The Million-Dollar Heart by Rebecca Ryan

Percival grinned with a hint of mischief. “Looking to delve into the secrets of the ancient warrior lineages, are you? Well, I’m your guy. I’ll be your greatest asset.”

Vance placed the business card on the table, his finger tapping over the name Mr. Percy, and asked with a serious tone, “So, you trust me now?”

Doubts about his alleged betrayal of the Vanguard Agency had always gnawed at him.

He did harbor ulterior motives, sure, but staining his hands with betrayal? That was a line he would not cross.

Percival’s lips curved slightly. “Your obsession is solely with the ancient warrior lineages.”

Vance fell silent, mulling over his options.

An alliance with Percival could indeed clear the fog shrouding the mysteries of the ancient warrior lineages.

But trust was not on the table, and their partnership was fraught with peril.

Now, cut off from the Agency’s mainframe, he was blind to the secrets he sought. He needed an external ally.

“Why help me?” Vance finally asked.

Percival lowered his gaze briefly, then met Vance’s eyes. “Your fixation with the ancient warrior lineages runs deep. I’d rather assist you now than risk others exploiting you later.”

The insinuation stung Vance like a slap across the face.

“So, you and Vivienne still suspect I might betray the Agency!”

Percival did not deny it. “In my eyes, you were never the saint.”

Vance was momentarily lost for words.

Indeed, in his pursuit of the truth behind the ancient warrior lineages, he had strayed from his initial path.

Conscience had become a distant echo, fading with time.

“And yet you choose to work with me. Aren’t you afraid I might double-cross you?” Vance asked.

“You gave Leopold an out. That’s the second reason I’m willing to gamble on you,” Percival replied with a smirk.

Vance had ensured Leopold took the fall, yes, but had also arranged for his survival and, in the shadows, safeguarded Griffin, proving her innocence.

was not

made up your mind, I’ll submit

of next week, or our deal is off,” Percival

you are, whatever you do, don’t forget you were

twinge of deep reluctance flickered across

door, he would no longer be

back, closing a

through the

was in disbelief—how could their deputy

Soren, who seemed to question his own existence,

grew up together, and you don’t know why he quit?” Soren’s eyes were

blindsided, Leopold could not fathom Percival leaving the organization they had aspired to enter since their

Cut

a scuffle, which Thomas and Anna quickly

“Enough!” Thomas bellowed.

anger on Thomas. “And you? As his assistant, you must know

I got the news at

commander, shouldn’t you

the lead to gather the

place, arriving leisurely at the foot of

been waiting, revving her motorcycle’s

the wind!” She called

their hair and stirred

tailored suit jacket and tossing it over the hood like yesterday’s

by the waist with one hand,

helmet on, Percival’s sleek look was surprisingly in harmony with his biker attire—a

said, revving the engine and fixing his gaze on the road

wrapped her arms around his sturdy frame, resting her head on his shoulder. “Mr. Wolf, let’s

they were

aimlessly, the motorcycle’s roar slicing

as they sped into the

hung high, casting a luminous glow that battled the creeping tendrils of the evening

the stars seemed to stretch to

removed his helmet, hanging it casually on

too, her hand finding Percival’s,

out into the