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.

had been so close to capturing

thought a new type of bomb was buried here, one that even their detectors had not

more than just a couple of broken hands. Whether they would even be found in one piece was

placing a hand on Percival’s shoulder. “Mr.

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

infants. Two are critical and need… Ma’am’s

blinked at the

everyone except Leopold looking

‘ma’am’

we’re only engaged, not married! ‘Ma’am’ sounds so old!” She protested

my blessing

but ignored the ‘little Husky’s’ outburst, focusing instead on Vivienne.

snapped back to the situation, patting her subordinate’s shoulder, “Call me

rushed to the lab; time was of

team member, “Husky’s bonus is yours

ma’am,” The team member beamed, then thanked Leopold,

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

heartless man!’ But, of

Percival’s phone rang. Checking the caller ID, his

brief conversation, he announced, “Calista was

not even delay it for a

eyes narrowed, a cold laugh escaping her. “The

expression darkened, but he remained

deal with that man

team captain responsible for national security and having someone pull strings over his head, it was no wonder he

we’ll take care of them

the situation with the two infants was indeed

was not just them;

keeping them quiet,

growth for their experiments, such a drug could harm the brain,

critical children had already been cut open, their half-developed hearts

she realized GTO’s intention to use

Such inhuman cruelty!

with damaged hearts, the rest were sent to the police station, awaiting their parents to