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.

would save them a fortune and a

new bomb and the detector had been

Vivienne could not just stay entirely out of it and not pay a penny, and she had

was no need to keep dissecting bomb structures. They could just program the

the bomb to Anna, then flung herself into Percival’s arms, planting several

money –

smile, ruffling Vivienne’s

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

weight, swallowed hard. His Adam’s apple

woman was pushing him to his

up, he might be

sidelines, wished she

really starting to get

thought for her and the bewildered spectators outside

quietly stashed the bomb away, clearing her throat before saying,

heard her, his voice deep, “Vivienne, the timing isn’t

Percival, her words dropping deliberately. “All I’m asking is for you to carry me out like this. How can the timing be

knew he was

Vivienne found Percival’s fleeting blush endearing,

reminding them again,

let Percival go, gracefully dismounting and standing by

she notice the crowd

his expression beyond shock

sharp as she addressed

forward, surveying the chaotic scene

happened between you two? She mentioned that my daughter’s

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

he faced the visibly upset Patrick. “If you

remember, I am your elder. Now, my daughter has been stripped and

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