The Million-Dollar Heart by Rebecca Ryan

Soren was steaming mad. He had not slept a wink all night due to the excitement, and now his face was flushed red, a sure sign he was ready to throw down if pushed any further.

Leopold pulled Soren aside. “Dude, can you keep it down? Do you really want the director to overhear your grumbling? Are you out of your mind, ticking off the brass?” “You're one to talk, driving around Percival like a chauffeur. Mind your own business and scram!” Soren shoved Leopold away. “No, I've got to have it out with him and find out where the hell he cfrom.” Before the words had fully left his mouth, the office door swung open, and there stood Anna, frowning. “No need for questions, the... the director is here.” Vance strolled in, hands clasped behind his back, a smile playing on his lips as he regarded Soren. “Soren, together with Deputy Director Percival, one of the talented recruits who entered the Vanguard Agency in the sbatch. You led your team to second place in the final test, and now you're the captain of Special Squad Three. You also earned a commendation a while back.” Soren, taken aback by how well Vance knew him, could hardly muster a word in response to that sly grin.

Percival stood up and said, “Both of you, out. And close the door behind you.” “Hold on a minute.” Vance pulled out his phone and showed the screen to Soren after a few seconds. “I flew here, first class, but don’t worry, | won't be filing an expense report.” Leopold quickly tried to lighten the mood. “Boss, you're too generous. Maybe this means us grunts will get a better meal now and then?” Vance chuckled. “How about | ensure your work meals follow The Sterling Group's cafeteria menu? Wouldn't we want Mr. Sterling to go to the trouble of sending over his recipes daily?” “Please, no, our cafeteria is way too greasy as it is. We're good, really. No need to go to any trouble on our account, Boss,” Leopold said, ushering Soren out the dod Scary man, that Vance. A smiling tiger, no doubt. He had only been around half an hour and had everyone pegged.

With a smiling tiger as the boss and a cold-faced wolf as his deputy, how on earth were they going to survive? Once outside, Leopold shut the door, dragging Soren with one hand and Anna with the other.

“You were supposed to keep watch, not let them in!” Leopold reprimanded Anna.

Anna sighed heavily, rolling her eyes at Soren, explaining to Leopold, “His shouting drowned out my secret knock. Anyone could have heard him. Even a passing dog would have been turned off by the bad vibes, and you blme?” Leopold spat at Soren. “You really are negative. Couldn't you have waited to talk about this in private? Now you just wait for the director to cdown on you.” Soren brushed Leopold off. “Squad Three, assemble. Three miles weighted run!” With that, Soren stalked off, fuming.

He knew the air of authority Vance emitted was on par with Percival’s.

No easy adversary.

Anna followed quickly, and Leopold called after her, “Where the heck do you think you're going?” Anna threw him a disgusted look over her shoulder, “I'm in his squad!” What else was there to do? Follow the Deputy Director's orders: run three miles with weights.

Talk about bad vibes.

Back in the office, Percival emerged from his desk. “I heard from the Ellington Group that the Edwards Group's overseas cafeterias serve the best food. How about we follow their menu for a change, Director?” Vance settled into a chair and gestured for Percival to sit on the sofa beside him. “Let's sit and talk.” Percival sat down and asked, “What did you need to seeabout?” “I've cto deliver a personnel appointment. It’s from ten years back, but | am indeed the director. The digital version will be sent over from headquarters before the day is out.” True to his word, Vance produced an official personnel appointment letter.

This was a classified document, accessible only with the proper biometric verification from the person in question and the headquarters director.

“Ten years ago, just as | got the verbal order from my superior, | tracked down an overseas human trafficking ring that I'd been chasing for a while. To take them down, | went undercover. It turned out to be a ten-year mission, knocking out one crsyndicate after another. | moved up the ranks, but the director's appointment never changed.” Vance offered a brief explanation.

“I cby today because | was suddenly notified, and since everyone was here, | thought I'd make an appearance, steal your thunder a bit. Sorry about that.” Percival chuckled. “No harm done. But I'm sure there’s more to your visit than just that. Out with it; we're all busy.” Vance nodded. “Right. | have to head back to The Edwards Group's Rivenwood branch for a meeting. To cut a long story short, I'm reshuffling the personnel at headquarters. I'm recommending Thomas for the role of Chief Commander, and | want to integrate the second squad into the first and third. I'm proposing a swap between Leopold and Soren. Additionally, | want Leopold to focus on protecting Griffin to ensure the supply of weapons to both headquarters and the entire agency.”Books Chapters Are Daily Updated Join & Stay Updated for All Books Updates...

Percival’s brow furrowed. Vance was looking to decentralize Leopold’s power.

While the captains of the three squads were technically equals, the first squad was always at the forefront, giving Leopold a bit more clout.

And now Vance wanted to move Leopold into the background? Realizing Percival’s dissatisfaction, Vance continued, “I understand Leopold is your right-hand man, practically a brother to you. But his situation is unique. We can’t have all three key positions at the agency held by men of commerce, especially those with such influence in Rivenwood.” “And why don’t you step down yourself?” Percival’s tone carried a hint of frost.

Vance flashed a grin. “Well, I've been thinking. We're just waiting for Micah to cback, aren't we? Deputy Director, | know you're not thrilled with the arrangement, but we've got to make sadjustments. Besides, Griffin is someone Leopold can actually connect with and is familiar with. That way, we can foster a good partnership. The first squad has so much on their plate, and Leopold can’t spread himself too thin.” Percival had no patience for convoluted excuses and cut straight to the chase. “You're getting Leopold to rub shoulders with Griffin. What's your goal?” Vance fell silent for a few seconds, then said, “I'm having Leopold infiltrate the Martinez family to dig up ssecrets, the specifics of which I can’t disclose to you.” Even without being told, Percival could guess the gist of it.

The Martinez family had always been in the arms trade, an ancient warrior lineage, too.

Griffin was the heiress to the Martinez family, a prodigy in weaponry, and the sole successor.

Whatever Vance was after, it surely had something to do with arms! But Vance was the director, and this was a classified matter, so Percival could not meddle.

“Percival, if there are no other objections, the personnel appointment will be announced tomorrow morning. How does that sound?” Vance asked.

Percival narrowed his eyes. “Fine.”