The Million-Dollar Heart

Whitford's face twisted in agony as he crumbled to the floor of the cramped cell, his cries reverberating against the cold, grey walls.

Vivienne and Percival barely had time to register what had happened when the guards rushed in. They surveyed the bent iron bars with confusion etched on their faces. "Odd, the energy scan showed he wasn't this powerful. How'd he manage to warp reinforced steel like that?"

Vivienne's ears perked up. "Energy scan?"

You've got to be kidding me! How do you even measure such an intangible thing?

But the guards were dead serious. "The device was sent specifically from the top brass. Developed by some tech whiz, I don't get the science behind it, but the tech guy assured us Whitford wasn't a threat." Yet Whitford had just bent the bars. That meant either the device was a fake, or the technician in charge was a mole from the ancient warrior lineage, planted to monitor any prisoners of their kind! The couple realized this at the same moment.

Without hesitation, Vivienne pushed past the guards and strode into the cell. She fished out a pill from her pocket, pried Whitford's mouth open, and shoved it down his throat. Her movements were so smooth that Whitford had swallowed the pill before the guards could react.

One of them grabbed Vivienne's wrist. "What did you give him?!"

"Xiomara!"

"Vivienne!"

stepped in, separating Vivienne from the guard named Xiomara. "We're from the NH Bureau, and during an investigation, we're authorized to use any means necessary on suspects.

suspicion as they landed on Vivienne. It wasn't until the male guard showed his impatience

syndicate?" Vivienne didn't know whether to laugh at her naivety or marvel at her simplicity. "Sweetheart, how old

flushed in

the same poison I fed your brother. I don't care what other plans your ancient warrior lineage has, but if

Whitford glared, his voice trembling as much

had slipped into the pill. It kept him in

down at him, her gaze cold and menacing. "I'm your

The room fell silent.

thought she was one

fierce woman was

Vivienne was

Whitford was shocked by her audacity, not expecting such a delicate-looking woman to speak with such venom. It

pale to purple to black as he gasped,

he pieced together her identity, and despite the torment, he conceded. "Fine... I'll testify for you... but...

ride back, Vivienne mulled over their next move, and before she could ask, Percival knew what was on her mind. "Want to look into that

as she nodded. "Mr.

you do it. I'm with you all the way. The ancient warrior lineage's roots

back to Vance's words. "Maybe Vance could help. As the head of Public Relations and a former member of their ranks, he might have some insight into the Grimshaw

is

of Kaitlyn and the Grimshaw family, who were causing