The Million-Dollar Heart

Vivienne stepped out of the cabin, the last of the party-goers having trickled away into the night. The ocean breeze wrapped around her, a welcome silence after the evening's festivities. Before long, the thrumming of helicopter blades sliced through the calm. Percival leaned halfway out of the chopper, his hand outstretched, grinning, "Vivienne, time to head home." Back at the villa, it was not long before Thomas and Griffin returned from their outings.

Leopold's gaze was fixed on Thomas like a hawk on its prey. "I sent you to call the cops. How'd you end up bringing Griffin back with you?"

Thomas nonchalantly twisted open a bottle of soda, "Just gave her a lift on the way back. What's the big deal?"

"What way back? Don't act like you know Sea City better just because you've been here a few days longer. I lived here as a kid and even once stayed with the Martinez family. You were nowhere near on the way!"

Leopold's eyes narrowed, his tone sharp, demanding to know why Thomas returned with Griffin.

Thomas was itching to throw a punch. Why did lovebirds have to be so annoying?

On the other hand, Griffin was too absorbed in her work to engage with such trivialities. She could have a dozen Leopolds buzzing around her and not bat an eye. "Vivienne, I found it. It's from my latest batch of 'Morning Glory'. Only I have access to these bombs, each with a serial number. This one is from the new batch."

After securing the disassembled 'Morning Glory' from the yacht, Griffin had discreetly disembarked to investigate at the Martinez family's weapons research facility in Sea City.

The tests and serial number comparison confirmed it was indeed a 'Morning Glory' recently shipped to the Vanguard Agency headquarters.

Vivienne had her suspicions, but the brazenness of the traitor within - to use a bomb just delivered to the Vanguard Agency - was shocking. Were they so unafraid of exposure, or did Micah and Percival's control over the Rivenwood Vanguard Agency hit a nerve?

"Who authorized to receive these bombs?" Percival inquired.

Griffin pressed her lips together. "Vance Edwards, the second in command at the Sea City Vanguard Agency."

The name was not unfamiliar to Vivienne or Percival.

Vance, the deputy head of the Sea City Vanguard Agency, had been transferred from Rivenwood eight years prior. He remained elusive, always out on missions, until he secretly returned to Sea City to take the reins earlier this year.

The operation in the West District was under Vance's command as the chief of Sea City.

had

of Melissa Brooks, and the patriarch of

be part of the Vanguard Agency; clearly, neither had

levels above Micah, and Percival did not have the clearance to investigate

code name in the Vanguard

even know the name Vance. But I've heard rumors about him and Micah vying

heard such

we did not know who

failed mission and Karen's disappearance had driven Micah to climb the ranks, with the headquarters being the most strategic move. Otherwise, he would be confined to Rivenwood's limitations. Unfortunately, Micah

the radar for years,

of Nine Mystics Society, demanding every detail of Vance's life over the years, down to

requested an alarming number of 'Morning Glory' bombs from Griffin, and it was uncertain how many were still unaccounted for. They had to act fast

was today's incident with the new

'Morning Glory' and the new bomb onboard-a testament to

thorn in her side. Now, with the bomb in hand and the chance to improve upon it, she

about to follow her when Percival's voice stopped

shipment before it

then slumped onto the couch with a sigh. "No, everything arrived on time. The ship's ID matched the records; the dockworkers

means the goods were swapped out before they even loaded up," Vivienne mused, sprawled across Percival's lap, tearing open a bag of potato chips. "Looks like Patrick's been hung out to dry." Percival snagged a chip from Vivienne's hand

Vivienne asked, eyes on Percival. She thought for a

waist. "Nothing yet. We

she mumbled, resting her chin against his chest,

up Vivienne and carried