The Million-Dollar Heart by Rebecca Ryan

Finnian’s face grew somber as he recounted the tale.

“But surprisingly, the family heads lost it. They accused my father of spouting madness and greed. A week later, our family suffered an unprecedented blow. That night, everyone disappeared without a trace.” Finnian paused, the pain of the old wounds surfacing fleetingly across his features before vanishing just as quickly.

Perhaps thad dulled the sharp edges of his grief, but the sudden recollection still pierced him deeply.

After a minute, Finnian continued, “I wasn’t hthat night. | was out with Jasper Perez—your granddad— knocking back a few beers. When | got back, the stench of blood was heavy, but there was no sign of their bodies, not even of my baby sister, who had just been born. | knew something was off, so I hid.

Sure enough, by the next day, all traces of the Sheldon family were wiped clean. No one but your granddad looked for me, and | couldn't risk exposing myself or bringing trouble to him. Soon after, our family’s Mystic Vein was carved up by the sfamily heads who had sought my father’s fortune-telling. And just like that, no one mentioned the Sheldon family again.” Having finished his story, Finnian drained the last of his carrot juice and handed the empty glass to Percival. “Hit a, Percival took the glass without a word, refilled it with carrot juice, and handed it back, then turned his attention back to grilling, serving up portions to Vivienne and Finnian.

“Kiddo, Vance descends from one of those families, an in-law from back in the day. You should know this. The Edwards family got rich off our Mystic Vein, beneficiaries of that old mess. Now they're looking for me, probably with sulterior motive. But don’t worry, they pose no threat to me. And Vance, he’s not one of the ones who hunted me. Rest easy on that.” Vivienne relaxed a bit at Finnian’s words. [x If Vance was not after Finnian, his reasons for seeking him out must be different.

“Finnian, are you going to meet him?” She asked.

Finnian waved the idea off. “I've still got a lot of things to figure out. | can’t meet him now. You go ahead with your business, and when it’s time, I'll face him myself. Won't stand in the way of your payday.” Finnian’s face lightened as he tucked into the grilled meat.

He knew his protégé all too well.

A little money-grubber, that one.

Vivienne nodded and snagged the last piece of brisket. “Among the “a lot of things” you mentioned, is one of them that call Vance made to my mom?” Finnian choked on his carrot juice, coughing violently for what felt like an eternity before he caught his breath.

“You sly girl, you know everything already, and still you ask me. Where are your mother... and... Huh?” Finnian straightened up only to find that Vivienne and Percival had vanished! The server approached with the bill, “Good evening, sir. Your table's total comes to 38,800 dollars. Will that be card or cash?” Finnian stared in disbelief. “All this for a few plates of meat? $38,8007?" The server smiled, “The two who were with you earlier took a bottle of our finest imported wine, worth $38,000.” Damn it! Finnian, who had not sworn in ages, cursed them in his mind.

He knew the girl would not treat him to barbecue out of the goodness of her heart! Thirty-eight thousand eight hundred dollars! Hard-earned cash, gone! Finnian paid with a heavy heart, packed up the leftovers, and handed them to Vesper, “Forty grand, pay up, or no dinner for you.” Vesper silently opened a pot of hotpot. “Enjoy your meal. | prefer others.” Meanwhile, the escapees, Vivienne and Percival, were cozied up in a hotpot joint, savoring their feast.

“Nothing beats a hotpot,” Vivienne mumbled, contentedly biting into a slice of hand-cut lamb.

Percival wiped a smear of sauce from the corner of her mouth. “Vivienne, something about what Finnian said doesn’t sit right with me.” Vivienne took a swig of cola. “Yeah, it is odd.” To annihilate an entire family over a fortune-telling? For an ancient warrior lineage sworn to serve their country, such extrmeasures did not add up.

And the persistent hunt for Finnian only deepened the mystery. It could not just be about a prophecy.

There was something else at play, something hidden.

Vivienne smirked, her interest in the ancient warrior lineage growing deeper.

Percival dropped more lamb into the simmering broth for her, and she ate her fill.

Finally full, she leaned back and said to Percival, “Mr. Wolf, the angle Vance is playing—it’s all about the ancient warrior lineage.” Percival nodded. “Exactly. He's got you snooping around the Sheldon’s cold case and Leopold poking into the Martinez family, one of the ancient warrior lineages out there in public. His aim is clear.” Wiping her mouth, Vivienne stood up. “Let's go find Leopold. I'm itching to see exactly what kind of mission he’s on.” “I doubt he'll spill the beans,” Percival said as he settled the tab. Hand in hand with Vivienne, they left the bustling diner, the aroma of sizzling steaks still clinging to their clothes. “He might be a loose cannon, but the guy’s got his principles.”Books Chapters Are Daily Updated Join & Stay Updated for All Books Updates...

Leopold was a man of the Vanguard Agency, and that meant he had his own code of honor.

When it cto his assignments, not even his own father could pry a word out of him, let alone Vivienne.

Vanguard Agency's final test back in the day was a testament to that. Leopold had stood his ground, even when Percival had tried to set a trap and coax the objective out of him. He had clammed up tight as a drum.

So, Percival had a good deal of faith in Leopold's ability to keep mum.

Vivienne stretched her neck. “As long as we know where he is, that’s enough.” She had her own ways of dealing with Leopold.

Even if he would not utter a peep about his mission, a few minutes of conversation with him and Vivienne could usually piece together the endgame.

With a nonchalant shrug, Percival led Vivienne to the car. “He's in Sea City now. We won't make it in time. Let's give him a ring.” “Okay,” Vivienne replied, pulling out her phone to dial Leopold's number.

But there was no answer.

She tried again several times, but there was still no answer.

Vivienne frowned and borrowed Percival’s phone, attempting once more—still, nothing.

Leopold could ignore calls from anyone else, but he would never ignore calls from her or Percival.

Something must have happened to Leopold!