The Million-Dollar Heart by Rebecca Ryan

Gunshots echoed through the lab, but the Vanguard Agency was ready for anything. The GTO guards left behind were caught off-guard, especially since their boss had hightailed it out of there.

It was a spectacular defeat, like watching petals swept away by a swift stream.

Vivienne continued to monitor the screens, her fingers dancing over the keyboard with urgency, “The left passage is clear. Follow it.”

She was analyzing the layout of the building, switching to real-time mode, and connecting to infrared imaging to track Scott’s possible escape routes.

Although Percival had come prepared, they were short on hands, what with all the kids around.

Scott knew the place like the back of his hand; if he had planned an escape route in advance, he would be a tough one to catch.

Suddenly, Vivienne spotted a blinking light on the screen. “Mr. Wolf, watch out, there’s a bomb!”

A loud explosion rocked the area 800 meters from the lab entrance.

The thermal imager fizzled out, and the screen became a flurry of scrambling red dots.

Vivienne cursed under her breath, slammed her laptop shut, and sprinted toward the blast site.

“Mr. Wolf! You oka…”

“Vivienne.” Percival emerged from the ashes, one hand gripping Thomas, the other holding Leopold. “I’m fine. Check on these two.”

Leopold let out a groan. “Vivienne, my hand’s done for.”

Thomas gestured to his own left hand. “Same here.”

Breathing a sigh of relief, Vivienne quickly picked up some scattered wooden planks and expertly fashioned splints for their broken hands.

“This will do for now. We’ll get it fixed back at the base. It’s not a big deal.”

Vivienne’s gaze met Percival’s.

He was staring into the rubble, his expression grave, eyes sharp as blades.

She understood his frustration.

so close

would have thought a new type of bomb was buried here, one that even their

real-time map, they might have been dealing with more than just a

placing a hand on Percival’s shoulder. “Mr. Wolf, let’s

nodded. Scott was GTO’s third in command, not someone they could

all the missing infants. Two are critical

blinked at the term

everyone except Leopold

‘ma’am’ was

be ridiculous, people, we’re only engaged, not married! ‘Ma’am’ sounds

rock, kicked the messenger. “What ‘ma’am?’? Did I give my blessing to be called that? Keep babbling nonsense, and I’ll knock

member blinked but ignored the ‘little Husky’s’ outburst, focusing

the situation, patting her subordinate’s shoulder,

rushed to the

also dusted himself off, consoling his team member, “Husky’s bonus is yours this

The team member beamed, then thanked Leopold,

Leopold was about to clench his fist, a jolt of pain

heartless man!’ But, of

phone rang. Checking the caller

a brief conversation, he announced, “Calista was released three hours

could not even delay it for

eyes narrowed, a cold laugh escaping her. “The reach

darkened, but he remained

We’ll deal with that man slowly.” Vivienne noticed

team captain responsible for national security and having someone pull strings over his head, it

“Yes, we’ll take care of

situation with the two infants was

not just them; all the

ensure the infants’ normal physical development while keeping them quiet, GTO

meant to foster organ growth for their experiments, such a

children had already been cut

as she realized GTO’s intention to

Such inhuman cruelty!

two with damaged hearts, the rest