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?”

him a sideways glance.

hands. “No, no,

once spent days in a mine without a scratch, and now a

him, looking at the bandage on his nose in the

Vivienne’s skull had

Vivienne burst in, arms laden with a feast fit for kings. “Mr. Wolf,

voice, Percival instantly ripped off the bandage from

or not, looking good for his

up on the side. Since when

tale throughout the Vanguard

seemed to have

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

Percival and Vivienne since morning to no avail. Then the android incident happened, and it

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

phone was blowing up — so was his. Everyone thought he knew where

to say something infuriating. “If it were me, I’d have whisked my love away to get

got a good thrashing from his Vanguard Agency

as if it was just another

Leopold. “You went

“Do you hear

“Am I deaf?”

Leopold was speechless.

Great.

someone

bandage. Then, she pulled out another one from her pocket and stuck it on his

yet. Who said you could

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 Facebook, thanks to

things at the Vanguard

munched on a candy bar, lounging on the

smile. “They could never escape

shrugged, a dark glint crossing her elegant face. “My bad,