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?”

worry about? We’ve got Vance,

“Alright, if you

Anna, who was training on the field, received a

I’m on

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

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

’em,

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

left the training grounds, she ran into a

waved her over. “Where are

said, “I’m

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

those two big wolf dogs chasing you than micromanaging

“What big

sound of barking grew louder from behind, heading straight

chase after

new recruits, but with veterans like Leopold and Thomas, they showed

being chased across the training field as if she

on Gillian but showed no

training ground? In her

becoming lunch for the two pursuing

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

stood aside, cheering and clapping as though

You’d win any

a determined woman—go,

and Black

Black and Black were the names of the

dove into

wolves, being the clean freaks they were, barked in disappointment at Gillian

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

her hands, wishing she

whistle signaling the end of training blew, and the agents lined up

work today, team. Let’s wrap it up early and head

the agents boarded their vehicles, ready

eyes wide with disbelief. “Where are you going?

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 calves, and without