The Million-Dollar Heart

Micah scrutinized each document that Percival had brought in. It was all there: the irrefutable evidence that exonerated Vivienne, Fiona's confession to setting her up, and Calista's damning testimony on how she had stolen Vivienne's fingerprints and plotted a murder in the OR.

Without a doubt, Vivienne was innocent.

With an indifferent curl of his slightly chapped lips, Micah returned the papers to Percival. "Good job," he said, the understatement hanging between them like a silent applause.

Percival locked eyes with Micah, his mentor at the Vanguard Agency, second only to Karen in authority. A crooked smile formed on his lips. "I think so too. I did do a damn good job!"

Their gaze held for a heavy moment, neither man breaking the silence.

The air grew thick with tension.

Leopold, Thomas, and Soren, who was standing off to the side, all watched Micah intently. They knew Micah had been obstructing their every move, sidelining the Vanguard Agency, and keeping everyone out of the loop everyone except Soren, whom he had left in the dark about the true purpose of their mission.

Those who made it into the Vanguard Agency were no fools; Micah's actions were purposeful. But the question that hung over them was why he targeted Vivienne and Percival. Was it a personal vendetta, or were there strings being pulled from behind the scenes?

After what seemed an eternity, Micah finally broke into a grin. "Well, the higher-ups have spoken. Vivienne is free to go."

He paused before adding, "But let's be clear, she might not be so lucky next time. If she's tangled up with CK, I won't look the other way, not even for you."

Percival chuckled. "There won't be a next time. If Vivienne ever breaks the law, you won't need to get involved. I'll bring her in myself, Micah."

How he would 'bring her in' was another matter entirely.

Micah's eyes narrowed, his voice chilling. "Let's hope it doesn't come to that."

In the past, Percival would have addressed him as 'boss,' but now, not even that courtesy was extended. The kid had grown up, out of his control.

Adjusting his goggles, Percival did not linger. Instead, he waved to his brothers-in-arms. "Wrap it up. Micah's buying dinner tonight."

of the special squad, Percival's word was law. The team responded enthusiastically, though a few

the crowd, but everyone knew the Vanguard Agency of Rivenwood was

the first to leave for headquarters, while Soren stayed behind with

Percival. Even though he did not like Vivienne, he would never treat her as

he could not back down even if the target had been his mother. Percival merely glanced

his lip, unsure of what to say

appraised him. He seemed stronger than before; his injuries healed. If he were to spar with Anna now, the outcome would

of silence, Soren led his squad out, pausing only to say to Anna, "Back on duty

a

to say, "Now you remember who's your captain, after that earlier outburst,

Vivienne and

Anna was still puzzled. How had

she asked the question

against protocol, but someone big vouched for him, saying he may be young, but his record and education are top-notch. Without a promotion, they'd risk demoralizing the front

to make sense of Leopold's rambling, Anna grasped a key question. "Who helped from

knowing glance and

asked, "Yeah, who was it? They've got some

too busy celebrating Percival's promotion to wonder about the benefactor. Now, thanks to Anna's question, he

ranks, any further promotion would be an uphill

example. If he were to be promoted, other than making some astonishing achievements, he would have to wait for Percival to be transferred to have a chance at the

been promoted to deputy director

Percival stayed mum, almost driving Leopold so angry he could barely keep driving. The

the back of the driver's seat

for sure. But

Percival managed to get the news of

excluding Micah and those two unnamed individuals, it became even more evident that

Blue Sky, and