The Million-Dollar Heart by Rebecca Ryan

For whatever reason, getting involved now just wasn't the best timing.

It all hinged on Anna making the next move.

Thinking back to the puzzled tone in Anna's voice over the phone, "Vivienne, this can't be happening..." she couldn't shake the feeling that something was amiss.

Percival, seeing her furrowed brow, knew she was overthinking again. He reached out, gently pressed his thumb against her forehead, and soothed, "Vivienne, Anna's more than capable now, we don't need to worry about her." Vivienne nodded in agreement.

That was the very reason she could let Anna investigate on her own; Anna had learned from the best - her.

To uncover the truth with her own hands, rather than through someone else's findings.

Returning home, Vivienne fell into a deep, unexpected nap that lasted till nightfall.

Waking up, it was too dark outside to see clearly.

Her phone had missed calls, none from Anna, but from Draven.

Sitting up, she redialed, "Draven?"

"The target, Declan, made his move."

Vivienne urged, "Go on."

"This afternoon, we caught him using shadow signals with his fingers under the light. But the gestures aren't in our decryption database. He's not talking either." Vivienne's voice was stern, "Send me the surveillance footage."

"Right away."

The moment she hung up, the video arrived. As Draven described, Declan was indeed signally something.

But it wasn't a code; it was an old-world charm she'd encountered in her paranormal studies.

Translated, it meant, "For the greater good, eternal."

Vivienne's lips curled into a wry smile.

Declan's "greater good" was nothing but the delusions Abigail had fed him.

Yet, these mind games were beneath her.

provoke or to bait, Abigail's endgame was surely the Millennium Aegis

onto it, Abigail would have

holding a thermometer, his actions

turned to her, relieved, "I was about to rush

raised an eyebrow, "A nap

out for six hours. I was

"Are you saying I'm like a pig now? All eat

kissed her gently, "I'm just

eyes. She playfully pulled him closer, "Mr. Wolf, it's been a while since we've been intimate. Don't you miss it?" Percival hesitated, swept up in her tenderness,

sure

fingers danced over her blouse buttons, revealing more with

hand, "Vivienne, not

an eyebrow, "What did you think?

was speechless as she headed to

echoed

He'd been outsmarted.

Vivienne forgot, what's owed can always be reclaimed, with interest, after

in. Seeking a change

had her heart set on a hot pot restaurant on the fourth floor, but passing a baby boutique on the third, she couldn't look away. Percival teased, "Want to take

Without hesitation, Vivienne nodded.

herself drawn to anything related to babies, especially cute, soft-colored baby

eye. Tiny, adorable, yet exuding a love for children

they both reached for it, but Percival let her take it, "Seems like you think

like

smiled,

she

mind the baby's gender, she picked

Percival saw through her.

personality, would

an unusual surge of happiness as she made her way towards the escalator leading up to the fourth floor of the shopping

IMS

stepped onto the escalator, she glanced down

around quickly,

protect her. "Vivienne,