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.

emerge from the shadows, grenades in hand, hurling them

the car around with a deft

floor, charging towards the attackers. The grenades exploded behind them as Vivienne’s vehicle careened toward the scattering foes, not sparing a single one. The car struck with such force, sending them tumbling through the air before crashing to the

tightly, witnessing

head as he

car to pursue, so Vivienne blocked the

door, carrying Thaddeus and

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

chaos finally

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

uncontrollably. They had

and collected. She even helped

and

exchanged glances before joining Vivienne and Percival, tying

Leopold had him rushing to the scene, arriving with his usual flair, “Holy

“I’m fine. Take these guys away and

that,” Leopold replied, then paused and said, “Wait, if I leave

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

While waiting, he could not help but notice Astrid’s and Alfred’s composure amid

Leopold’s men arrived, they took care of the scene, allowing Percival to offer his parents some water. “Mom, Dad, drink this.

who waved and rejected it because she was too dizzy to

handed them each a calming pill, noting the need for later counseling. Otherwise, what had happened today

take you home,” Vivienne softly said,