The Million-Dollar Heart by Rebecca Ryan

Vivienne scoffed with a smirk. “Pray tell, Vance, what national treasure has been harmed by the rogue android? Who’s been injured? Or was there a threat to someone’s life?”

Vance cleared his throat. “No national assets were damaged, no one was injured, and there wasn’t any life-threatening situation, but…”

“The only one hurt here is my Mr. Wolf, who’s still got a bloody nose! All because he jumped in to save that runaway motorcycle. Instead of a pat on the back, you’re thinking of punishment?”

Listening to Vivienne’s clever, if slightly twisted, logic, Vance sighed heavily. “It was his duty, a remedy for the mess your company made!”

Vivienne nodded in agreement. “We’ve made amends, and quite successfully at that. Repaired roads, hospitals, schools, and the like, all out of our own pocket. We’ve more than made up for it, wouldn’t you say, Vance?”

Vivienne’s retort left Vance speechless. She sort of had a point.

Vance took a sip of water. “Alright, you can go.”

Vivienne snatched a few more candy bars from the dish. “Catch you later, Mr. Vance Edwards!”

Vance couldn’t help but chuckle “Hold on, when’s your mom waking up?”

“Not sure yet. When she does, I’ll be sure to tell her you were asking about her,” Vivienne said, waving her hand as she walked out of the director’s office.

Vance shook his head in resignation as Webster’s call came through again.

“Director, the guy got hurt and even shelled out the cash; what more do you want? Percival’s nose is still bleeding! His face is insured for more than movie star Stephen Harris. If we get nitpicky, we can’t afford the payout!”

“Fine, you guys do what you want with that mess!”

Vivienne walked out of Vanguard Agency to find William, Zachary, and Ronald still in the midst of routine inquiries. It seemed it would take a while.

Vivienne had some disciples from the Nine Mystics Society stand guard at the door, ready to escort people out when they were done.

Afterward, she drove to the hospital.

Inside, Percival was getting patched up.

Leopold leaned in, “So your nose really got busted saving that motorbike?”

glance. “You got a

quickly waved his hands.

this was Percival, the same guy who had once spent days in a mine

the bandage on his nose in the mirror,

had to be so

then, Vivienne burst in, arms laden with a feast fit for kings.

Vivienne’s voice, Percival instantly ripped off the bandage from his

good

was cracking up on the side.

absolutely had to spread this tale throughout the Vanguard Agency—Percival might have left,

Leopold felt he seemed to have forgotten something

up, shouting, “You two sneaks! Getting married without a peep, disappearing without a trace. Do you have any

morning to

enjoy their bliss, oblivious to the frenzy they had left behind in the Perez, Ellington, and Brooks families, not to mention the disciples of

— so was his. Everyone thought he knew where Percival

as expected and even had the audacity to say something infuriating. “If it were me, I’d have whisked

that, he got a good thrashing from his Vanguard

and Vivienne acted as if

glanced at Leopold. “You

retorted, “Do you

“Am I deaf?”

Leopold was speechless.

Great.

deal with someone who

remove the bandage. Then, she pulled out another one from her pocket

healed yet. Who said

nor did he see the cartoon on the bandage, as he took the feast from Vivienne’s hands. Unbeknownst to him, the image of his nose bandaged with a cartoon character’s behind was already circulating on

are things at the

on the sofa, “Found

wry smile. “They could never escape their

her elegant face.