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 private

was wailing in the hospital room, and from her cries, one could have

poor baby,” 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,

the blame thickly

Ellington by marriage; you can ignore me, but my children are Ellingtons by blood.

knowing she was not the type to settle down. But she was pregnant, and the scandal was huge.

fortune to keep such a woman out

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

tears, knowing when to stop her theatrics. She left, allowing Fiona to make her

a scene, the more reasonable Fiona appeared. That was

yourself like before, I’ll

and when she opened them again, they were rimmed red with distress. She turned to

generation’s affairs. He had taken even more of

Percival had his own fish

not just a simple case of financial fraud; it was bound to be part of a bigger

doing things, and Fiona would not be

your 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 you want

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

did he have the heart to outright refuse. He could not forgive his second son, but his

before Isolde was born, he cherished her

not dote on her, the only girl amidst a houseful

had always been self-reliant, never troubling the family,

Percival, she focused on improving herself and genuinely

for her crime, Richard would have welcomed

What a pity…

father. You’ve always been by my side, never left Rivenwood; nowhere else is suitable for your recovery. Stay

lift, and a

was the cool uncle of

ringleader