The Million-Dollar Heart by Rebecca Ryan

Percival tightened his embrace, resting his forehead just above Vivienne’s brows, whispering tenderly, “Looking at my Vivienne.”

My Vivienne.

Few words in the world could send Vivienne’s heart fluttering quite like those.

She felt as if she had plunged into a pool of spring water, her entire being drenched in its soothing embrace.

Their gazes locked, neither willing to take a step closer.

In their eyes, there was only each other, each deeply etching the other’s features into their memory.

They tugged at each other, eyes speaking volumes.

Creak…

The lab door swung open, and Karen marched in, dragging Rex by the ear, the awkwardness in the room thick enough to cut with a knife.

Karen was the first to snap out of it. “Carry on, lovebirds. I’ve got a bone to pick with this good-for-nothing apprentice!”

Vivienne watched as Karen pulled Rex aside and, with a swift kick, sent him sprawling.

Meanwhile, she and Percival were still wrapped up in each other, fingers interlocked.

“Boss, your daughter’s over here making goo-goo eyes, and you’re not saying a peep? She’s underage and being seduced by an older man—aren’t you gonna do something about it?”

Rex’s outburst was swiftly silenced by Karen’s expert move.

“If you don’t spill the beans on all those toxins you’ve been cooking up over the years, you might as well forget about talking ever again.”

Karen had zero tolerance for her underlings causing trouble.

If she had known Rex was actually Brody, she would have cut him down long ago!

Vivienne pursed her lips, conceding that when it came to inner strength, her mom was unbeatable.

“Old man, gonna let go, or do you want to play a live show?” Vivienne teased, pulling away with a mischievous wink.

Percival let go, touched his nose awkwardly, and stepped forward, handing Karen a stun baton. “Master, this might come in handy.”

high voltage at the push of a button and was designed to simulate the debilitating force of a

the baton a twirl. “Not bad

a look

Alright, he got it.

Percival was sly and ruthless, and Vivienne was wickedly sharp.

revenge, Percival,

the way, Vivienne relayed the events that had unfolded at Mara’s house to Percival, “Looks like they’re targeting the Miller

lot, but all Percival heard was: “Something, something… Aaron saw me today,

“Alright, I got it.”

“Got what,

flashed a sly grin, deftly changing the subject, “Thomas called me earlier and said Gillian has

quick? What position?”

the new Secretary-General. Officially, she’s there to learn, but reality is she’s the

Vanguard Agency became a

were Percival’s people. Even with him

becoming entirely Percival’s domain, a new overseer was

the agents, they had to send Gillian, who had a

message was clear: Rivenwood was not for Percival to

“A spy? They should’ve at least picked someone with brains like Leopold—that’s

like someone’s praising me… or maybe

laughed. “Who can discern the main office’s

called a disgruntled Thomas into his

with everything around here. As the captain of the headquarters, take care of her, will

was fed up—never had he seen

twinkled with the understanding of Thomas’

issues there. Just focus on your job and show her

acknowledged. “Will

of his hand,

deeply, pondering over Gillian’s

had personally recommended her—Gillian

at it, her

coveted the assets of the once-mighty Boyd family, an ancient warrior lineage. Now, with

had

who was

safely within the Vanguard Agency,

out of his suburban home when he bumped

no see, Captain Thomas,” Gillian said with a smile, unfazed by the