The Million-Dollar Heart by Rebecca Ryan

In the bustling heart of the city, the revered Vanguard Agency, spearheaded by the esteemed Martinez family, initiated a thorough housecleaning operation.

Vintage cases, some yellowed with the patina of age, were dusted off and brought into the unforgiving light of scrutiny.

The notorious GTO, Vanguard’s arch-nemesis, had a laundry list of files that demanded an exhaustive purge.

Vance was dispatched to the sprawling metropolis of Sea City for advanced training while Micah, armed with Rivenwood’s finest, dived into the backlog of cases.

From the headquarters, a specialized task force was deployed to sift through Rivenwood’s archives, each folder a Pandora’s box of secrets.

This was not the first rodeo for the seasoned agents of Vanguard; they viewed the entire affair with a sense of déjà vu.

The newly minted Captain Thomas found himself adrift without the Director, shadowing the Deputy Director as a trusty sidekick to the temporary helmsman.

As the task force combed through the cases, they hit a roadblock with a recent explosion case, their expressions clouding with intrigue.

“Captain Thomas, are you absolutely certain these were the only people at the scene?” came the probing question.

Thomas nodded firmly. “I’m positive. Aside from our agents, only Percival and Vivienne were present. No one else.”

“And what about this woman?” The task force brandished a grainy photograph where an extra figure was unmistakably present at the crime scene.

“I haven’t the foggiest,” Thomas retorted with the stubbornness of a mule.

Such defiance only served to irk the task force, leading to the detainment of Thomas and the two squad leaders for further inquiry. This sent ripples of unease throughout the rank and file of Vanguard Agency.

Micah, now a lone commander, faced a conundrum with the Martinez family’s latest bomb detection technology gathering dust, unfiled. With no recourse, he reached out to headquarters.

Rivenwood and Sea City were caught in the whirlwind of this operation, and before long, the detectors found their way to Noah’s domain.

“Master, I’m in a bind here,” Micah pleaded over the phone, “Vance is still being grilled by the brass, and if these detectors aren’t dispatched pronto, we’ll be in a whole new world of hurt.”

Noah’s chuckle was warm. “You two are still at it after all these years. Worry not, I’ll make sure Rivenwood gets its gear.”

“Cheers. Next time I’m in Sea City, drinks are on me.”

and

we next meet, I hope we

surreptitiously amended the count from three hundred to two hundred, signing off with a

Sea City for a new arms consignment destined for

days later, Vance returned from Sea City, his phone ringing

the archives, dusting off an old human trafficking

a grin, “Indeed, Master. I wanted to show the rookies how we uncovered GTO’s trail and share some of your legendary tales so they

I’ve no need for flattery.

got me thinking. Found a photo, too. Hard to believe it’s still around after

hung in the

with you and the twelve kids. I’m thinking of

photo?” Noah’s

that photo well, the one he thought he’d destroyed.

his grip on the phone as he

that photo was lost in

guard back then. He said when you were taking the photo, he was astonished by your heroic aura and took one, too. Frankly, I’m quite surprised your wife’s in

send it over.” Noah hung

the photo with a message attached: [I’ve got people reaching out to the survivors. Join me at the agency’s

at the screen, the past staring back at

now adults, remembered anything, the ten becoming to twelve would be

ten of them. It was way too

this time, he took out a phone he had barely ever

through on

need to

him, “You should’ve killed them all long ago.

had no choice then, but things are heating up. Vance is onto something. I’m not of much use in Vanguard Agency now anyway, so

“Fine. We’ll meet

of lethal

at her reflection in the mirror, at the face that seemed like a painting. Clenching her fists tightly, she pulled a smartphone

one number

“Hey, it’s me.”

touch with the distant hero and mentor, Noah.Books Chapters Are