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.

interrogate him, but the words

guarded by their own, Dorian burst in. Seeing Cordelia resting peacefully, a semblance of

tightly, tears began

eyes were shut tightly, as if bearing an

darkened, and she strode

single look, Percival and Leopold

slender fingers touched Cordelia’s wrist, and the longer she felt the

with dread yet clinging to a

icy as she interrogated him. “Cordelia was poisoned. Why

have happened if she

the shift in Dorian’s demeanor after Vivienne spoke, his face turning ashen. “Is Cordelia’s poisoning that

If I were any later, the Hawthorn

this happen?” Dorian slumped, muttering to himself in disbelief,

daughter like Vivienne, so fierce and

know better, he’d think the broken man before them was an

Astrid about Cordelia, they’d kill her 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 said they had surveillance all over the house, including bugs. If

of his helplessness. “They knew everything; they were always one step ahead. They told me which room Cordelia was in and made me watch her suffer,

couldn’t help but feel overwhelmed by

used Cordelia to threaten him. Dorian was in a state

took a deep breath and pressed on.

shook his head. “They only ordered me to make Ramona the face of Hawthorn Perfumes Inc. and to follow their every command. Oh, and yesterday, they told me

his chest,

him, “Don’t worry. I’ll save Cordelia. Trust

hell does this puppet master want? All