The Million-Dollar Heart by Rebecca Ryan

Yorick was so incensed he felt like giving another kick, but age had taken its toll. Even slapping had drained him of his strength, so he slumped back onto the couch, panting.

“Don’t play dumb with me, boy. It was one thing when you were just making a quick buck here and there, nothing serious. But now you've gone and meddled with Vanguard Agency's affairs! You've got snerve! Do you have any idea why I introduced Gillian to Lark and Vivienne?” Dracon stood up silently, his head bowed, avoiding Yorick’s piercing gaze.

Yorick took a breath to calm himself. “I wanted Lark and Vivienne to keep tabs on her! A criminal, sneaking her way into Vanguard Agency, knowing all my likes and dislikes without ever having met me. Dracon, you think I'm senile, don’t you? You think you can just waltz Gillian into Vanguard Agency? | orchestrated that! | wanted her under Vanguard's control! But | underestimated you. You interfered with my liaison with Vanguard Agency and, using my name, sent Gillian back after her blunder. If Percival hadn’t cto warn me, I'd still be in the dark! Do you have any idea the gravity of Gillian’s crimes?” Dracon furrowed his brow, still playing the tough guy. “Dad, since when do you take Percival’s word as gospel?” “If I didn’t have proof, would | be confronting you now?” Yorick flung the dossier from the table at Dracon’s face.

After Percival left the other day, Yorick silently began an investigation. When he found out it was indeed Dracon who had saved Gillian, it nearly triggered his heart condition.

He had thought his son merely dull, but this was pure folly! Foolish to the bone! “I'm telling you, Dracon, if you use my nagain, you can pack your bags and leave! | can’t believe the Linklater family could produce such a failure!” Yorick, unable to hold back his words in his fury, spun around and stormed back to his room.

Dracon stood there, the scattered papers on the floor mirroring the throbbing pain on his face, a constant reminder of his humiliation.

Fine, he was the failure of the Linklater family. But let's see what this ‘failure’ could do.

The Nine Mystics Society.

Vivienne arrived at headquarters, where all the leaders, including Aaron, were gathered.

“Vivienne, we've secured all transportation. Our people are in place, eyes on the target, ready to strike on your command,” Aaron reported.

Vivienne eyed the red dots on the tablet, each representing the Nine Mystics Society’s outposts.

“Good. Await my signal. Once we've located Larry and Carl, we'll take them down in one fell swoop!” Everyone echoed, “Understood!” Just then, Vivienne’s cell phone rang. It was Thomas.

“Trouble, Madam. Percival’s been taken by the Vanguard Agency!” Vivienne’s brow knitted. “What happened?” “Yorick was rushed to the hospital this morning with a heart attack. He's still in the ER. According to Dracon, it was the health supplement Percival delivered that caused the episode. The authorities found traces of a new drug, Keco, from the Ashford family’s bust in the supplement!” Vivienne’s fury coalesced into an icy resolve.

“Got it.” Hanging up, Vivienne turned to her team with a dark expression. “Get ready. We're breaking him out.” At the hospital, Dracon was a sobbing mess outside the ER.

“Doctor, please save my father. Nothing can happen to him!” “Rest assured, Mr. Linklater, we're doing everything we can.” Vance and the others rushed over. “What's going on?” Dracon wiped away tears. “Ask Percival why he poisoned my dad. Didn't you interrogate him?” “If Percival is responsible, we won't let him off,” Micah said, concerned. “But it seems unlikely he could smuggle such an obvious drug past the Linklater family’s famously tight security.” Micah had deep doubts about this incident. He would believe Percival poisoning him more than him poisoning Yorick. Percival respected Yorick more than anyone in this world. It was absolutely impossible for him to poison Yorick! Dracon lashed out in embarrassment. “What are you suggesting? That | poisoned my father to frPercival? | know you Vanguard folks are tight with him, but with a situation like this, you're just going to cover for him?” Vance retorted, “Mr. Linklater, those are serious accusations. Percival is in custody, and we're investigating. No conclusions yet. If he’s guilty, he won't escape justice. But if he’s innocent, we won't wrong him either.” Dracon, not wanting to escalate further, left it at that.

Vance and Micah exchanged looks and settled down to wait outside the ER for the doctor's verdict.

Eventually, the ER lights dimmed, and the doctor emerged, wheeling an unconscious Yorick into the ICU for continued monitoring.

“He's stable for now, but when he’ll wake up is still uncertain. We'll do our best.” Crouched on the ground, Dracon clutched his face in agony.

Suddenly, a deep voice boomed from behind. “Dracon.” Startled, Dracon stiffened while Vance and Micah turned their heads in surprise.

There stood a strapping man in a tailored suit, sporting a pair of gold-rimmed,glasses and hair slicked back with precision. His gaze was penetrating, and he exuded an aura of unapproachability. Dracon rose to his feet and took a couple of strides forward. “Hector, you're back!” The newcomer was none other than Dracon’s younger brother, the third Linklater son, Hector Linklater! Micah clicked his tongue in realization; no wonder the man looked familiar. It finally dawned on him who this was.

A diplomat often seen on TV, Hector’s directives were well-known throughout the entire Vanguard Agency.

During Micah’s ton the front-lines, he had been involved in several international operations, all orchestrated by Hector himself.

Vance couldn't help but sigh. It was clear why this man was always rubbing shoulders with the top brass. Just standing there, he commanded respect like a true leader.

Hector had an air about him that Dracon could never match, reminiscent of their father, Yorick, in his younger days.

This was indeed the presence of a Linklater son!

Hector stepped forward and took hold of Dracon’s arm. Hos the deal with Dad? He was fine when | called yesterday. How did he suddenly fall critically ill?”

“It's all because of that damn Percival. He had the nerve to poison our father .And to think Dad wante to groom him as his successor. He couldn't have been more mistaken,” Dracon spat out bitterly.