The Million-Dollar Heart by Rebecca Ryan

Gillian gripped her hands tightly, frustration and disbelief etching her features.

There was no way Leopold could have mistaken her. In the entire Vanguard Agency, she was the only one with curly, untamed hair. How could anyone mix that up?

“Second squad, what’s the holdup? Move out now, or it’s a ten-kilometer march with full gear!” barked Thomas.

Leopold hopped onto the truck, smacking the canvas cover. “Let’s roll out, folks. If we lose to that smug jerk Hotshot today, I swear you’ll wish you were never born!”

Powerless, Gillian watched as the truck rumbled away from her. She turned to hop into Thomas’s vehicle, only to see him already seated and starting the engine.

“Thomas, wait for me!” she yelled, but Thomas drove off as if he hadn’t heard a thing.

Vehicles had strict protocols at Vanguard Agency; you couldn’t just take one without prior approval. With her own car off-limits within the training grounds, Gillian had no choice but to chase after them on foot.

Upstairs, Micah sipped his coffee, watching the scene unfold with a sly grin curling his lips.

That kid Thomas was definitely taking a page out of Percival’s book.

On the phone, Micah relayed Thomas’s antics to Percival.

Percival chuckled. “Let them be.”

“But Percival, keep an eye out for Gillian. She’s backed by Yorick. She’s no simpleton,” Micah warned.

“Don’t worry. She’s not going to stir up any real trouble.”

Hearing Percival’s confident tone, Micah scoffed. “What did your mentor say?”

After a few seconds of silence, Percival replied, “How come, after all these years, you still depend on my mentor? Don’t you have a mind of your own?”

“Percival! You…”

The call ended with a dial tone, and Micah slammed the phone down in irritation.

“That little rascal!”

Percival nonchalantly scratched his nose and tossed the phone aside.

Vivienne glanced at him. “Aren’t you worried your boss might not let this slide?”

there to worry about? We’ve got Vance, don’t we?” he

an eyebrow. “Alright, if you

on

on

new gear, saw Anna heading out and called after her, “Where are you off to? We still have a

retorted without looking back, waving off Soren. “Next time,

heartily. “Go get ’em, Anna! I’m rooting for

Leopold,

grounds, she ran into a breathless

she might collapse at any moment, Gillian waved her over.

sun, said, “I’m

“Isn’t it my job

smiled thinly. “Maybe worry more about those two big wolf dogs chasing

“What big

barking grew louder from behind, heading straight for

to chase after the agents, smart enough to adjust

recruits, but with veterans like Leopold and Thomas,

being chased across the training field as if she

kept an eye on Gillian but showed no sign

our training ground? In her dreams!”

narrowly avoiding becoming lunch for the two pursuing wolf

doing anything? Help!” she screamed while running, but no one

and clapping as though watching

it! You’d

of a determined woman—go,

Black are picking

Black were the

Gillian dove into a mud

were, barked in disappointment at Gillian from the mud

twenty-some years, had

the mud with her hands, wishing she could hurl the muck at

training blew, and the

today, team. Let’s wrap it up early and

as the agents boarded their vehicles, ready to

still struggling in the mud, watched everyone depart, her eyes wide with disbelief.

Agency’s special squad. It was deep enough to trap a person’s calves, and without some skill, escaping