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.

bomb was a major breakthrough – it would save them a fortune and a

bomb and the detector had been burning through cash like

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

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

Anna, then flung herself into

money –

relieved Percival managed a smile, ruffling Vivienne’s hair affectionately, “This

wrapping her legs around his waist, her forehead pressed against his, her voice

swallowed hard. His Adam’s

was pushing him to his

might be

sidelines, wished she could

these two really starting to get

for her and

away, clearing her

had not heard her, his voice deep,

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

he was

Vivienne found Percival’s fleeting blush endearing,

internally, reminding them again, “Ms. Vivienne,

Percival go, gracefully dismounting and

notice the crowd

forefront, his expression beyond shock – it

sharp as she addressed Patrick, “Mr. Ashford,

as he stepped forward, surveying the chaotic scene that hinted

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

underlying emotion – a father purely concerned for his

visibly upset Patrick. “If you want to know what

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

passed out now. If you don’t explain yourself, not even Richard’s