The Million-Dollar Heart (Percival and Vivienne) novel Chapter 419

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.

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.

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.

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

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.

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.

"So, the people today came for you two?" She asked calmly.