The Million-Dollar Heart by Rebecca Ryan

Percival’s car was bulletproof, a rolling fortress that ensured their safety amid the chaos.

Hunkered down beside the vehicle, Vivienne and Percival awaited the right moment to make a break

for it.

But Astrid and Alfred were left without adequate cover, squatting behind another car that was riddled

with bullet holes and leaking oil, a ticking time bomb waiting to ignite.

Inside the car, Cordelia was in hysterics, but Vivienne had locked the doors for safety, trapping her

within.

“Astrid! Vivienne!” Dorian shouted, rolling down the window halfway, “What in the world is happening?

Why are there gunshots?”

Vivienne pushed Dorian’s head back inside, yelling, “Get down!”

Observing their surroundings, Percival realized they were sitting ducks – they had come for a birthday

celebration, not a gunfight, and were unarmed against the hidden assailants. Their only chance was to

pile into his car and get out of there.

However, Astrid and Alfred were at a distance, and rescuing them was no simple task, not to mention

the car was already packed to the brim.

As the gunfire continued, Vivienne took charge, instructing Dorian through the window, “Dad, get

Thaddeus down by the passenger side footwell. You hold Mom and squeeze in. Hurry!”

Dorian nodded rapidly, thankful Thaddeus was small enough to wiggle into the tight space. Once

settled, Vivienne swung open the door and slid into the driver’s seat, with Percival following and

shielding Thaddeus.

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Vivienne honked twice, signaling to Astrid, who pointed out a route to save them with a circular hand

motion.

With a twist of the ignition, Vivienne floored the accelerator, using the bulk of the car to block incoming

bullets as Astrid and Alfred dodged the remaining gunfire.

Reaching a rendezvous point, Dorian, flustered by the chaos, forgot to open the door. Astrid leaped

through the window, opened the door, and yanked Alfred inside before slamming it shut.

Vivienne glanced in the rear-view mirror to see several assailants emerge from the shadows, grenades

in hand, hurling them at the car.

“Hold on tight!” She yelled, spinning the car around with a deft wheel flick.

The throttle hit the floor, charging towards the attackers. The grenades exploded behind them as

Vivienne’s vehicle careened toward the scattering foes, not sparing a single one. The car struck with

such force, sending them tumbling through the air before crashing to the ground.

“Ah!” Thaddeus gripped Percival tightly, witnessing a man sprawled across the hood.

“Vivienne, drift left,” Percival instructed, sheltering Thaddeus’s head as he spotted a straggler on the

left.

The alley was too narrow for the car to pursue, so Vivienne blocked the entrance with the car.

Percival opened the car door, carrying Thaddeus and covering his eyes.

Seeing Percival approach, the last man standing fired his pistol. However, Percival evaded swiftly,

arrived before him in the blink of an eye, and knocked him out cold with a single punch.

Then, the chaos finally ended.

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In the aftermath, Vivienne jumped out, dragging the groggy assailant off the hood and swiftly applying

pressure points to subdue him and the others. They would not die, but they would not be going

anywhere either.

Dorian and Cordelia clung to each other, shaking uncontrollably. They had never experienced anything

like this, and they were terrified.

Astrid, however, was very calm and collected. She even helped Alfred attend to his arm wound.

Vivienne knocked on the window and said, “Come on, help us out.”

Alfred and Astrid exchanged glances before joining Vivienne and Percival, tying up the attackers.

Percival’s call to Leopold had him rushing to the scene, arriving with his usual flair, “Holy smokes, that

was like a scene straight out of an action movie! You alright, Vivienne?”

With an eye roll, Vivienne responded, “I’m fine. Take these guys away and leave the car.”

“Roger that,” Leopold replied, then paused and said, “Wait, if I leave the car, how am I supposed to get

back?”

“Walk,” Percival retorted with a smirk. This Leopold was really dull. He had already told him many

people were here, yet he came alone!

Leopold grunted and called for backup. While waiting, he could not help but notice Astrid’s and Alfred’s

composure amid the panic.

Once Leopold’s men arrived, they took care of the scene, allowing Percival to offer his parents some

water. “Mom, Dad, drink this. I’ll take you home.”

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Dorian took the bottle with trembling hands, offering it to Cordelia, who waved and rejected it because

she was too dizzy to drink.

Vivienne handed them each a calming pill, noting the need for later counseling. Otherwise, what had

happened today would certainly traumatize them for life.

“Mom, Dad, get in the car with Thaddeus. Mr. Wolf will take you home,” Vivienne softly said, ready to

wrap up the night’s harrowing events.

Dorian finally snapped back to reality, steadying himself as he rose to his feet, his gaze laced with

worry as he looked at Vivienne. “Vivienne, what about you? Let’s stick together. What if there’s more

trouble?”

“No worries, I’ll be right behind you with them,” Vivienne reassured him, pointing towards Astrid and

Alfred at her side.

Dorian’s eyes darted between the two, his expression a complex tapestry of emotions.Books Chapters

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Even to the untrained eye, it was evident that Astrid and Alfred’s recent display of skill was far from

ordinary.

After all, not just anyone could leap through a barrage of bullets into a moving car.

Sensing something off with her daughter, Cordelia kept it under wraps, gently tugging at Dorian’s

sleeve, “Let’s get to the car first.”

Percival glanced at Vivienne, who gave him a reassuring nod, signaling him to go ahead.

Without further questioning, he escorted Dorian and his family back home.

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Once they were gone, Vivienne climbed into the car left behind by Leopold and honked twice.

Astrid and Alfred made their way over and settled into the car.

Vivienne did not ask any questions; she just drove in silence.

Astrid pressed her lips, hesitating for a moment before finally breaking the silence, “Vivienne, the truth

is, Alfred and I, we’re operatives from the National Security Bureau.”

Vivienne pulled the car over at an intersection, leaning back in her seat, her clear eyes fixed on the

rear-view mirror.

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