The Million-Dollar Heart by Rebecca Ryan

Leopold, the leader of the first squad, knew the unwritten leadership rules all too well. So, it stood to reason that Percival, the head honcho of the entire task force, would be even more clued in.

But now, even Leopold’s moves were being curtailed, never mind the liberty of the whole special squad.

Percival set aside the application form he had been holding, tapping his polished fingertip on the signature line. “Why don’t you take this up with the boss yourself?”

The rage on Leopold’s face fizzled out in an instant.

Would he dare?

For someone even Percival called “boss,” he was just a small fry; there was no way he would throw himself into the shark’s jaws.

Leopold slumped into his chair, rubbing his temples in frustration.

After a few seconds of silence, he asked, “Boss didn’t even ask you before signing off on this? Why didn’t you go to him first?”

Percival took a sip of his sweet fruit juice and said, “He said since Fiona’s my flesh and blood, having me sign could give someone leverage over me. If anything went sideways, there would be no one to cover for me, so he just went ahead without telling me.”

Leopold’s jaw worked silently, failing to snap shut.

Every word Micah said was for Percival’s sake. How could anyone argue with that?

Unable to sit still any longer, Leopold cursed under his breath, stood up, and stormed out. He slammed the door behind him, not caring if he would end up getting a beating.

This was just too damn suffocating.

Percival neatly filed the application form away and glanced up at Vivienne, his eyes usually icy, now melting with a certain warmth. “Vivienne, shall we go have a look?”

Vivienne rose, taking the fruit juice from Percival’s hand, and sipped the rest through the straw. “Yeah, let’s check it out.”

…

the Ellington family’s

room, and from her cries, one could have thought her daughter Fiona was

she sobbed, “Dad, you’ve seen it. Fiona was fine when she went in, and now she’s in the ICU. Can you imagine her suffering? It’s all Vivienne’s fault. If not for her, my girl wouldn’t be like this. Dad, even if you’re mad at your

blame thickly on Vivienne, pouring out her grievances to

weren’t involved at all. I’m just an Ellington by marriage; you can ignore me, but my children are Ellingtons by blood. If you don’t step

not the type to settle down.

the Ellington fortune to keep such a woman out if he had known it would come to

weakly tugged at Heloise’s sleeve on the hospital bed, her complexion ashen. “Mom, please leave us.

to stop her theatrics. She left, allowing Fiona to make

scene, the more reasonable Fiona

don’t stand up for yourself like before, I’ll disown you,” Heloise warned

She turned to Richard. “Grandpa, this mess is my fault. It has nothing

He had taken even more of a back

Percival had his own fish to fry

financial fraud; it was bound to be part

had his way of doing things,

life well. I won’t let you down. My promises are still good, and I’ve kept that credit card for you. Think about what

too ashamed to stay with the Ellington family. Once I’m better, let Mom, Jeffrey, and me leave Rivenwood. As for Dad… Grandpa, can

have the heart to outright refuse. He could not forgive his second son, but his granddaughter was a different

granddaughter, and before Isolde was born, he cherished

he not dote on her, the

self-reliant, never troubling the family,

for the Ellington fortune and butted heads with Percival, she focused on improving herself and genuinely considered the company’s

not for her crime, Richard would have welcomed her back to

What a pity…

your recovery. Stay here. In a little while, your uncle will return, and you’ll have to

to lift, and a genuine smile spread

Uncle Flynn, Richard’s youngest son, was the cool uncle

ringleader of their