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?”

about? We’ve got

arched an eyebrow. “Alright, if

who was training on the field, received a

I’m on my way

fresh in new gear, saw Anna heading out and called after

waving off Soren. “Next time, I’ll make sure you’re

get ’em, Anna! I’m rooting

finishing his wrist wraps, taunted Leopold,

training grounds,

at any moment, Gillian waved her over. “Where are you going? Why

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

to assert some authority. “Isn’t it my job to look after every member’s

two big wolf dogs chasing you than

froze. “What big wolf

as she asked, the sound of barking grew louder

two wolf dogs Percival had trained to chase after the

recruits, but with veterans like

was Gillian being chased across the training field

Gillian but showed

our training ground?

life, narrowly avoiding becoming

anyone doing anything? Help!” she screamed while

and clapping as though watching

you’re killing it! You’d win

power of a determined

and Black are

and Black were the names of the two

no other option, Gillian dove into a mud pit to

were, barked in disappointment at Gillian from the mud pit’s edge,

in her twenty-some years, had never been so insulted by

hands, wishing she could

of training blew,

it up early

boarded their vehicles,

watched everyone depart, her eyes wide with disbelief. “Where are

the ten-inch-deep training mud pit specifically designed for the Vanguard Agency’s special squad. It was deep enough to trap a person’s calves, and