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.”

sighed heavily and said, “Ms.

smiled,

approached her,

in with you? Griffin said he insisted

touched his nose thoughtfully. “Not exactly,

sidelong at him.

a hunch. Thomas is short on people.

initiative,” Vivienne remarked. Then, her phone buzzed

Sea City and gathered

in a request with Frostfire Intelligence Agency, looking for the Specter Healer for bone-setting and a back

at that. Any

Percival stated flatly, “Reject

her hand, Vivienne’s eyes glinted

perplexed. “You just chopped off her hand, and now you want to stitch it back on?

his lips. “Vivienne, as I recall, you’re no

I’m not! But who hates

replied to Matthew, [Five hundred billion for the bone-setting, eight hundred

Percival stared, dumbfounded.

was indeed, above all, in

the message, Vivienne smiled at Percival and scrolled through her phone for

her, as the head of the Boyd family, to

The host was Patrick.

Vivienne’s expression turned contemplative.

her hand and already wanted to attend

was old and bold,

Percival and asked, “Mr. Wolf, do you think you’ll be able to use the item

me

a path down Percival’s shirt collar, murmuring provocatively, “Then why not use it on

like waves crashing against the rocks, an endless cycle of ebb and flow laced with unspoken

around her delicate wrist, the electric

depths of their

within, raw and unguarded, spreading

quieted for too long, holding back amidst peril after

could

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

responded to his touch without a hint

radiating endless tenderness