The Million-Dollar Heart by Rebecca Ryan

Vivienne lifted her hand with a delicate motion, her fingertips brushing against Vance’s.

The contact sent a jolt of pain through Vance’s finger, causing him to slump back onto the couch, but his eyes remained locked on Vivienne with intensity. “Sure, Lark and Ashen Pigeon and I didn’t see eye to eye, but our beef was strictly professional. I have no reason to off her, so show some respect, will ya?”

His agitation caught Vivienne off guard. She had obviously struck a nerve.

Still cradling his wrist, Vance stared at her, “Neither you nor Micah have any ground to suspect me. I admit I’ve got a grudge against the ancient warrior lineages, and I use my job to dig around. But as an agent of Vanguard Agency, from field operative to the director I am today, I’ve honored every mission and every badge I’ve ever worn on my uniform!

Look, Vivienne, Percival, you can accuse me of neglect, of not caring about the future and safety of my agents, but you can never question my commitment to Vanguard Agency!”

In Percival’s eyes, Vance was far from a model director. In fact, he did not even deserve the title.

Sacrificing his own people for personal gain, landing them in military prison while acting like nothing happened, seeing them meet their ends without lifting a finger… Such a man did not inspire Percival’s respect.

But he could not deny the truth in Vance’s words.

The room fell silent for a few minutes, with no one speaking.

After some time, Vance’s emotions seemed to stabilize. “My mission for the Frostfire Intelligence Agency still stands. Next time you swing by, I expect news about your mentor.”

It was a clear dismissal, and his tone was less than friendly.

Vivienne looked back at Vance.

He seemed to be shackled by his obsessions.

An obsession with the ancient warrior lineages, with the Sheldon family.

She had seen the medical records of Vance’s parents before they died, which had nothing to do with some karmic cycle.

different, laced with unknown toxins and substances, lying dormant in

Ashley out of the Edwards Group affair. Perhaps the lead in

the early days of the Edwards Group, Vance’s folks often returned to the Mystic Vein, and

the Edwards Group secured hefty health insurance for their workers that the issue was

karma. The matter was only draped in a shroud of mystery because of the Sheldon family’s line

a way, Vance was indeed a pitiable

more to spill about Rover. Otherwise,

was Vivienne’s last

blurry in photos, leaving no

Jasper had not sensed him stepping in for Vance,

It’s got nothing to do with anyone in Vanguard Agency, least of all Rover. He was more torn up about it than

your ancient

led Vivienne out. She did not resist, following him

the calm of the night surrounded them. “Vivienne, the

do you say that?”

handed her his phone. “Our

the phone, and sure enough, it was that mystery

about the

“Last time, she warned me to watch out for Vance; now, suddenly,

Vivienne grew more certain of who this mysterious person was, her anger towards her only grew. She had lied to her for years! And she

hair. “She must have her reasons for doing what she’s

the bustling streets, her bright eyes scanning

familiar figure to confront,

Why? Why all this?

took her a moment to collect herself. “Let’s go

car around, heading to the house he had prepared for Finnian

called Finnian over, and by the tone of her voice, he knew something was up. Not wanting to delay,

was even

up? Did Percival give you a hard time? Need me to knock him down a peg for ya?” Finnian strolled in with a grin, a strawberry cheesecake