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?”

deal with Mr. Percy is to boot the ancient warrior lineage out of the

his desk, speaking slowly. “I get why you want to push them out. Over time, their influence has grown massive, almost monopolizing power,

motives were not merely vengeful. “You want to restore peace to the

quietly, unsure where

what happened with Noah, did anything strike you

the Vanguard Agency for nearly sixty years, that…”

Agency for six decades without anyone catching on? Like those ten children back in the day – he added two

about the others

the difference between ten or twelve

inside help, even with GTO cutting off its own tentacles to let

even Yorick never

to seize power all these years without any of their kin by his

It dawned on Vance.

ancient warrior lineages must have been pulling strings behind the

GTO’s mole, could it mean that someone within the lineage had tight

not help but break out in a cold

mentor faked his own death because he was being hunted, and those hunters were from the ancient warrior lineages. There’s likely a

first tried to locate the Emerald Monastery, I sensed someone

perished when his family was wiped out but

his position within the Vanguard

tracked down the location of the Emerald Monastery, he would discover that someone was after Finnian’s life. Knowing he was no match for these mysterious assailants with his current abilities, he

he returned, Finnian had succumbed to illness, leaving

then on, no word came

now understood that the demise of the Sheldon family was inextricably linked

Ulysses was not truly dead; surely those of the ancient lineage were even

had to be from

warrior lineage, then the mysterious people aiding Noah might well be the same group of people

want me to do?” Vance

lineage. The 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 be