The Million-Dollar Heart by Rebecca Ryan

Percival immediately got in touch with Thomas. “We need to head to Sea City. Leopold’s in trouble.”

Thomas was in the midst of a routine drill at Vanguard Agency. Hearing Percival’s words, his expression froze. “Husky checked in from a different location just this morning, and he replied to the roll call in the chat group ten minutes ago. There’s no way something’s happened.”

To streamline operations, Vanguard Agency conducted random roll calls in their chat group, ensuring everyone checked in unless they were deep undercover like Vance.

Percival’s brows furrowed.

Ten minutes ago was when Vivienne had made her first call.

If Leopold was replying to the roll call, he could not have missed Vivienne’s call!

What on earth was going on?

Vivienne also sensed that something was amiss. It was unlike Leopold to drop off the radar.

Then, out of the blue, Charlotte Redwood, who had not been in touch for a while, called Vivienne.

“Things have hit the fan, Vivienne. Something happened to Griffin,” Charlotte said, her voice laced with urgency.

“What’s happened?” Vivienne asked, her face a mask of composure.

Leopold had been assigned to infiltrate the Martinez family. If Griffin was in trouble, too, it had to be connected.

Charlotte swallowed hard before replying, “Griffin’s been locked up by her family. They won’t let her communicate with anyone. If it was not for an old cell phone she found to contact me with, I’d have no clue she was in trouble.”

Griffin was locked up?

Vivienne’s brow creased. “Why would the Martinez family lock up Griffin? What’s gone down?”

“That guy she was crushing on—Leopold. He’s been caught stealing bioweapon secrets from the Martinez family. He’s now locked up in Sea City’s military prison, awaiting trial!”

“What?” Vivienne gripped Percival’s wrist, and he immediately pulled over to the curb, still on the line with Thomas.

turned on the speakerphone so both Percival and

steal bioweapon secrets from the Martinez family?” Vivienne pressed for

wanted to testify for him in court, and that’s why she’s been detained. She contacted me so I could get in touch with you to see if you could

a national secret. If Leopold doesn’t come clean, he could be facing the death penalty. And this time, it’s someone from the ancient

colder. It was obvious—they did not

been locked up?” Percival

been in custody for nearly two weeks.

Leopold’s check-in record been like over the

and responsive, nothing unusual.” Thomas’s voice

through. “Percival, something’s fishy

weeks. He’s been responding less, but the

chat group was initially set up by Vivienne to discuss a new bomb

checked the group, usually leaving Anna and Thomas to

Leopold had been checking in normally and chatting in the group for the past two weeks, it meant someone had been controlling all his

Vivienne’s expression frosted over.

out a way to get Leopold out. He won’t be harmed,” Vivienne said

only

but I’ll pass the message. Please, Vivienne and Mr. Ellington, you

Vivienne ended the

instructed, “Keep messaging Leopold as usual through the

that.” With that, Thomas

his phone. “Vivienne, trace Leopold’s last

portable mini laptop and

her

Rivenwood Vanguard

snapped the computer shut.

her phone, her voice firm and resolute. “Rally the troops, everyone

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