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

held onto it, Abigail

in, holding a

relieved, "I was about to rush you to the hospital

eyebrow, "A nap got

You've been out for

saying I'm like a pig now? All

her gently, "I'm just glad

while since we've been intimate. Don't you miss it?" Percival hesitated, swept up in her

you sure you can

danced over her blouse buttons, revealing

her hand,

an eyebrow, "What did you think? I'm off

speechless as she headed to

echoed

He'd been outsmarted.

Vivienne forgot, what's owed can always be reclaimed,

a change of scenery, they ended up at a

on the fourth floor, but passing a baby boutique on

Without hesitation, Vivienne nodded.

cravings, but lately, she found herself drawn to anything related to babies, especially cute, soft-colored baby clothes. She even toyed with the idea

Tiny, adorable, yet exuding a love

for it, but Percival let her take it, "Seems like you think we're having a

like the dress, that's

just smiled,

reddened more, yet she never put the dress

mind the baby's gender, she picked

Percival saw through her.

personality, would be cherished

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

IMS

onto the escalator, she glanced down on a

around quickly, making her

to protect her.