The Million-Dollar Heart by Rebecca Ryan

Vivienne mulled it over for a second, then said, “Well, it’s not exactly like that. My mentor was the kind who’d perk up at the sight of a dollar bill, and now, I’m all about the cash, too. So, I need you to ink a new deal, Vance. You know my Mr. Wolf’s unemployed at the moment, and I’ve got a household to run.”

With that, she whipped out a fresh contract and laid it before Vance, the figures in it a whopping fifty percent higher than the previous one.

Without a moment’s hesitation, Vance scribbled his signature on the dotted line.

Money was no object when it came to this lifesaving contract.

After closing the contract, Vance’s expression regained its composure. “So, is this the reason Jasper called me over today?”

Jasper shook his head. “Of course not. This is a matter my granddaughter brought to you. As for me, I’ve got another issue to discuss.”

Vance straightened up. “What’s on your mind?”

“The ancient warrior lineage.”

Vance’s eyes flickered with disbelief.

Jasper himself hailed from the ancient warrior lineage, and the Perez family held a lofty position within the Vanguard Agency. It was surprising he would broach the topic with Vance, knowing full well that Vance had always wanted to kick the ancient warrior lineage out of the Agency.

“Surprised, huh?” Jasper chuckled. “I know you’ve got a bone to pick with the ancient warrior lineage, feeling that us old-timers are flexing our family muscles, stifling your special squad’s operations, and botching many a mission.”

Vance frowned, his gaze drifting over to Percival and Vivienne.

Great, those two were at it again, playing house.

One sipping coffee, the other pouring – living the life of Riley.

Vance had to drag his attention back. “Jasper, just lay your cards on the table.”

At that moment, Percival handed Vance a freshly brewed cup of coffee. “Vance, Jasper here wants a slice of our partnership pie. What do you say?”

his lips. “Jasper, the deal with Mr. Percy is to boot the ancient warrior lineage out of the Vanguard Agency. What exactly is the ‘pie’ you’re

them out. Over time, their influence has grown massive, almost monopolizing power, to the point where even the Perez and Martinez families sometimes

continued, knowing Vance’s motives were not merely vengeful. “You want

Jasper quietly, unsure where he was

Noah, did anything strike you as

in the Vanguard Agency for nearly sixty years, that…” Vance stopped short, suddenly

decades without anyone catching on? Like those ten children back in the day –

the others on that

the difference between ten or twelve

off its own tentacles to let Noah gain merit, his stay would

Yorick never suspected his

pushing for the ancient warrior lineage to seize power

It dawned on Vance.

must have been

it mean that someone within the lineage had tight

chilling, and Vance could not help but

cup of coffee. “My mentor faked his own death because he was being hunted, and those hunters were from

When I first tried to locate the Emerald Monastery, I sensed someone was after me, too. We never

years that Ulysses had not perished when his family was wiped out but had gone

discreetly, using his position within

someone was after Finnian’s life. Knowing he was no match

returned, Finnian had succumbed to illness, leaving behind

no word came from Finnian

demise of

truly dead; surely those of the ancient lineage were even

pursuers had to be from

lineage, then the mysterious people aiding

do you want me

Martinez family’s arsenal and the Perez family’s wealth – are just the basics. If we truly ousted the lineage, the entire Vanguard Agency would