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

eyebrow. “Alright,

was training on

on my way

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

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

get ’em, Anna!

taunted Leopold, “You’re the

Anna left the training grounds, she

waved her

said, “I’m on

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

more about those two big wolf

“What big

she asked, the sound of barking grew louder from behind, heading straight

after the agents, smart enough to adjust their

on the new recruits, but with veterans like

being chased across the training field

eye on Gillian but showed no

wants inside info on our training ground? In her

avoiding becoming lunch for

isn’t anyone doing anything? Help!” she screamed while running, but no one paid her any

cheering and clapping as

You’d

power of a determined

faster, Mr. Black and Black are picking

Black and Black were the names

no other option, Gillian dove into a

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

twenty-some years, had

slapping the mud with her hands,

signaling the end of training

wrap it up

the agents boarded their vehicles, ready to

eyes wide with disbelief. “Where are you going?

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 person’s