The Million-Dollar Heart by Rebecca Ryan

Percival’s car was bulletproof, a rolling fortress that ensured their safety amid the chaos.

Hunkered down beside the vehicle, Vivienne and Percival awaited the right moment to make a break for it.

But Astrid and Alfred were left without adequate cover, squatting behind another car that was riddled with bullet holes and leaking oil, a ticking time bomb waiting to ignite.

Inside the car, Cordelia was in hysterics, but Vivienne had locked the doors for safety, trapping her within.

“Astrid! Vivienne!” Dorian shouted, rolling down the window halfway, “What in the world is happening? Why are there gunshots?”

Vivienne pushed Dorian’s head back inside, yelling, “Get down!”

Observing their surroundings, Percival realized they were sitting ducks – they had come for a birthday celebration, not a gunfight, and were unarmed against the hidden assailants. Their only chance was to pile into his car and get out of there.

However, Astrid and Alfred were at a distance, and rescuing them was no simple task, not to mention the car was already packed to the brim.

As the gunfire continued, Vivienne took charge, instructing Dorian through the window, “Dad, get Thaddeus down by the passenger side footwell. You hold Mom and squeeze in. Hurry!”

Dorian nodded rapidly, thankful Thaddeus was small enough to wiggle into the tight space. Once settled, Vivienne swung open the door and slid into the driver’s seat, with Percival following and shielding Thaddeus.

Vivienne honked twice, signaling to Astrid, who pointed out a route to save them with a circular hand motion.

With a twist of the ignition, Vivienne floored the accelerator, using the bulk of the car to block incoming bullets as Astrid and Alfred dodged the remaining gunfire.

Reaching a rendezvous point, Dorian, flustered by the chaos, forgot to open the door. Astrid leaped through the window, opened the door, and yanked Alfred inside before slamming it shut.

in the rear-view mirror to see several assailants emerge from the shadows, grenades in hand, hurling them

on tight!” She yelled, spinning the

the attackers. The grenades exploded behind them as Vivienne’s vehicle careened toward the scattering foes, not sparing a single one. The car

Thaddeus gripped Percival tightly, witnessing a

sheltering Thaddeus’s head as he spotted a straggler on the

to pursue,

opened the car door, carrying Thaddeus and

evaded swiftly, arrived before him in the blink of an eye, and knocked him out

the chaos finally

assailant off the hood and swiftly applying pressure points to subdue him and the others. They would not die, but they would

clung to each other, shaking uncontrollably. They

collected. She even helped Alfred attend

knocked on the window and said,

before joining Vivienne and Percival, tying up the

arriving with his usual flair, “Holy smokes, that was like a scene straight out of an action

Vivienne responded, “I’m fine. Take these guys away and leave

then paused and said, “Wait, if I leave the

He had already told him many people were here, yet he

While waiting, he could not help but notice Astrid’s

they took care of the scene, allowing Percival to offer his parents some water. “Mom, Dad, drink

Cordelia, who waved and rejected it because she was too dizzy to

for later counseling. Otherwise, what had happened today would certainly traumatize

will take you home,” Vivienne softly said, ready to