The Million-Dollar Heart by Rebecca Ryan

Vivienne’s brow furrowed with concern as she reached out to the other junior disciples. Larry was in trouble, and they needed to rally immediately!

Soon enough, the disciples gathered at the hospital.

The sight of Percival made their blood boil, each itching to deliver a swift punch, but Larry’s well-being was paramount. With a collective glare at Percival, they turned their attention to Vivienne.

Dawson had been the last to speak with Larry. “Vivienne, didn’t he say he was heading up to the M State sanatorium to pick up your protégé? How did he go off the grid?”

“No idea. We can’t reach the sanatorium, and Draven’s already headed there with a team. Everyone, stay sharp—we’re too close to cracking this case to slip up now.”

The disciples nodded in unison. “Got it!”

Vivienne delegated key positions to her crew; they were on the lookout for any sign of Larry, Carl, or Huxley.

Leopold, still nursing his injuries, was relegated to base camp at the hospital.

After scouring every news outlet, Leopold finally had something. “Vivienne, I found out why the sanatorium went dark.”

“What happened?” Vivienne asked, her voice steady but laced with tension.

“Last night, there was a violent robbery. The thieves cut all communications and set the place ablaze after they were done. Local cops didn’t get wind of it till dawn. By the time they arrived, the sanatorium was ashes.”

Percival frowned. “That sanatorium’s isolated, but not isolated enough to be burned down without anyone noticing.”

“Apparently, someone jammed the police frequencies. The station missed several distress calls,” Leopold handed over the news report to Vivienne and Percival.

Vivienne closed her laptop, her eyes smoldering with barely contained fury.

This was it—the last straw.

rang.

“Talk to me.”

a call from M State.

trouble from Vanguard Agency?” Vivienne asked, her

this calmness was the eye of her

Heading to the warehouse to check on things, though the agency has everything locked down.

warehouse. Leave Carl

his way.” Ronald paused, his

Vivienne’s lips, a dangerous

tapped her

up, placing a hand on Percival’s shoulder. “Mr. Wolf, I could

her hand, pressing a light kiss to the back of

…

State, Larry was

don’t stop crying, I swear I’ll turn you into coal dust!” he threatened the sniveling figure

weak as he was, tried to mediate. “He’s just a kid. What’s the use

twenty for crying out loud!” Larry groaned, sitting down in frustration.

“We’re

Carl intervened. “Let’s focus on getting out of here. We don’t even have a phone. How do

hard, Carl felt a wave of dizziness—he had barely recovered before their frantic

life-saving pill. “I left signals along the way. Let’s hope the Nine Mystics Society

…

and Charlotte

weeks, hasn’t it?” Charlotte sat by Anna, horrified at the sight of her bandages. “You’re not going

reassured, folding a paper crane with

agreement. “Ms. Vivienne is the Specter Healer. She fixed me up; she’ll

blinked, taking Anna’s hands in hers. “Since when did you