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

bomb and the detector had been

entirely out of it and

to keep dissecting bomb structures. They

Vivienne handed the bomb to Anna, then flung herself into Percival’s

the money – rosy-cheeked and

relieved Percival managed a smile, ruffling Vivienne’s hair affectionately, “This reward alone isn’t

her forehead pressed

carrying Vivienne’s weight, swallowed hard. His Adam’s

was pushing him to

kept up, he might be

on the sidelines, wished she could

to get affectionate, regardless of where they

thought for her and the

clearing her throat before saying,

heard her, his voice deep, “Vivienne, the timing

is for you to carry me out like this. How can

he

found Percival’s fleeting blush endearing, thinking how adorable her Mr. Wolf

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

finally let Percival go, gracefully dismounting and standing by his

then did she notice the crowd that had

was at the forefront, his expression beyond shock –

as she addressed

surveying the chaotic scene that

happened between you two? She mentioned that my daughter’s clothes were still on

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

was icy as he faced the visibly upset Patrick. “If you want to know what happened, ask

am your elder. Now, my daughter has been stripped and thrown out

into Percival with gritted teeth. “She’s passed out now. If you don’t explain yourself, not even Richard’s presence will earn you