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?”

to boot the ancient warrior lineage out of the Vanguard

them out. Over time, their influence has grown massive, almost monopolizing power, to the point where even the

knowing Vance’s motives were not merely vengeful. “You want to restore peace

unsure where he was

Noah, did anything strike you as

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

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

the others

they not tell the difference between

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

Yorick never suspected his

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

It dawned on Vance.

warrior lineages must have been pulling strings behind the

that someone

and Vance could not help but

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

lowered. “You’re right. When I first tried to locate the Emerald Monastery, I

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

Vance had been investigating discreetly, using his position within the

he would discover that someone was after Finnian’s life. Knowing he was no match for these mysterious assailants with his current abilities, he had no choice but to lay

time he returned, Finnian had succumbed to illness,

then on, no word

the demise of the Sheldon family was inextricably linked

Ulysses was not truly dead; surely those of the ancient

pursuers had to be from

were all from the ancient warrior lineage, then the mysterious people aiding Noah might well be

me

intertwined with the lineage. The Martinez family’s arsenal and the Perez family’s wealth – are just the basics. If we truly ousted the lineage, the entire