The Million-Dollar Heart by Rebecca Ryan

Vivienne was on the perimeter, her gaze locked to the thermal imager as she monitored Anna’s progress through the darkened alley.

Percival was at her side, fingers dancing across the laptop keyboard. Three seconds later, he declared, “Vivienne, we’re in.”

Pressing her earpiece, Vivienne called out, “Strike team, come in. Do you copy?”

The entire team, including Anna, was momentarily startled.

Through the earpiece, Anna tapped back in Morse code—Ms. Vivienne?

“That’s right. Follow my lead. There are more bombs than your initial infrared scan detected. Tread carefully.”

Everyone at the Vanguard Agency knew that Vivienne was Percival’s fiancée, and they would heed her commands without question. And, of course, Percival would obviously be right by her side.

This brought an unspoken comfort to the strike team as they navigated the treacherous terrain.

“Alpha and Bravo, move left. Charlie and Delta, keep a 3-feet distance behind. Anna, take the others and advance from the nine o’clock position. Watch the walls—electrified nets are set up to alert the hostiles inside.”

The strike team executed Vivienne’s orders flawlessly, avoiding numerous triggers and drawing ever closer to the bomb-laden stronghold.

Back in the command vehicle, Thomas watched the heat signatures move and immediately understood.

Percival and Vivienne were undoubtedly nearby. This meticulous, calculated approach was Vivienne’s signature—Careful and deadly.

Thomas, who had spent years working alongside Percival and Vivienne, knew this all too well.

Moreover, the equipment in Vivienne’s possession was far more advanced than that of the Vanguard Agency, revealing traps that had previously gone undetected.

With her guidance, Anna would be able to complete the mission much faster.

The National Intelligence Bureau, led by Astrid, was also in position, ready to provide support. Although they were not bomb disposal experts, they were more than capable of backing up the team.

Under Vivienne’s direction, Anna swiftly defused the first bomb site.

her earpiece

Astrid’s team received the signal

dutifully recording everything from the command vehicle, couldn’t shake the feeling

forces of the National Intelligence Bureau and the Vanguard Agency suggested

punishments she would receive would be severe. She could not afford

and Vance were deep in tactical

approached the command console and, without a sound, activated

returned, he didn’t notice the speakers were on—a device typically untouched unless they were ready to encircle

speak, “Second squad, prepare to flank

sent shock waves through the

including Vivienne and Percival on watch outside, as well as Anna and Astrid in the midst of their delicate

the serene Holiday Resort. Starting from a hidden passage, in

violently, its special bulletproof glass shattering

themselves into the

injuries, their bodies peppered with

positioned on the outermost edge, felt

strewn across the

unfolded

into action. He quickly established a connection with the command vehicle and bellowed, “Thomas, apprehend

voice echoing like

shouted again. The urgency was clear; the enemy base had been alerted, and in the event of such destruction, there

to capture whoever they could—they

regained focus, grabbing his weapon as he descended

Soren, are you

legs, abdomen, and

alive, damn it! I’m going after

severely injured than Leopold, with a pierced abdomen, yet he still managed

“Not dead yet.”

headed toward

was still

you go after them; I’ll

sure we get