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.

– it would save them a fortune and

new bomb and the detector had been

entirely out of it and not pay a

hand, there was no need to keep

you’re amazing!” Vivienne handed the bomb to Anna, then flung herself into

– rosy-cheeked and

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

forehead pressed against his, her

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

woman was pushing him

kept up, he might be unable

sidelines, wished she could vanish

to get affectionate, regardless of where

thought for her and

bomb away, clearing her throat before saying, “Ms. Vivienne, Mr.

he had not heard her,

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

he was

found Percival’s fleeting blush endearing, thinking

reminding them again, “Ms. Vivienne, Mr. Ellington, that’s

Percival go, gracefully dismounting and standing by his

she notice the crowd

his expression beyond shock

arm with Percival’s, her gaze sharp as she addressed Patrick, “Mr. Ashford, are

snapped back to reality, frowning as he stepped forward, surveying the chaotic scene that

mentioned that my daughter’s clothes were still on when she

underlying emotion – a father purely concerned for his daughter’s

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

your 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