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.

to interrogate him, but

Cordelia’s room, which was already guarded by their own, Dorian burst in. Seeing Cordelia resting peacefully, a semblance of calm washed over his distraught

tightly, tears began to cascade down his

pale, her lips devoid of color. Her usually gentle eyes were shut tightly, as if bearing

strode forward. “Dorian, let

and Leopold

fingers touched Cordelia’s wrist, and the longer she felt the pulse, the graver her expression

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

was icy as she interrogated him. “Cordelia was poisoned. Why didn’t you tell

palpable. She couldn’t bear to think what might have

the shift in Dorian’s demeanor after Vivienne spoke, his face turning

her teeth. “Bad? If I were any later, the Hawthorn family would be

muttering to himself in disbelief, “They promised to leave Cordelia out of

With a daughter like Vivienne, so fierce and capable, what could possibly be so dire that

Vivienne. If he didn’t know better, he’d think the broken man before them was an imposter, not the Dorian they

Cordelia, they’d kill her on the spot. Just last week, they ambushed her on her grocery run, drugged her, took her to this

knew everything; they were always one step ahead. They told me which room Cordelia was in and made me watch her suffer, powerless to do anything. I didn’t

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

Cordelia to threaten him. Dorian was in a state of panic,

pressed on. “What

me to make Ramona the face of Hawthorn Perfumes Inc. and to follow their every command. Oh, and

out his phone, showing Vivienne the emails. Feeling a weight lift from his chest, he said, “I’ve been stalling, didn’t send out the tweet. Vivienne, can you

“Don’t worry. I’ll save Cordelia.

in disbelief, “What the hell does