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.

he was not completely heartless after

“Fine. Since you’ve made up your mind, I’ll

the end of next week, or our deal is

door, Vance called after him, “Percival, wherever you are, whatever you do, don’t forget you were once an outstanding operative of the

deep reluctance flickered

be a Vanguard Agency operative. Their

later, he left without looking back, closing a

sent shock waves through the Rivenwood Vanguard

was in disbelief—how could their deputy

who seemed to question his

together, and you don’t know why

blindsided, Leopold could not fathom Percival leaving the organization they had aspired

you, I don’t know! Cut it out!” Leopold snapped,

a scuffle, which Thomas and

“Enough!” Thomas bellowed.

turned his anger on Thomas. “And you?

the news at the

As the team leader and commander, shouldn’t you be calming your teams down? Have you forgotten what the deputy director told

Thomas taking the lead to gather the troops and Leopold and Soren attending to their

Vivienne’s place, arriving leisurely at the foot of her

been waiting, revving her motorcycle’s engine as Percival’s

She called out, her voice cutting through

tousled their hair and stirred

methodically unbuttoning his tailored suit jacket and tossing it

approached Vivienne, scooped her up by the waist with one hand, and, with a little effort, placed her

was surprisingly in harmony with his biker attire—a striking figure with an edge

hold on tight,” he said, revving the engine and fixing his gaze on

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

were truly side by

motorcycle’s roar slicing

taillights ahead fewer as they sped into the dark embrace of

a luminous glow that battled the

a deserted beach, where the stars seemed to stretch to infinity, each one a tiny beacon of

dismounted, one foot still grounded, and removed his helmet, hanging it casually on

her hand finding Percival’s, cool

a rock, gazing out into the vast, dark