The Million-Dollar Heart by Rebecca Ryan

The chill in the air took everyone by surprise over the next few days.

Vivienne, thanks to her pregnancy, found herself succumbing to sleep more than ever, spending the majority of her day either eating or curled up in bed.

Percival, worried about leaving her alone, stayed by her side constantly.

One afternoon, while Vivienne was deep in slumber, her phone on the bedside table began to vibrate.

Seeing the caller ID, Percival picked it up and stepped outside to answer.

"Boss!" came Draven's voice through the phone.

"It's me," Percival replied with a stern voice. "Vivienne's asleep. What's the matter?"

Draven paused briefly, then quickly said, "Percival, Declan's made another move. But these symbols, only you can decipher them. We think he's trying to send a message out." Percival frowned. "Did the surveillance catch anything unusual?"

Draven's response was firm. "Nothing at all."

Percival's gaze darkened slightly. "Keep an eye on him. Report back with any suspicions. I'll inform Vivienne."

When Vivienne woke up, she turned to see Percival sitting by her side, which warmed her heart. "Mr. Wolf, what time is it?"

Percival looked at her, closing his laptop gently. "You're awake. It's seven in the evening."

Vivienne rubbed her temples. "Why do I feel like I can sleep forever?"

Percival took her hand and massaged her temples gently. "Hungry? I'll whip up something you love."

She glanced outside at the night sky and nodded. Her morning sickness had been particularly bad before she fell asleep, leaving her stomach feeling incredibly empty.

As Percival stood to leave, he handed her the phone. "Draven called. There's been some activity on Declan's end. I've forwarded the details to your phone. Take a look while I get started on dinner."

sat up

the addition of several cryptic gestures she hadn't seen before. These symbols didn't

a tray of food just as Vivienne was puzzling over the

her head. "Some of these gestures are coded. I

her a bowl of soup and said, "I'll have Thomas stick close to you from tomorrow. His current task is

she asked, taking a sip

sighed. "Kellan's got him running errands for the Martinez family.

for Leopold, who was

she suggested to Mr. Wolf. "Let Anna stick by

works. Anna, being a woman, might be

next morning, before Percival and Vivienne even left the house,

approached and stood at attention.

slightly. "Are

Anna responded,

Mr. Wolf. "Vivienne, the Watson family has unearthed the Wright family's blueprints. I'm heading there

eyebrow, puzzled by the timing of the Watson

call and instructed Anna, "Turn around. We're going

a perfect U-turn and sped off in

hour later, they arrived at the Wright family estate nearly simultaneously with another car. Matthew, who had been waiting,

nodded in acknowledgment and then turned to see

where's

hands empty, met her gaze, sparking

glanced toward the car with a

from

clutching a roll of blueprints, jogged over

him. "What are you doing here, Leo?

a smug grin. "Guess I should thank Percival for this. One clever sentence from him, and I was out of