The Million-Dollar Heart by Rebecca Ryan

Three squad members efficiently unshackled Flynn’s chains, casting puzzled glances at the man before them.

“Cap, what’s the deal here?”

The man was none other than Thomas!

“Just got a last-minute directive to transfer the prisoner. Head back to HQ, folks.” Thomas hefted Flynn single-handedly and stuffed him into the back of a Bentley, speeding away.

The special squad members exchanged confused looks, clueless about what had just happened. With no choice but to follow their commanding officer’s orders, they returned to base.

…

At Vanguard Agency.

Gillian was idly nursing the remnants of a scar on her cheek, now mostly healed, revealing her basic features.

With no real power at Vanguard Agency and not exactly popular, she spent her time bored in front of a computer screen, restricted from the outside world—even online shopping was off-limits.

Her colleagues, once courteous, now treated her with a cool distance, leaving her feeling out of place.

Thankfully, she was tracking Flynn’s transfer.

“Gillian, sign this,” Thomas said, dropping a logbook on her desk.

Signing papers was about the most challenging task for Gillian these days.

She shot Thomas a glare filled with disdain. “Oh, how kind of you, Captain Thomas, to deliver this personally.”

“Not at all, Gillian. You seem quite busy yawning over there,” Thomas replied with a casual smile.

The nearby agents couldn’t help but chuckle at Thomas’s comment.

Gillian’s face flushed with embarrassment as she scribbled her name on the logbook.

“Take it!”

the three officers who had escorted Flynn approached. “Gillian,

Thomas. “Cap, what

I be? But what about you guys? Shouldn’t

orders to escort Flynn,

at his subordinates as if facing a threat. “What are you talking about? I’ve been in meetings all morning. I just got a break, and I definitely

who did

asking you that, Gillian?” Thomas slammed the logbook down on her

Flynn requires? Three armored vehicles and special protection,

had hoped to keep things low-key

it have

approval. What right do you have to question me? Shouldn’t

turned his back, his anger seemed to vanish without a

Gillian frantically dialed a mysterious

wait. “Who

“Didn’t you take Flynn?”

the line before the person said, “Didn’t I instruct you to deliver him to the

Thomas took him halfway through. Was that

no time for such

do we do now? He’s gone, and we

and a furious voice bellowed, “Gillian! Who

the office, his

person on the phone hung up

her chair. “I had… I had approval from headquarters,

spat, ripping the badge

“If I see you here

overpowered by Vance’s strength, was flung out of the office and landed

…

driving down the Rivenwood

the backseat, writhing in agony from the poison Vivienne had

to open his eyes and looked

no see, my

behind the wheel, masquerading as Thomas, was actually

and tossed it back, hitting

to remove the mask, managed, “Uncle, you’ve become quite the hothead since we last met. I