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.

taps on her earpiece signaled

nodded in satisfaction. Astrid’s team received

recording everything from the command vehicle, couldn’t shake the feeling that something was

the National Intelligence Bureau and the Vanguard Agency suggested a

knew the punishments she would

Micah, and Vance were deep in tactical discussion, oblivious

stealthily approached the command console and,

were ready to encircle and

picked up the microphone and began to speak, “Second squad, prepare

sent shock waves through

as well

from a

command vehicle shook violently, its special bulletproof glass shattering under

shards flew everywhere, embedding themselves into the members of

various injuries, their bodies peppered with

positioned on the outermost edge, felt

bodies were strewn across the floor, with Gillian

events unfolded in

first to snap into action. He quickly established a connection with the command vehicle and bellowed,

ringing, Percival’s voice echoing like a distant thunder in his

the enemy base had been alerted, and in the event of

this dire situation, they had to capture whoever they could—they could not allow

grabbing his weapon as he descended from the

Soren, are you

the debris, his legs, abdomen, and shoulders ravaged by

alive, damn it! I’m going after

up, more severely injured than Leopold, with a pierced abdomen, yet he still managed to get

“Not dead yet.”

that, Soren headed toward the secret

team was still in

you go after them; I’ll search

make sure we get all of our people out,”