The Million-Dollar Heart by Rebecca Ryan

Scott’s palm tightened as he realized Mr. B had been compromised. If that was the case, what was Vivienne planning to do next?

He gazed steadily at Vivienne, his expression growing increasingly wary.

Vivienne, for her part, had no interest in exchanging pointless banter with Scott. She cut to the chase and said, “Where is the research facility for the new bomb?”

For too long, Percival and she had been on the trail of this new weapon.

But whether it was Percival, the Nine Mystics Society, or the Frostfire Intelligence Agency, the intel had been scant at best.

They had scoured every avenue. Even the car accident from before had not escaped their scrutiny.

And now, they had a lead. But it was still uncertain.

Scott remained tight-lipped.

The research facility for the new bomb was a critical project for the organization. It was an essential weapon to match up to the power of the Vanguard Agency. Thus, the bomb could not be compromised.

Especially now, as the organization was refining the bomb’s capabilities.

Before Scott had been captured, there had already been significant advancements.

Vivienne was in no rush. She said leisurely, “The Brooks family had a gala two days ago, planning to auction off a parcel of land. There’s an abandoned factory on it that you once decided to buy, but it’s been idle ever since. Now Ronald wants to sell it off, trade it for a plot in Eastlake Bay, and build a spa resort. Do you think it will sell?”

Scott bolted upright, the heart rate monitor beeping rapidly with his agitation.

Yet he clenched his teeth, refusing to utter a single word.

But his reaction was enough.

Vivienne curved her lips. “Thanks, Mr. Brooks.”

With that, she and Percival rose to leave.

The Nine Mystics Society had uncovered three potential sites for the new bomb research, all linked to the Brooks family.

needed to be remote and quiet, and with Scott in power, he would have naturally leveraged

purchased three similar plots of land in one go yet

if all three were explored

on a hunch and were wrong, they risked alarming their quarry, losing

had come to Scott today, dropping that particular hint about the

the Brooks family had no intention

room, Percival said to Leopold, “Head back to headquarters. We’re requesting a raid on Eastlake

Bay? But that’s not the Brooks family’s property. Are we raiding

after a moment of

but

plenty

it passenger,

the Brooks family’s plots came under siege, Eastlake Bay would

had happened, the new bomb

Scott’s cunning, Eastlake Bay was

three plots were just

on the map at first glance,

be joining Percival

could not authorize the mission, then the Nine Mystics Society

so complicated

all available members in Rivenwood to lie in wait near

to headquarters at

teams ready, just waiting for Percival to give the command so they could

superior’s office, his hands empty and

Thomas and Soren in confronting him, “What’s the

and third squads stand down. First squad, strip your combat gear. You’re with

research facility, and you’re heading there with just the first squad, unarmed?

huge; the first squad’s just a few people. Are

was more composed, speaking gravely, “Captain, what exactly are

to Thomas. He began donning a stealth operations suit designed for reconnaissance and concealment, “It’s a residential area. To avoid panic, we must first assess the situation before we can

in frustration. “With Scott in cuffs, they were already on high alert. What if something went wrong, and they

and Thomas could not understand why the higher-ups were so

the locals, their caution was