The Million-Dollar Heart by Rebecca Ryan

As Dorian’s panicked shout pierced the air, Vivienne and the others snapped to attention. Rushing to the doorway, they caught up to Dorian just as he was bolting towards the garage.

“Whoa, hold up, cowboy!” Leopold grabbed Dorian’s arm. “We’ll drive you. Where to?”

“The hospital! Step on it, to Downtown Medical Center!”

His voice was raw with urgency, his fingers quivering like aspen leaves in the wind. He looked like a kid who’d lost his favorite toy, eyes red and swollen with the threat of tears.

Only now did Vivienne notice the change in Dorian, whom she hadn’t seen in a few days. Silver streaks had begun to weave into his hair like frost creeping over autumn leaves.

Her eyes lingered on him for a moment before cold realization dawned upon her. She remembered Cordelia’s mysterious disappearance, and her expression turned to stone.

“Leopold, floor it!” she ordered.

Percival was already on the phone with Thomas. “Get the guys closest to Downtown Medical Center on it, pronto! Find a patient named Cordelia Wilson. And make it snappy!”

They managed to shave the usual half-hour drive down to mere minutes.

Upon reaching the hospital lobby, Thomas was already there waiting. Dorian didn’t need guidance; he punched the elevator button and headed straight for the wards.

“What’s the situation?” Vivienne asked, with Percival and the others close on her heels.

Percival glanced at Thomas, lowering his voice as he asked.

Thomas shook his head, hinting at grim news. “No idea when she was admitted, but I’ve got people digging into it. As for the poison in her system, only Vivienne,” he nodded at Vivienne, “can likely deal with that.”

The elevator wasn’t big enough to contain the tension. Everyone heard Thomas’s words, including Vivienne, who turned a sharp gaze back to Dorian.

him, but

which was already guarded by their own, Dorian burst in. Seeing Cordelia resting peacefully, a

tightly, tears began to cascade down

complexion ghostly pale, her lips devoid of color. Her usually gentle eyes were shut tightly, as if bearing an immense pain, her eyelids

strode forward.

look, Percival and Leopold helped

longer she

how is she?” he asked, voice laced with dread yet clinging to a

she interrogated him. “Cordelia was poisoned. Why didn’t you tell me? Who has been in contact with

might have happened if she hadn’t come today. Cordelia could’ve

spoke, his

later,

in disbelief, “They promised

going on?” Leopold asked, puzzled. With a daughter like Vivienne, so

he’d think the broken

on the spot. Just last week, they ambushed her on her grocery run, drugged her, took her to this hospital, and then called me. They

They told me which room Cordelia was in and made me watch her

knowing Vivienne’s extraordinary nature, resembling her mother’s, Dorian couldn’t help but feel overwhelmed by this shadowy organization

him. Dorian was in a state of panic, unable to

took a deep breath and pressed on. “What

only ordered me to make Ramona the face of Hawthorn Perfumes Inc. and to follow their every command. Oh, and yesterday, they told me to break the contract

from his chest, he said,

“Don’t worry.

hell does this puppet master want? All this for