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

of a botched operation was bad enough without

Leopold retorted. “How many times now? If nothing

have at least set up a perimeter, avoiding the

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

Now, even divine intervention could not

the back, responded darkly, “Sure, any other

cold sweat, Leopold realized what he had

me, Vivienne!” He

arm, the other hand

within the Vanguard Agency had thwarted

of her mother’s death remained a

had called her mother, prompting her to choose

the possibility of a mole within the Vanguard Agency, a

But now…

that a Vanguard Agency betrayal had led to her mother’s failed mission, she would ensure the traitor learned that neither prison

her intent. “Yes,

felt a chill. He turned, his face

a sly smile playing on

witnessing their

slapped by Vivienne or kicked by Percival than

the Grim Reaper was grinning

clasped his hands, pleading with the pair, “I’m sorry, Vivienne, Percival. I’ll do whatever

the leather seat. “There’s no need for such dramatics. Just help me contact

model, her smile as bright as ever. “I wouldn’t dream of sending

gulped, “You two aren’t thinking of her,

could deduce a bomb’s workings from

Vivienne’s silence was an answer

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

– the tenacious hound he