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?”

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

an eyebrow. “Alright,

was training on the field, received

on my

out and called after her, “Where are you off to?

retorted without looking back, waving off Soren. “Next time, I’ll make sure you’re crying for your

get ’em,

Leopold, “You’re

training grounds, she

moment, Gillian waved her over. “Where are you

fearing Gillian might just melt into a puddle under the sun, said, “I’m on a mission. Since when do you oversee our daily

up, trying to assert some authority. “Isn’t it my job

about those two big wolf dogs chasing

froze. “What big wolf

sound of barking

chase after the agents, smart enough to

new recruits, but with

being chased across the training field as if she were fresh

eye on Gillian but showed

wants inside info on our training ground? In her dreams!”

her life, narrowly avoiding becoming lunch for the two pursuing

while running, but no one paid her any

stood aside, cheering and clapping as

killing it! You’d win

power of a determined

Black and Black are picking up the

were the

option, Gillian dove

were, barked in disappointment at

twenty-some years, had never been

with her hands, wishing she could

the end of training blew, and the

team. Let’s wrap it up early

boarded their

the mud, watched everyone depart, her eyes wide

in comfort, Gillian was unprepared for the ten-inch-deep training mud pit specifically designed for the Vanguard Agency’s special squad. It was deep enough to trap a