The Million-Dollar Heart by Rebecca Ryan

Vivienne and Percival acted as if they were blind to the crisis, treating the life in Belle’s grasp as

nothing worth mentioning.

Belle pressed the blade a fraction deeper. Her voice was laced with a threat. “Percival, you’re the head

of Vanguard Agency’s special squad. You gonna let this hostage die on your watch and kiss your

career goodbye?”

She was convinced Percival would not let the hostage die. That was the Vanguard Agency’s way; they

valued life, even that of a stray dog, above all else. It was laughable, really. Because of this soft spot,

they had missed countless opportunities to corner the notorious GTO.

As Belle mused over this, her smirk widened.

Yawning ostentatiously, Vivienne plopped down beside Percival, resting her head on his shoulder. “Cut

the drama. Let’s wrap this up.”

Belle’s brows knitted in confusion. What was that supposed to mean?

Then, the plump waiter who had been serving them burst out indignantly, “Seriously? I’m just trying to

bring you your drink, and this is how you repay me!”

Before Belle could react, the waiter grabbed her ankle in a swift motion, flipping her over and slamming

her to the ground with a thud.

“Ugh!” Belle grunted, pain shooting through her already poisoned body, bones fracturing under the

impact.

Vivienne frowned. “Brian, go easy on her. If she dies, it’s on you!”

Belle was a key player in GTO, second in command. There were secrets to be extracted, and a dead

captive was worthless.

Brian peeled off his waiter’s vest and, drawing a whip from his belt, bound Belle up like a crab ready for

the pot.

“Don’t worry, Vivienne,” he assured her, his eyes gleaming with the prospect of a hefty payout. “I’ve got

a light touch.”

The bounty on Belle’s head was making Brian’s eyes turn into dollar sign emojis. Brody’s bounty was

peanuts compared to this. How was he going to spend all that cash?

“Percival, you’re the captain of Vanguard’s special squad. The capture’s done; do I collect the bounty

from you?” Brian asked while securing Belle, a smug look on his face.

Percival gazed at Belle with unfathomable depth in his eyes, then stated flatly, “No, the bounty goes to

Vivienne.”

Belle’s last shred of hope evaporated upon hearing this, and Brian’s hopes also fizzled out.

What a joke! Letting Vivienne handle it meant he would probably end up shortchanged. Everyone knew

how tight-fisted Vivienne was – it was the talk of the internet, with fans from every corner coming to

collect a debt of merely a thousand dollars!

Brian’s face fell. “You’re seriously taking her, Vivienne?”

Basically, he was saying, “You’re seriously not going to pay me, Vivienne?”

Percival watched with amusement, curious to see if Vivienne really was that stingy.

Vivienne did not disappoint. “I’ll take her,” she said, knocking Belle out with a precision strike. “As for

the bounty…” She turned, pointing a delicate finger at Mr. Wolf. “He’s paying.”

Percival inwardly groaned. He should not have gotten involved in this mess.

“Keep it up!” Vivienne cheerfully said.

Brian’s gloom turned to glee at the mention of the bounty. “Long live my bro-in-law!”

Percival exhaled sharply and handed over a card loaded with Belle’s bounty. “The PIN is Vivienne’s

birthday.”

Brian blinked in confusion. “What’s that?”

Percival’s eyes twinkled with delight. “The PIN is Vivienne’s birthday.”

Brian stood dumbfounded. Who the hell knew Vivienne’s birthday? She probably did not even know it

herself!

“These two are playing me!” But Brian kept his thoughts to himself.

With a pat on the shoulder, Percival offered Brian another job. “Can’t get the cash out? No worries. I’ve

got another task for you. Complete it, and I’ll double the bounty.”

Brian’s face lit up. “You name it, boss.”

“Keep up the hunt for Mr. B under your bounty hunter guise.”

Brian did not question further. He knew the score the moment Vivienne took over Mr. B’s case.

“Done. Whatever you say.” Handing over Belle to Vivienne, Brian prepared to leave.

“Hold on,” Vivienne said, giving him a nod.

Brian tried one last time. “I’m really going now!”

Vivienne pinched the bridge of her nose, slightly exasperated with her money-obsessed protégé. “Go

bug Matthew for pocket money and get outta here!”

“Right away!” Brian vanished as quickly as he had appeared.

With the loose ends tied up and the press conference winding down, Percival delivered a few closing

remarks before stepping down.

Outside the venue, Percival’s phone rang. It was Micah.Books Chapters Are Daily Updated Join & Stay

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“Boss,” Percival answered, putting Micah on speaker.

“Can you talk?” Micah’s voice was muffled, a tinge of anger lurking beneath the surface.

Percival glanced at Vivienne. “Sure.”

Micah sighed. “Your fiancée, Vivienne, she’s been tinkering with that new bomb with Griffin, hasn’t

she?”

Upon hearing this, a mist of worry clouded Vivienne’s eyes.

Sure enough, the Vanguard Agency had set its sights on developing a new type of bomb.

“Yes,” Percival did not deny it. The fact that Micah was asking meant he was already privy to the

backstory.

Micah had authorized the last request for Leopold to pull records from headquarters, so his awareness

was not surprising.

Micah exhaled sharply, his anger more pronounced. “Why wasn’t this reported to the agency, Percival?

You’re getting bolder by the minute!”

Percival’s voice was cool. “My fiancée isn’t an agent. She shouldn’t have to report to the agency even if

her research was about the moon.”

“But we’re talking about a new bomb! It concerns GTO. Your failure to report it is negligence,” Micah

bellowed, then regained his composure. “Enough, I don’t want to argue. Write up an admission of error

for me to present on your behalf, but you need to take some concrete action to give me something to

work with!”

Percival snorted, “What do you mean by ‘concrete action’?”

As Micah tapped on his desk, he elaborated, “Have your fiancée hand over the bomb research patent

to the Vanguard Agency. She can profit from it, but the agency must control the new bomb.

Understood?”

Percival and Vivienne exchanged glances, a slow smile playing on his lips, taking on an ambiguous

curve, “I’ll discuss it with her.”