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!"

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

flickered with reluctant suspicion as they landed on Vivienne. It wasn't until the male guard showed his impatience that she finally let go, "But you can't just shove anything down a prisoner's throat,

her simplicity. "Sweetheart, how old are you? Didn't your teacher tell you the scum in here have done things so vile that dying a

twenty and seemingly older than Vivienne, flushed in embarrassment and

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

his

whatever Vivienne had slipped into the pill. It

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

The room fell silent.

guards thought she was one tough

woman was and why she was

Vivienne was always one

expecting such a delicate-looking woman to speak with such

from pale to purple to black as he gasped, "You... you're

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

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

eyes sparkled with gratitude as she

do it. I'm with you all the way. The ancient warrior lineage's roots run deep. Wouldn't be surprised if

of Public Relations and a former member of their ranks, he might have some insight

text is bound to

their plan, but first, they had to deal with the pressing matter of Kaitlyn and the Grimshaw family, who were