The Million-Dollar Heart by Rebecca Ryan

Vivienne slammed the phone down with a chilling finality that seemed to echo the icy resolve in her eyes.

Three minutes later, the realization hit both Vivienne and Percival simultaneously.

The bomb research facility was nestled right beneath Eastlake Bay Plaza, spreading its clandestine roots beneath half the square.

The scene suggested a hasty escape; the fleeing suspects only had snatched the crucial documents.

The operatives from the Nine Mystics Society had already evacuated, and Leopold, leading the first squad, had scoured the base thoroughly.

“Vivienne, Percival, check this out.” Leopold approached, cradling a box in his arms.

Percival flipped the box open to reveal a scale model of a state-of-the-art bomb—obviously left behind in the chaos.

This only confirmed the suspicion that the perpetrators had received an urgent tip-off.

Otherwise, they never would have left something so vital behind.

Vivienne extracted the model, a one-to-one replica. While not as revealing as written documents, to the trained eye, it could divulge the bomb’s design.

The bomb’s most unnerving feature was its ability to evade detection—compact, portable, and easy to conceal.

Understanding how it slipped past sensors would be key to preemptive defense.

Vivienne tucked the model away. “I’m taking this.”

Percival nodded. He had no intention of reporting a mere model to the higher-ups. He still had that much leverage.

Instead, Percival simply called Thomas, instructing him to report the escapees’ flight, foregoing a return to headquarters.

On the way back, Leopold was fuming.

“Damn it, if we had set up a blockade sooner, I bet we could’ve stopped them. What are the higher-ups thinking? If they’re worried about civilian safety, just make up an excuse to evacuate. A fire drill, earthquake drill—anything would’ve worked. This is infuriating!”

any longer, snapped. “Husky,

of a botched operation was

If nothing works, maybe we should just surrender,

not unwarranted—they could have at least set up a perimeter,

out, his anger getting the better of him,

her temples. Now, even divine intervention could not save

responded

cold sweat, Leopold realized

Vivienne!”

had heard his desperate plea, Vivienne tugged at Percival’s arm, the other hand on the bomb model, and said calmly, “Mr. Wolf, perhaps it’s time for

the Vanguard Agency had thwarted their recent

her

mother, prompting her to choose

the possibility of a mole within the Vanguard Agency,

But now…

she would ensure the traitor learned that neither prison nor the

“Yes, I

a chill. He turned, his face a portrait of dread. “I’m sorry,

the bomb model, a sly smile playing on her lips, while

witnessing their

rather be slapped by Vivienne or kicked by Percival than subjected to

if the Grim Reaper was grinning at a

“I’m sorry, Vivienne, Percival. I’ll do whatever you ask—climb mountains, swim oceans, even streak across Mount

“There’s no need

bright as ever. “I wouldn’t dream of sending

gulped, “You two aren’t thinking of

from a model, someone trustworthy and

was an answer in itself, their

way, I can’t

hound he had barely shaken