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

was bad

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

not unwarranted—they could have at least set up

climb the ranks already?” Leopold blurted out, his anger getting the better of

massaged her temples. Now, even

responded darkly,

a cold sweat, Leopold

me, Vivienne!” He

heard his desperate plea, Vivienne tugged at Percival’s arm, the other hand on the bomb model, and said

Vanguard Agency

true cause of her mother’s death remained

had called her mother, prompting her to

possibility of a mole within the Vanguard Agency, a team her mother had trusted

But now…

Agency betrayal had led to her mother’s failed mission, she would ensure the traitor learned that neither prison nor

“Yes,

turned, his face a portrait of

toyed with the bomb model, a sly smile playing on her lips, while Percival’s normally stoic eyes twinkled

witnessing their

Vivienne or kicked by Percival than subjected

if the Grim Reaper was grinning at a

pair, “I’m sorry, Vivienne, Percival. I’ll do whatever you

seat. “There’s no need

her smile as bright as ever. “I wouldn’t dream of sending him to such

aren’t thinking

person could deduce a bomb’s workings from

Vivienne’s silence was an answer in itself, their smiles

“No way, I can’t

– the tenacious hound he had barely