The Million-Dollar Heart by Rebecca Ryan

As soon as Vivienne finished speaking, Percival and Leopold both paused for a beat.

Leopold, who was driving, quickly asked, “Vivienne, what exactly does this organization do?”

He was aware of the situation with Fiona but had never heard of this organization before, so he was trying to get his head around it.

“It’s similar to the Frostfire Intelligence Agency,” Vivienne explained. “They take on tasks assigned by clients – finding people, finding objects, all sorts of stuff. Paula once tried to hire CK to find her daughter, but CK didn’t take the job.

But CK… They don’t have any lines they won’t cross. If the price is right, they’ll even deal in human trafficking, like Fiona did when she hid Astrid for Mr. B. Fiona claimed it was her first time, but it certainly wasn’t CK’s first rodeo.”

Leopold caught on. “So, the baby trafficking cases from before, they had CK’s fingerprints all over them.”

“Exactly,” Vivienne replied, her expression darkening.

CK was a group that had risen to prominence in the past few years, a bit later than the Frostfire Intelligence Agency.

However, because they played by no rules, some individuals with sinister motives sought them out. For their own gain, they would harm other people’s families and their lives.

Thus, CK was more popular in the underworld.

Percival’s deep eyes narrowed as his voice dropped an octave. “Fiona only claimed she was the head of CK and did everything herself.”

“She’s contradicting herself.” Leopold clicked his tongue. “She said that the Astrid thing was her first time dealing in human trafficking, but we know for a fact that CK has trafficked infants before. How could it be the first time?”

“She’s not telling the truth,” Percival murmured, his long fingers tapping slowly on the windowpane.

After a moment, he spoke again, “Let’s head to the safe house.”

Leopold nodded, stepping on the gas as they headed toward the safe house.

Fiona was rather comfortable there, rising punctually each day, passing her free time with books, newspapers, and the news. When questioned, she repeated the same few lines.

She claimed she was the leader of CK, did not know who Mr. B was, and that all transactions were through the Ellington Group and Jeffrey’s art gallery.

Percival entered, finding Fiona absorbed in a painting by Eulalia, or in other words, by Vivienne.

barely lifted her eyelids, but upon

trouble you for something?” Fiona

Vivienne replied nonchalantly, hands

would like to see all of your previous design

raised an eyebrow, not

place like

into a smirk as she said, “Sure, but it’ll

want?” Fiona’s eyes shimmered with a hint of hope upon

“I could want a lot of things. Money? Strawberry cheesecake? Rare herbs? Or

lifted slightly, the smile on her lips growing.

stalled at the

code name for CK’s

to find any

interrogated her for so long, had not found any information about the leader, even though Fiona claimed

Vivienne seemed to

looked up.

dazzling smile on her face. “Is it hard to

informed, there’s no need

chin propped on her hand. “I’m not planning on asking you. However, if you want my designs, you must give

time before looking up. “Anything else I can give, just not information about Black

her legs, pondered for a while, then said, “I

was speechless, thinking, “Then why

asking with a faint smile, “Mr. Wolf, what do I need?

lips twitched. His Vivienne’s knack for infuriating people seemed as

next to Vivienne, his long fingers entwining with hers,

but said, “No, wait! I have to pay for your expenses. You’re too high-maintenance. I can’t afford you no matter how rich

Just make me

up. “That I can

was at a loss for words, yelling inside, “Enough! I don’t want

heard Fiona’s inner thoughts, she turned to her and said, “Though I have everything I need, my designs are numerous.

startled, her emotions betraying her control for

name known only to her, the

White Tiger were the highest authorities in CK, and all orders filtered down from White Tiger to