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!”

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

Thomas. “Cap, what

I be? But what about

orders to escort Flynn, but didn’t you intercept us on

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

who did you hand Flynn over

that, Gillian?” Thomas slammed

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

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

have been her

approval. What right do you have to question me? Shouldn’t you be more concerned with which

snorted and stormed off. However, as he turned his back, his anger seemed to

he was gone, Gillian frantically

long wait. “Who said you could

“Didn’t you take Flynn?”

said, “Didn’t I instruct you to deliver him

Thomas took him halfway through. Was

for such antics, and besides, I’m in Sea

now? He’s

door was kicked open, and a furious voice bellowed, “Gillian! Who do you think you are? Secretly transferring

into the office, his rage directed squarely at

person on the phone

her chair. “I had… I had approval from

Vance spat, ripping the badge

and go back to headquarters now!” He bellowed, “If I see you here in half an hour, you’ll replace

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

…

car driving down the

writhing in agony from

to open his

time no see, my dear

the wheel, masquerading as Thomas,

mask and tossed it back, hitting Flynn

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