The Million-Dollar Heart by Rebecca Ryan

As the quartet happily indulged in a cozy fondue dinner, Leopold brought over the documents from headquarters.

Peering through the empty doorway, Leopold hesitated, unsure whether to enter.

He texted Anna: [Where are you guys?]

Anna, who had not quite finished chewing her lamb, hit the voice message button, “On a mission, gotta stick to Ms. Vivienne like glue.”

Vivienne said, “Just drop the stuff off, and don’t be a nuisance. You mess up the deal, I’ll break your legs.”

Percival added his own threat, “I’ll dislocate your arm.”

Thomas kept it simple, “Good luck, man!”

Listening to the sounds of bubbling fondue, fizzing sodas, and the stubborn mastication of lamb, Leopold was in disbelief.

Was this really a mission?

This was sheer torture!

But he had no choice; he had to deliver the documents quickly.

Griffin had already sent a reminder in the Little Bombs group chat – a special group Vivienne had created for convenience.

With no other option, Leopold donned a mask and hat, covering himself completely, and entered Griffin’s home.

The evening was setting in, and Griffin had only a desk lamp on, leaving the main lights off.

Three different-colored pens lay strewn across documents, each marking various annotations.

Leopold cleared his throat gently, but Griffin showed no reaction.

He moved closer and tapped Griffin’s head with the documents, “Hey, the papers…”

“Ah!”

Bam!

as he staggered backward and

came to, or more accurately, when he could finally open his left eye again, all the lights in Griffin’s place were

remarked, “Are you nuts? Sneaking up behind people all in black with a mask? How

“You’re the one who’s nuts! Didn’t you say you didn’t want to

“Since when did you start following

exhaled sharply. “I don’t have the energy to argue. I’ve delivered your stuff; I’m out of

outside, “It’s pouring rain, and the cops towed

dumbfounded, “Wait, what? Why would they

blocking traffic,” Griffin said as if it were the most

you, just maybe, help me

my garage

speechless, finally settling on the

continued her work as if he was not even

to rumble. He tapped the desk,

back, Griffin gestured toward the

instant noodles and pre-made sandwiches inside, alongside cans of soda – the

could not help but ask, “Is this

hummed an affirmation, “Just me here, so I make

felt a sudden pang of

Griffin seemed much

of course, she would be on a diet

better care of yourself. Why not keep some veggies or some meat in the

turned to find Griffin with headphones on, ignoring

on the floor under the

his lips and silently added the only sausage left from the fridge into Griffin’s noodle cup, then placed it quietly on

the couch, wolfing

stopped, and Griffin was still engrossed in her research. Bored out of his mind, Leopold eventually dozed off on the

the carpet, leaning against the couch, blue pen still clutched in hand, the other two pens precariously perched in her

noodles

“You’re

right eye less swollen, he approached and squatted beside her, staring at her with unknown thoughts in his mind. Suddenly, Griffin’s head dropped, and

little flushed,

silence, he lifted her into a more comfortable position on the couch, draping his jacket over

at the untouched instant noodles, he tossed it aside, grabbed Griffin’s car keys,