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. “Husky,

frustration of a botched operation was bad

“How many times now? If nothing works, maybe we

outrage was not unwarranted—they could have at least set up a perimeter, avoiding the

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

her temples. Now, even

responded

into a cold sweat, Leopold realized what

Vivienne!” He yelled

desperate plea, Vivienne tugged at Percival’s arm, the other hand on

within the Vanguard Agency had thwarted their recent

her mother’s

her mother, prompting her to choose

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

But now…

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

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

a chill. He turned, his face a portrait of dread.

toyed with the bomb model, a sly smile playing on

witnessing their

kicked

Reaper was grinning at a

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

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

smile as bright as ever. “I wouldn’t dream of

two aren’t thinking

one person could deduce a bomb’s workings from

Vivienne’s silence was an answer in itself,

stammered, “No way, I

hound