The Million-Dollar Heart

Griffin bit her lip, her worry evident in her wide eyes.

No matter how much you prepare, the thing you fear the most always seems to find a way to happen.

"Vivienne, you don't think the guys will take Leopold out back for a rough-up, do you?" she whispered, sneaking over to ask Vivienne.

The only outcome she could imagine was Leopold getting a piece of their minds, quite literally.

Vivienne offered a reassuring smile, "Don't worry about it. They know better than to actually hurt Leopold."

At most, they'll find some other way to vent.

Meanwhile...

Leopold was cornered in an empty parking lot, surrounded by a group that looked less than pleased to see him. Jerry, cracking his knuckles leisurely, led the charge. "Alright, Leopold, spill it. How are we handling this?" With a heavy heart, Leopold glanced at the intimidating setup and then back at the two brothers pinning him down, swallowing hard.

This was a setup if he'd ever seen one.

Accustomed to playing the weaker card, he immediately went for sympathy, "Guys, come on. Today's the christening party for Vivienne's twins. If I show up looking like I've been mugged, what will people think?" Daniel snorted, cutting him off, "You think Vivienne's always going to take your side?"

As if they were invisible in Vivienne's eyes.

Jerry sighed, looking directly at Leopold, "We've been good to you, haven't we?"

Leopold, knowing full well he'd kicked the hornet's nest this time, could only nod in agreement, afraid to utter another word.

Jerry raised an eyebrow, "And how have you repaid our kindness?"

all about fair competition, but here was Leopold, sneaking around and then boasting about

supposed to

Silence from Leopold.

pit was not one he could talk

the sympathy card, "Jerry, I swear, I wasn't

a threatening tone, questioned, "Becoming godfather

Leopold blinked earnestly, nodding.

swore it was a

thought Vivienne would

thing I've got a new concoction from the lab. You'll be the first human test subject." Leopold

Eric's reputation for being ruthless, whatever he was

the horizon, any mishap

"That's more

verge of tears, pleaded, "I swear, I didn't do anything. I just asked

kidding, right? Just asked and

"Thinking you can fool us with that excuse? Do you think Vivienne's

slick. Not honest, huh? Seems we

do your

a handful of peanuts, about to shove them in his mouth. Leopold, allergic to peanuts, could barely

red was not an option. Vivienne and their mentor would have

blurted out, "I swear on the Sterling family name, I'm telling the truth. Call Vivienne if you don't believe me..." The group

full well Leopold's fear of his family's wrath, they

"Call her now. If I've lied about anything, do whatever you

after all. If Vivienne agreed, there must be a reason."

keep his mouth shut, chimed in, "Guess I'm

him a collective