The Million-Dollar Heart by Rebecca Ryan

On the other side of town, nestled within a leafy suburb, Vivienne received a call from Rivenwood.

It was Griffin on the line.

“Vivienne, I’ve made another delivery of ‘Morning Glory’ to the Vanguard Agency just a few days ago. They’ve been dispatched already, but they went straight to HQ this time without going through Micah.”

Vivienne nodded in understanding. “How’s the detector coming along?”

Griffin seemed to breathe a little easier. “The prototype’s there, but we haven’t been able to test it fully. After all, I’ve only managed to create a new type of bomb based on the model we have. We need to find the ones already planted by GTO to ensure it can actually detect them.”

They had only found a model of the new bomb in Eastlake Bay. Though Griffin could replicate it, there was no certainty that it was identical to the ones GTO had developed.

Only an on-site test would prove that.

What they could test at the base was far from conclusive.

“Mmm,” Vivienne murmured. “Having a prototype is better than nothing. Ideally, it should be a universal detector that can pick up your latest ‘Morning Glory’ creation.”

“Don’t worry, Vivienne, I’ve got this,” Griffin reassured her, “The specifics of the ‘Morning Glory’ are already programmed into the detector model, and those tests have been successful.”

Hearing Griffin’s confidence, Vivienne felt a measure of relief. “Any other business at the base?”

Griffin picked up on her subtext, replying, “Nothing more. I’ve booked a flight, and we’ll land in Sea City in three days.”

“We?” Vivienne’s interest was piqued.

Charlotte was busy with her studies and special training; she had no time to travel.

Griffin was not known for having many friends.

Yet, she was talking about coming to Sea City with “we”!

A bit embarrassed, Griffin’s voice lowered on the other end. “It’s that Husky. He wouldn’t take no for an answer, claiming it was his boss’ order to ensure the safety of the special agents. Spouted a whole list of reasons.”

Vivienne chuckled, teasingly offering, “If you don’t like him, you can always request someone else.”

“No, I… Vivienne, you’re teasing me again!”

With Griffin’s voice shifting shyly, Vivienne decided not to push further. “Alright, I’ll pick you guys up in three days. Just the two of you?”

“And Anna.”

Anna, who sighed heavily and said, “Ms.

you in three days.” Vivienne smiled, ending the call with a soft

her, “Leopold’s

“Did he check in

nose thoughtfully. “Not exactly, but

at

Thomas is short

Vivienne remarked. Then, her

and gathered the men of the Nine Mystics

for the Specter

at

same message, Percival stated flatly,

hand, Vivienne’s eyes glinted mischievously.

off her hand, and now you want to stitch it back on?

his lips. “Vivienne, as

“Of course I’m not! But who hates

Matthew, [Five hundred billion for

Percival stared, dumbfounded.

suspected! Money was indeed, above all, in Vivienne’s

Percival and scrolled through her phone for

Theodore, speaking on behalf of Wendy. They invited her, as the head of the Boyd family, to join

The host was Patrick.

Vivienne’s expression turned contemplative.

her hand and already

was old

at Percival and asked, “Mr. Wolf, do you think you’ll

“Vivienne, if you keep looking at me like that, I might have to use it right

traced a path down Percival’s shirt collar, murmuring provocatively,

air charged with a palpable tension, like waves crashing against the rocks, an endless cycle of

around her delicate wrist, the electric sensation zapping straight to his

of their eyes reflecting only

raw and unguarded, spreading like a

long, quieted for too long, holding back

could set off an

his embrace, his kiss searing with such intensity that it threatened to set her

as ever, responded to his touch without a hint of

radiating endless tenderness and