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, can you

a botched operation was bad enough without his incessant

many times now? If nothing works, maybe we should just surrender, throw

at least set up

the ranks already?” Leopold blurted out, his anger getting the better of him, a clear sign of his

massaged her temples. Now, even divine intervention could

in the back, responded darkly, “Sure,

a cold sweat, Leopold realized what he had

me, Vivienne!” He

Percival’s arm, the other hand on

Vanguard Agency had thwarted their

cause of her mother’s

her mother, prompting her

the possibility of a mole within the

But now…

that a Vanguard Agency betrayal had led to her mother’s failed mission, she would ensure the traitor learned that

understanding her intent. “Yes, I agree. You’ve worked hard

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

on her lips, while Percival’s normally

witnessing their

by Vivienne or kicked by Percival than subjected to their

Grim Reaper was grinning at a

to bear it, Leopold clasped his hands, pleading with the pair, “I’m sorry, Vivienne, Percival. I’ll do whatever you ask—climb mountains, swim oceans, even

leather seat. “There’s no need for such dramatics.

bright as ever. “I wouldn’t dream of

aren’t

could deduce a bomb’s workings from a model, someone trustworthy and an expert

silence was an

pale as he stammered, “No way, I can’t possibly call Griffin. It’s out of

– the tenacious hound he had