The Million-Dollar Heart (Percival and Vivienne) novel Chapter 769

Brothers in arms, Dante dropped the formalities and followed Arthur's lead to sit down in the living room. "They've got a warrant out for the arrest, and yet he insists on being a stickler. Says that Ms. Hawthorn stuffing someone in the trunk ain't right, lucky for him she didn't take it personally and just drove off, otherwise there would have been a brawl."

Chase, nursing a sore spot on his head, retorted, “How is that my fault, huh? Even cops let a perp ride in the car, and Ms. Hawthorn just shoves someone in the trunk! What legit law enforcer acts like that? She's more like mafia than police!”

"Just asking questions, mate. Did you see how on edge they were? And how could I not be suspicious, not knowing who she really is?"

Dante couldn’t help but laugh at the absurdity, “Give me a break. You don’t know Ms. Hawthorn, fine. But don’t tell me you don’t know Leopold? Remember the mess we cleaned up at Vanguard Agency with Arthur? He was their guy. With him around, what could possibly go wrong?”

“He quit, though!” Chase gritted his teeth.

Unable to out-argue Dante, he turned to Arthur with his complaint, “Arthur, you didn't see it. Ms. Hawthorn, tiny as she is, she’s so damn imperious. The woman she tied up nearly beat someone to death, and without a second thought, she went in for the collar. Nearly choked the life out of them. I asked around, the victim was supposedly a relative of some rapist. You tell me, even if what Raquel did was wrong, is it right for her to go choking people? Isn't that like taking the law into her own hands?”

“Maybe Raquel had other charges that couldn't be disclosed, huh?!”

Dante rubbed his temples, turning to Arthur, “You gotta settle this. This guy, he’s unbelievable, always sticking to his guns, even when there’s a warrant and all.”

Their argument was giving Arthur a headache, his eyes half-closed.

His gaze fell on a corner of the coffee table, his brows tightening, “Chase did nothing wrong. Without the full picture, it's only right he stepped up to question.”

He knew his friend’s character well.

If even Chase, the simpleton, felt something was off, it had to mean Vivienne was indeed overstepping the bounds.

With that thought, Arthur's irritation grew, “But Vivienne has always been a bit off-kilter. I'm surprised Lucas chose them to spearhead the new division.”

Percival was one thing. But Vivienne, from all the signs, he didn’t see her as someone reliable – selfish, untrustworthy, cunning. Now add imperious to the mix, and none of it spelled upstanding.

"See, I told you. Arthur doesn't like that girl either." Chase preened, relishing the rare moment someone agreed with him over Dante.

Dante shot him a disdainful glance, his curious eyes on Arthur.

Their War God was not one to rush to judgment. What in the world had Vivienne done to earn such a frown from Arthur?

Curiosity piqued.

...

At Vivienne’s mansion.

As she entered with Leopold, Kaitlyn and Percival rushed to greet them.