

Daniel, fists pumping in the air, yelled, "I ditched so much stuff to come back for your supposed passing, nearly got myself killed on the road!"

Eric, counting on his fingers with a sinister tone, added, "I almost blew myself up in the lab trying to figure out what killed you, and here you are, alive and kicking!"

Donald was grinding his teeth. "Fun to fake your death, huh? You know how long it took us to crawl out of the mental scar of your 'death"?"

Brian, frowning deeply, pointed outside to a husky tied up. "Finnian, you owe us an explanation."

Larry clenched his fist, threatening, "If you don't clear things up, I'm gonna let that dog tear up your vegetable patch on South Mountain."

Gary was livid at the mention of the vegetable patch, saying, "Those plants were my blood, sweat, and tears under the scorching 95-degree sun!"

The eight disciples surrounded Finnian like debt collectors from hell. Poor Finnian felt his brain swell.

pushed Finnian over the edge! Vivienne was

was not naive; Finnian agreeing to stay with her so easily meant he was planning

and Percival could not keep tabs on

see him

silently, sitting next to Vivienne, casually draping an arm around

eyes in the back of their

fists raised, egged them on. "Go on, my disciples,

you'd better

fists sank

hand not only stayed on Vivienne's

"Where's Leopold?" Percival inquired.

shoulder, Vivienne said with gravity, "He mentioned

furrowed slightly; it must be that mission

convinced the

Vance plotting by sending Leopold into the thick of

an eye

affectionately ruffling her hair before kissing

lips back!" Came the chorus from

eye on Finnian. He's on the

Percival's words, and the disciples were

The karmic payback of his youth

did he ever take on so many

Especially Vivienne!

rallied other disciples, and now his life was

Utterly exasperated.

not poison his disciples, no matter