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.

a major breakthrough – it would save them a fortune and a ton of

this new bomb and the detector had been burning

Vivienne could not just stay entirely out of

to keep

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

money – rosy-cheeked and

relieved Percival managed a smile, ruffling

her forehead pressed against his, her

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

woman was pushing him

might be unable to hold

sidelines, wished she could vanish into thin

these two really starting to get affectionate, regardless

they spare a thought for her and the bewildered spectators outside

quietly stashed the bomb away, clearing her

had not heard her, his voice deep, “Vivienne, the

kept her gaze locked on Percival, her words dropping deliberately. “All I’m asking is for

he was teased

fleeting blush endearing, thinking

reminding them again, “Ms. Vivienne,

go, gracefully dismounting and

did she notice the crowd that had

expression beyond shock – it

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

forward, surveying the chaotic

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

emotion – a father purely concerned for his daughter’s

upset Patrick. “If

elder. Now, my

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