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 you

of a botched operation was bad enough without

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

at least set up a perimeter, avoiding

Leopold blurted out, his anger

Now, even divine intervention

responded

Leopold realized what he

Vivienne!” He yelled

his desperate plea, Vivienne tugged at Percival’s arm, the other hand on the bomb model, and said calmly, “Mr. Wolf, perhaps it’s time for you to

within the Vanguard Agency had thwarted

true cause of her mother’s death remained

had called her mother, prompting her

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

But now…

she would ensure the traitor learned that neither prison nor the grave would be

arched subtly, understanding her intent. “Yes,

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

smile playing on her lips, while

their

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

if the Grim Reaper was grinning

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

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

smile as bright as ever.

aren’t thinking of her,

workings from a model, someone trustworthy and an expert

silence was an

stammered, “No way, I can’t possibly call Griffin. It’s

– the tenacious hound