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?”

lips. “Jasper, the deal with Mr. Percy is to boot the ancient warrior lineage out of the Vanguard Agency. What

desk, speaking slowly. “I get why you want to push them out. Over time, their

vengeful. “You want to restore peace to the

quietly, unsure where

Noah, did anything

off? GTO managed to hide a mole in the Vanguard Agency for

did Noah manage to stay under the radar in the Agency for six decades without anyone

about the others on that

tell the difference between

was a fool. Without inside help, even with GTO cutting off its own tentacles to let

Yorick never suspected

was Noah, pushing for the ancient warrior lineage to seize power all

It dawned on Vance.

must have been

mole, could it mean that someone within the lineage

thought was chilling, and Vance could not

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

the Emerald Monastery, I sensed someone was after me, too. We never identified who, but they were highly

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

his

could never have predicted that when he finally tracked down the location of the Emerald Monastery, he would discover that someone was after Finnian’s life. Knowing he was no

had

on, no word came from

on the past, Vance now understood that the demise of the Sheldon

Ulysses was not truly dead; surely those of

to be from the

ancient warrior lineage, then the mysterious people aiding Noah

do you want me to

Agency is clearly unrealistic. The Agency’s ranks are thoroughly intertwined with the lineage. The Martinez family’s arsenal and the Perez family’s wealth – are just the basics. If we truly ousted the