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!”

who had escorted Flynn approached. “Gillian,

stopped upon seeing Thomas. “Cap,

be? But what about you guys? Shouldn’t you be training instead

escort Flynn, but didn’t you intercept

his subordinates as if facing a threat. “What are you talking about? I’ve been in meetings all morning.

gasped. “Then who did

you that, Gillian?” Thomas slammed the logbook down

requires? Three armored vehicles and special protection, plus my presence on the transport. And you sent

of the protocol but had hoped to keep things low-key by moving Flynn

it have been her

“I had headquarters’ approval. What right do you have to question me? Shouldn’t you be more concerned

However, as he turned his back, his anger

Gillian

wait.

“Didn’t you take Flynn?”

was a pause on the line before the person said, “Didn’t I

impersonating Thomas took him

no time for such antics, and besides, I’m in Sea

do we do now? He’s gone,

a furious voice bellowed, “Gillian! Who do you think you are? Secretly transferring a

stormed into the office, his rage directed squarely

the phone hung up

ducked behind her chair. “I

ripping the badge

I

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

…

car driving down the Rivenwood

the backseat, writhing in

to open his eyes and looked

see, my

man behind the wheel, masquerading

fake mask and tossed

weak to remove the mask, managed, “Uncle, you’ve become quite the