The Million-Dollar Heart by Rebecca Ryan

Gillian was teetering on the brink of reason. The potency of the drugged aroma filling the room was enough to trigger tsunamis of the mind with a mere whiff.

With a fevered motion, Gillian kicked off the blankets wrapped around her, tugging at Patrick’s sleeve with a hazy consciousness. “It’s so hot, so incredibly hot.”

Her stunning figure was on full display, leaving nothing to the imagination of the onlookers.

From a distance, Vivienne and Anna stood side by side, watching the scene unfold.

“Damn, she’s got a killer body,” Vivienne remarked, her eyes then shifting to Anna’s less curvaceous form. “Ah, well.”

Anna blushed. “Ms. Vivienne, please, behave yourself!”

“Girl, I didn’t even say anything. Why are you turning red?” Vivienne teased, playfully tilting Anna’s chin.

Anna stepped back, quickly tapping into Percival’s comms, “Captain Wolf, where are you?”

Percival clipped the last yellow wire, a bead of sweat rolling down his temple. “Get over here. I’ve found the new bomb.”

Vivienne and Anna’s expressions darkened, the jesting gone in an instant. They fought through the crowd and burst into the guest room.

By then, Patrick had knocked Gillian out and re-wrapped her in the blankets.

He was utterly clueless about what was happening!

Mara was equally bewildered. What on earth was going on?

Why had Gillian been thrown out, and what were Vivienne and that waiter doing going back in?

Was Gillian not supposed to be drugged with Percival by now, having…

Back in the room, Percival examined the new bomb, now defused in his hands.

Vivienne approached, her expression relaxing.

breakthrough – it would save them a fortune and a ton

the detector had been burning through

family, Vivienne could not just stay entirely out of it and not

prototype in hand, there was no need to keep dissecting bomb structures. They

to Anna, then flung herself into Percival’s arms, planting several firm kisses

the money – rosy-cheeked

smile, ruffling Vivienne’s

onto Percival, wrapping her legs around his waist, her forehead pressed

weight, swallowed hard. His

woman was pushing him

might be unable to hold

she could vanish into thin

really starting to get affectionate, regardless of where

a thought for her

clearing her

he had not heard her, his voice deep, “Vivienne,

her gaze locked on Percival, her words dropping deliberately. “All I’m asking is for you to carry me

Percival knew he

grin, Vivienne found Percival’s fleeting blush endearing, thinking

sighed internally, reminding them again, “Ms. Vivienne, Mr. Ellington,

finally let Percival go, gracefully dismounting and standing

she notice

forefront, his expression beyond shock – it

gaze sharp as she

forward, surveying the chaotic scene that hinted at his daughter’s recent

Ellington, Mara said you saved Gillian, but what happened between you two? She mentioned that my daughter’s clothes were still on when

lacked any underlying emotion – a father purely concerned for his daughter’s well-being, regardless

upset Patrick. “If you

my daughter has been stripped and thrown out of a room, half-conscious. How do you expect

with gritted teeth. “She’s passed out now. If you don’t