The Million-Dollar Heart by Rebecca Ryan

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.

It was clear from Soren’s face that he had only discovered upon arrival that his target was Vivienne.

Interesting.

This Vanguard Agency that swore to protect the nation and its people.

Seeing Vivienne silent, Soren paused before addressing Anna, “Anna, rejoin the squad!”

He did not understand why they were after Vivienne. But she was now a suspect.

Anna was a Vanguard operative, duty-bound to comply!

Anna shot him a frosty glare. “Rejoin my foot!”

Vivienne’s lip twitched, a silent message to Anna, “You’ve been hanging out with Leopold too much.”

After just a few days, the once-sweet girl had adopted Leopold’s brash language.

“I order you as Squad Leader to fall back into line!” Soren barked.

Anna stepped behind Vivienne, “My orders from Commander Percival are clear: protect Vivienne at all

costs, no matter who the opposition is.”

Soren did not argue further, just sighed heavily. He glanced at the order on his display, then aimed his

weapon at Vivienne, “Vivienne Hawthorn, You’re under arrest. Lay down your arms and surrender.”

Vivienne tilted her head slightly, “And the charges?”

Soren pursed his lips. “Evidence suggests you’re the mastermind behind CK, known as White Tiger.”

Vivienne nearly laughed out loud, “What evidence?”

Then, a figure emerged from behind the Vanguard agents. He limped, leaning on a cane, his left leg

clearly injured.

Vivienne’s eyes narrowed on the approaching figure. She had never met him in person, but his face

had been etched into her memory since she was five.

Her mother’s old partner, Micah.

Micah stopped about 700 feet before her and smiled, “You look so much like your mother, Karen.”

“Thanks, I get that a lot,” Vivienne replied with a hollow smile, “But let’s skip the trip down memory lane

and get to business.”

Micah nodded. “Fair point. Let’s talk about the matter at hand.”

He presented a written confession.

“This is from 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 Percival’s influence.”

Vivienne nodded. “Is there more?”

“Of course,” Micah flipped to another page, “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. Only

your fingerprint could authorize that transfer. You can’t deny it.”

Vivienne nodded again. “You’re right.”

Micah handed the confession and evidence to Soren, then 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 associate Anna,

and Percival’s family.”

Vivienne finally let out a laugh. “So, are you planning to monitor these people or use them to threaten

me?”

Micah’s eyes flickered, but he did not respond.

His silence was as good as an admission.

Vivienne rolled her neck, scanning the circle of agents. “Just so you know, you probably can’t take us

down.”

“I’m aware of your pharmaceutical skills. Your life-saving pills were distributed to everyone here by

Percival. We should be resistant to your poisons, right?” Micah smirked slyly at Vivienne, the cunning in

his eyes undeniable.

Vivienne clicked her tongue. “Never thought I’d be in a bind because of my own Life-saving pill. But

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

20% discount.”

“Wasn’t it supposed to be free?” Micah raised his hand.

Vivienne twirled her wrist. “Free for Mr. Wolf, not for you—we’re not exactly chums.”

Micah gave a wry smile as his hand fell back to his side.

All the team members, except for Soren, stepped forward.

Soren hesitated for a few seconds before he, too, shuffled his feet forward.Books Chapters Are Daily

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Anna was braced for battle, her sights set on Soren. Taking him down would deter the group from any

foolishness.

On the other hand, Vivienne casually leaned against the trunk of the SUV and, with a graceful leap,

perched herself atop it.

She spread her palm and shielded her eyes from the harsh sunlight, gazing into the distance.

Micah sensed something was amiss when a series of dry clicks echoed from behind.

Soren was the first to whirl around, bearing down on the source of the noise.

What he saw left him frozen in place.

The other team members were equally perplexed, unsure how to respond to the turn of events.

Anna relaxed her stance and turned to Vivienne, “Ms. Vivienne, what’s the play here?”

Vivienne feigned contemplation. “I’d say, a knight in shining armor scenario.”

Anna choked a bit—’knight in shining armor’ indeed.

Micah also turned and saw Percival striding towards them, fully geared.

Percival removed his goggles, revealing eyes that shimmered with a noble chill under the sunlight.

Behind him followed Leopold and Thomas.

Micah kept his cool, taking a few steps forward with a smirk, “Should I address you as Captain Percival

now or Chief Percival?”

“Deputy, like yourself,” Percival replied, tapping the badge on his shoulder, now adorned with an

additional star.

Micah pursed his lips. “Got your orders?”

“Just came through. It should’ve been delivered to your office by now. But I’m still leading the special

squad, so we’ll be collaborating.” Percival pulled out another document, “Also, all the charges Fiona

leveled against Vivienne have been deemed baseless. Here are the papers.”

Percival’s eyes crinkled with a hint of pride. “Have a look!”