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

room, and from her cries, one could

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, my girl wouldn’t be like this. Dad, even if you’re mad at your son, you can’t just stand by and watch your

with tears, laid the blame thickly on Vivienne, pouring out her

at all. I’m just an Ellington by marriage; you can ignore me, but my children are Ellingtons by blood. If

irritation. He had never approved of Heloise marrying Henry, knowing she was not the type to settle down. But she was pregnant, and the scandal was huge. The Ellington family had no choice but to

sacrificed half the Ellington fortune to keep such a woman out if he

her complexion ashen. “Mom, please leave us. I

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

the more she made a scene, the more reasonable Fiona appeared. That was the real reason behind her relentless

up for yourself like before, I’ll disown you,” Heloise warned before slamming

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

meddled in the younger generation’s affairs. He had taken even more of a back seat since the

had his own fish to fry and

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

of doing things, and Fiona

I’m glad to hear you say that,” Richard said, his voice softening. “Now that you’re out, live 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

Ellington family. Once I’m better, let Mom, Jeffrey, and me leave Rivenwood. As for Dad… Grandpa,

agree, nor did he have the heart to outright refuse. He could not forgive his second son, but his granddaughter

was his first granddaughter, and before Isolde was born, he

not dote on her, the

the family, and had a knack

for the Ellington fortune and butted heads with Percival, she focused on improving herself

have welcomed her back to

What a pity…

for your recovery. Stay

seemed to lift, and a genuine smile spread

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

his nieces and nephews, Flynn had been the ringleader of their