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

“Alright,

Anna, who was training on the

on my

in new gear, saw Anna heading out and called after

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

heartily. “Go get ’em, Anna! I’m

Leopold, “You’re the one who’ll

training grounds, she ran into a breathless

as if she might collapse at any moment, Gillian waved her over. “Where are

into a puddle under the sun, said, “I’m on a mission. Since when

some authority. “Isn’t it my job to look

those two big wolf dogs chasing you

froze. “What big wolf

of barking grew louder

to chase after the agents, smart enough to adjust their ferocity based on their

recruits, but with veterans

chased across the training field as if she were fresh

on Gillian but

on our training ground? In

narrowly avoiding becoming lunch

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

and clapping as though watching a

killing it! You’d

of a determined

Black and Black are picking up the

and Black were the names of the two

dove into a

barked in disappointment at Gillian from the mud pit’s

had never been so insulted

the mud with her hands, wishing she could hurl

training blew, and the

it up early and head home for dinner!” Thomas

as the agents boarded their vehicles, ready to

the mud, watched everyone depart, her eyes

Agency’s special squad. It was deep enough