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!"

an investigation, we're authorized to use any means necessary on suspects. Let go of her!" "Xiomara, Percival's right," another imposing guard tugged at

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

with a member of an international crime syndicate?" Vivienne didn't know whether to laugh at her naivety or marvel at her simplicity. "Sweetheart, how old are you? Didn't your teacher tell you the scum

Vivienne, flushed in embarrassment and anger at being lectured by

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

are you?!" Whitford glared, his voice

amplified by whatever Vivienne had slipped into the pill. It kept him in a state of

looked down at him, her gaze cold and

The room fell silent.

she

questioned who this fierce woman was and why

was always

with such venom. It took another wave of crippling pain to snap him out

from pale to purple to

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

could ask, Percival knew what was on her mind. "Want to look into

eyes sparkled with gratitude as she

road ahead. "There's no question of doability. If you want to do it, you do it. I'm with you all the way. The ancient warrior lineage's roots run deep. Wouldn't be

"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 family's

ancient text is

deal with the pressing matter of