The Million-Dollar Heart by Rebecca Ryan

Leopold's jaw dropped open so wide you'd think he could swallow a baseball whole.

"The deputy chief is back."

Can you believe it? Miracles do happen in this world!

Both the chief and the deputy chief made it out alive!

Buzzing with excitement, he turned to ask, "Vivienne, what does the deputy chief look like now?"

"I had such a crush on her back then, just never got the chance to see her much."

Vivienne lifted her chin a bit, "Well, you could go up and ask for an autograph now. I can wait."

As long as he wasn't worried about Anna going ballistic on him.

Hearing this, Leopold immediately recoiled, "No way, I wouldn't dare!"

"The deputy chief was known as the Vanguard Agency's beauty with an angelic face and a devil's heart. I'm content just catching a glimpse from afar." Vivienne chuckled at him, "Never seen you this scared of my mom, have you?"

"That's different. The chief tends to stay out of these matters and takes good care of us youngsters. But the deputy chief, she's a whole other story." Leopold still broke out in a cold sweat remembering his first day at the Vanguard Agency.

"Oh, you've seen her?"

Leopold shook his head, "Not personally, but I've heard stories. They say the deputy chief once interrogated a top-tier criminal. One second she was gently presenting evidence for him to sign, the next, when the guy refused to cooperate, she... let's just say made quick work of his manhood with a knife."

Vivienne raised an eyebrow.

No wonder her mom liked her so much. Birds of a feather.

Leopold swallowed hard, "And that's not all. She then had a wolf brought in, right in front of the guy, and let it eat... well, you know. If he refused to talk, she'd just keep cutting, letting him watch as his body parts were devoured piece by piece."

"The whole ordeal didn't last more than ten minutes. The guy spilled everything." Vivienne, "..."

She admitted she might have had a slight misunderstanding about Daphne.

How could such a gentle southern belle smile while doing those things?

Like attracts like, after all.

She knew all too well the influence of her mother.

Percival had been silent, but these stories made him think.

their understanding of each other was clear. She

"If that were

Percival's gaze deepened.

they

had made him wary of anyone trying

No exceptions.

Wolf's concerns, but Daphne was not just

We'll call my parents later, let them know. My mom will hop on a plane back here the moment she hears." Apart from Anna, her

or false, she could

spot anymore, and we can't reach them through Vanguard

wait until Uncle Maddox's engagement party to

a week

wouldn't hurt to wait

the scenario he

the Vanguard Agency, he knew

back, Percival got

engagement party, and the argument over who was the master's favorite apprentice. Thinking back, Leopold felt a mix of emotions, "The master could have just offered me up to avoid

lips twitched, looking at the man trying to

she asked, "What did

Leopold paused, then, realizing

noticed the master liked collecting rare books lately. Found some originals at an auction, so I bought them all for

"They... weren't that expensive."

Vivienne, "..."

Not expensive?

and he says they weren't

he truly not know or

Mountain is practically dust

it the books he was after, or the

man would rather die than part with

giver knew exactly what he was doing, but the

"Leopold, then why don't I have a trunk

Leopold, "..."

Vivienne never asked

not

shield him, he

"Mr. Wolf wouldn't be! And besides, you were

hard,

read between the