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!”

unable to stomach his ranting any longer, snapped.

a botched operation was bad enough without his incessant

can’t shut it,” Leopold retorted. “How many times now? If nothing works, maybe we should just

was not unwarranted—they could have at least set

Leopold blurted out, his anger getting the

temples. Now, even

the back, responded darkly, “Sure, any

sweat, Leopold realized what he had

Vivienne!” He yelled

Percival’s arm, the other hand on the bomb model,

Vanguard Agency had

of her

her mother, prompting her to choose

possibility of a mole within the Vanguard Agency,

But now…

her mother’s failed mission, she would ensure

“Yes, I agree. You’ve worked

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

bomb model, a sly smile playing on her lips, while Percival’s normally

their expressions,

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

as if the Grim Reaper

Vivienne, Percival. I’ll

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

bomb model, her smile as bright as ever. “I

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

from

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

went pale as he stammered, “No way, I can’t possibly

the tenacious hound