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?”

We’ve got

arched an eyebrow. “Alright, if you

who was training on the field, received a

on my way

and called after her, “Where are

time,” Anna retorted without looking back, waving off Soren. “Next time, I’ll make sure you’re

laughed heartily. “Go get ’em, Anna!

finishing his wrist wraps, taunted Leopold, “You’re the one who’ll be bawling

training grounds, she ran

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

puddle under the sun, said,

it my job to look after every member’s

about those two big wolf dogs chasing you than micromanaging

“What

barking grew louder

had trained to chase after the agents, smart enough

recruits, but with veterans like Leopold and

chased across the

on Gillian but showed

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

narrowly avoiding becoming lunch for

Help!” she screamed while running, but no one paid her any

cheering and clapping as

you’re killing it! You’d

of a

Black

the names of the two wolf

other option, Gillian dove

clean freaks they were, barked in disappointment at Gillian from the

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

frustration, slapping the mud with her hands, wishing she could

whistle signaling the end of training blew, and

wrap it up early

agents boarded their vehicles,

mud, watched everyone depart, her eyes wide

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