The Million-Dollar Heart by Rebecca Ryan

Noah joined the ranks of RST at seventeen, but by nineteen, the organization had splintered into GTO and CK after Jasper’s devastating raid.

Assigned by F-Poison to infiltrate the Vanguard Agency as a mole at twenty, Noah figured he would bide his time, draw Vanguard's attention with GTO activities, and then slip back into the shadows of his true allegiance. But what he thought would be a brief chapter turned into nearly six decades—a lifetinvested and now, seemingly, lost.

“Tell me, Noah, in all the years you've been undercover in Vanguard Agency, what's GTO given you for your troubles? I'm genuinely curious. Heck, | haven't even caught a glimpse of the big boss's face. Have you?” Quincy asked with a cocked eyebrow.

Noah's frown was subtle but present. “You talk too much. When's my ride getting here?” Quincy stepped back, a hint of apology in her voice. “Sorry, Noah, your ship isn’t coming.” Noah turned, startled, only to be greeted by the dark mouth of a gun barrel.

“Master, there's no escape now,” Vance said solemnly, gun in hand, a trace of sorrow in his eyes.

Instinctively, Noah stepped back, but another gun pressed against the back of his head.

“You know | don’t move so fast anymore, Master,” a familiar voice stated from behind him.

Noah exhaled heavily. “Letguess, there's one more?” As if on cue, Karen stepped out from Noah's side, her gun aimed at the man she once revered like a father.

“It’s been a long time, Master.” Noah’s gaze met Karen's. Her face, one he had not seen for years, suddenly before him, gave him a moment of stunned pause. a “All these years, and you haven't changed a bit, my little apprentice,” he reminisced. “Back then, you and Daphne were the only girls among a sea of rowdy boys. Those were the days...” A cold voice interrupted from behind. “My mother couldn't make it. I'm here in her stead,” Anna said, her tone as icy as her words.

Noah scanned his surroundings before settling his gaze back on Karen. “Anything else you want to ask, Karen? I'll tell you whatever you need to know.” Karen's grip on her gun tightened, her breath catching.

“Master, when you killed Daphne with your own hands, did you ever think of the bond we once shared?” After a brief pause, Noah chuckled darkly.

“Listen up. | never truly considered any of you my own. You were merely stepping stones on my path to greatness.” A tear glimmered in Micah’s eye as he observed Noah's profile. Even after all these years, he had clung to the hope that his master was not a traitor. Noah had carried him from the crossfire when he was wounded on the battlefield. He had been there for every pivotal moment of Micah’s life within the Vanguard Agency.

When Karen was thought dead, it was Micah who first sought out Noah, sharing his suspicions of a mole within the Agency.

It was no wonder that his investigation had met a dead end for so many years, at most reaching the Deputy Director of the Rivenwood headquarters.

He had never suspected Noah. Everyone else, but not him.

Disbelief etched Vance’s features. An orphan with no friends, his aloof nature meant he would do almost anything to achieve his goals, even if it meant hurting those around him. Noah had been the first to show him what care felt like.

When “Destruction Plan” failed, he had his doubts about Noah. However, that was soon dismissed after investigations. In fact, he even regretted ever doubting Noah.

Now, that doubt seemed to be the very reason for Noah’s manipulation of him.

Amid the sea breeze that ruffled their clothes, Karen felt no chill.

No one knew how much Noah meant to her. She respected Yorick, found a kindred spirit in Ulysses, but to Noah, she had given the regard one would have for a father.

After being drugged by her foster family and waking up in a stranger's bed, it was Noah who helped her out of that darkness, giving her the strength of a father’s support, enabling her to start anew.

Now, here he was, spewing such betrayal.

Accepting his fate, Noah sat down, checking his watch.

“So you luredhere to flush out F-Poison? Sorry to disappoint, but even if you've turned this young lady against me, she knows nothing of F-Poison’s whereabouts.” Karen smirked. “Master, you taught us to hit the enemy where they least expect it.” Frowning, Noah listened as Vance added, “The photo | sent you carried a tracking virus. Once you opened it, your phone was compromised. Every device near you now pings back to Karen’s computer, all your calls, all your codes.” Mused, Noah chuckled. “Ah, as expected of my apprentices. And Micah, what role did you play in this little game?” Micah locked eyes with Noah. “The Martinez family’s detectors that you've been waiting on? They have trackers in them. Thomas is already leading raids on GTO’s hideouts across the cities. You're out of options.” Noah scratched his head. “And here | was wondering why those Martinez detectors got approved so suddenly. So, it was a trap. Seems like we were too hasty.” “Master, there's no need for stalling. No one is coming for you,” Karen said firmly, her gun steady. “The bomb on your belt is already disabled.”Books Chapters Are Daily Updated Join & Stay Updated for All Books Updates...

Noah's shock was brief before he pressed a button on his ring—supposedly the trigger for his last resort.

He had planned to take his apprentices with him out of this world. But it seemed he had miscalculated again.

Noah pushed himself off the ground, unstrapping the now inert bomb from his wounded side, and tossed it aside.

“Karen, GTO isn't as straightforward as you think. You believe that trackingdown or capturing F-Poison ends it all? Let's make a deal. You letgo, and I'll tell you...” Amid his sentence, his gaze suddenly went vacant, and blood began to trickle from his eyes, ears, and nose. His eyes shifted mechanically, finding no focus.

And then, he collapsed heavily to the ground.

Karen and the others rushed to check on him.

Noah was dead.

But it was not poison that killed him. In an instant, something had shattered all his nerves inside.

“Quincy!” Anna called out.

They saw Quincy, too, on one knee, black blood oozing from every orifice, a mirror image of Noah's condition.

Karen hurried over to check Quincy's vitals, blocking her nerves to prevent further damage.

Quincy was young, and she had smedical knowledge. Although the situation was dire, it was not life- threatening.

Karen quickly instructed Anna to get Quincy to the nearest hospital.