The Million-Dollar Heart by Rebecca Ryan

Judith had been out of the game for years, her skills rusty but her foundation solid. She had kept the

violence of her past tucked away like old photographs in an attic, but now, as she faced the detectives

of the Major Crimes Unit, it seemed fate had a cruel sense of humor.

The detectives, armed but bound by protocol not to shoot without orders, could only attempt to

apprehend Judith with their bare hands.

Judith was fluid in her movements, and every strike was deliberate. However, unarmed, her attacks

lacked lethal force. She sought only an opportunity to flee, to avoid paying the ultimate price for a life

she no longer claimed.

Percival and Vivienne watched with icy detachment as Judith grappled with the officers.

After a moment, Percival’s gaze shifted to Thomas, who understood the silent command. He drew his

gun and, with a chilling indifference, fired a single shot that pierced Judith’s temple instantly.

Judith fell, her eyes wide in disbelief as she fixed them on Thomas, her voice whispering of betrayal.

“You, you… How could you?”

Thomas holstered his weapon, his voice colder than his expression. “Judith Brooks, a fugitive for

twenty years, assaulted officers in her attempt to escape justice. Her threat to public safety has been

neutralized.”

The Brooks family gasped in horror at the scene before them. Despite their influence, they had never

witnessed such a brazen act of violence, much less against the matriarch of their household.

Kala and others screamed and rushed forward while Timothy and Cheryl stood frozen, unable to

process the sight of their mother, once vibrant and alive, now lifeless before them. Their legs shook as

they stared at Judith’s cold body on the ground.

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“How dare you!” Scott roared. “You dare spill blood in the Brooks household? Who gave you the

authority to take my mother’s life? Do you think there’s nothing I can do about this?”

Having just recovered from the shock, laced with outrage, Timothy said, “This is outrageous! Even if

she was guilty, we have laws. You’ve denied her life without due process. This is an abuse of power!”

Although he agreed that Judith should be punished for taking ten lives, she was his mother, after all. He

could not accept the fact that his mother was shot down like that without even having the chance to

negotiate in court.

The command from Scott was swift. “Surround the mansion! No one leaves today. We’ll see who gets

away with murder on my watch.”

As Scott reached for his phone to dial the emergency hotline, the detectives who had been standing

moments before crumpled to the ground, writhing in pain.

His call was cut short by the sight of Vivienne, from whom silver needles seemed to have flown with

deadly accuracy. And as predicted, doctors and nurses in white coats rushed in to tend to the fallen

officers, declaring severe injuries.

The lead doctor’s words were like a death knell. “Who dared attack these officers?”

Scott seethed, knowing the implications. An assault on law enforcement could spell the end for the

Brooks family.

However, before he could respond, agents from the Vanguard Agency stormed the mansion. Like a

mouse spotted by a cat, Calista immediately hid behind Mila.

The agents ignored their pleas, their leader commanding, “For assaulting officers and endangering

national security, you’re all under arrest!”

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Scott’s expression darkened. He had underestimated Percival and Vivienne, and now the Brooks family

faced their reckoning.

Kala and the others, usually fearless, were now shaking with terror. Ashley’s cries for mercy went

unheeded.

“Vivienne, you witnessed everything. Tell them we’re innocent!” Kala pleaded.

As the agents began to detain the family, Vivienne’s eyes held a glint of something unreadable.

Baron, meanwhile, aged a decade in seconds, slumped into a chair, a wordless witness to the chaos.

Scott’s fury rose when he saw Baron’s resignation.

However, the Brooks family was in a much more dire situation right now.

Thus, instead of speaking out rashly, he decided to ponder and analyze the situation first.

Compared to the astounding achievement he was about to accomplish, his mother’s death was

insignificant. Nonetheless, he could not accept letting Percival off so easily.

Having witnessed the change of expressions on Scott’s face, Vivienne showed a hint of disdain.

She glanced at the Brooks siblings, who were quivering with fear, and frowned. Then, she turned to

Percival and spoke with a subtle nod. “Mr. Wolf, it’s time.”

Percival glanced at the Brooks siblings, returned the nod, and said to Vivienne, “Okay.”

As his words fell, he turned to the leader of the Vanguard Agency and said, “Judith has been

apprehended and neutralized on the spot. The rest of the Brooks family did not assault the officers.”

The team leader did not say much, just bellowed, “Pack it up, folks!”

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But after the call to regroup, they did not leave. They were waiting for Percival’s following command.

Vivienne approached the detectives, gave a cursory inspection, and nonchalantly confiscated a silver

needle.

The team quickly resumed action, and the team leader ordered his people to take away Judith’s body.

Once they had left, Percival said to Thomas, “Go submit the mission report!”

There had been no breach of protocol today. He was the captain of the Vanguard Agency, authorized to

neutralize any threat to national security.

Nonetheless, every mission had to be reported to the state.Books Chapters Are Daily Updated Join &

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The Brooks household soon regained its calm.

The Brooks siblings looked at Percival completely differently now.

Although they had known he was no pushover, they never imagined he possessed such formidable

power.

Seeing the turn of events, Calista felt her nerves on edge and quickly made an excuse. “It looks like

today’s party won’t be happening. Dad, I’m feeling unwell. I’m going to go upstairs.”

At her words, Kala and the others turned a shade of green with annoyance.

Their grandmother had just died, yet she was still thinking about the party?

Though deserved, the matriarch of the Brooks family had passed, and there were funerary matters to

attend to!

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Percival glanced at her coolly, his stern face showing no emotion.

Thomas seemed to understand his cue and gave the Vanguard agents a knowing look.

Quickly, the team leader stepped in Calista’s path and said, “Come with us!”

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