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!”

his ranting any longer, snapped. “Husky,

botched operation was bad enough without his incessant

shut it,” Leopold retorted. “How many times now? If nothing works, maybe we should just surrender, throw in

outrage was not unwarranted—they could have at least set up

out, his anger getting the better of him,

massaged her temples. Now, even divine

in the back, responded darkly, “Sure, any other

a cold sweat, Leopold

Vivienne!” He yelled

she had heard his desperate plea, Vivienne tugged at Percival’s arm, the other hand on the bomb

complications within the Vanguard Agency had thwarted

her mother’s

had called her mother, prompting her to choose

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

But now…

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

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

felt a chill. He turned, his face

playing on her lips,

witnessing their

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

if the Grim Reaper was

to bear it, Leopold clasped his hands, pleading with the pair, “I’m sorry, Vivienne,

leather seat. “There’s no need

model, her smile as bright as

gulped, “You two aren’t thinking of

bomb’s workings from a model,

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

he stammered, “No way, I can’t possibly

the tenacious hound he had barely shaken