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.

was a major breakthrough – it would

the detector had been burning

just stay entirely out of it and not pay a penny, and

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

flung herself into Percival’s arms,

the money – rosy-cheeked and

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

waist, her forehead pressed against his, her voice laced

carrying Vivienne’s weight, swallowed hard. His

was pushing him to

might be

sidelines, wished she could vanish

really starting to get affectionate,

for her

the bomb away, clearing her

if he had not heard her, his voice deep, “Vivienne, the timing

deliberately. “All I’m asking is for you to carry me out like this. How

knew he was

blush endearing,

internally, reminding them again,

finally let Percival go, gracefully

did she notice the crowd that had

expression beyond shock –

her arm with Percival’s, her gaze sharp as she

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

two? She mentioned that my daughter’s

lacked any underlying emotion – a father purely concerned

he faced the visibly upset Patrick.

Ellington, but remember, I am your elder. Now, my daughter has been stripped and thrown out of a room, half-conscious. How do you expect me

out now. If you don’t explain yourself, not even Richard’s presence will earn you any leniency from