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, our

“Cap, what are

surprised, too. “Where else would I be? But what about you guys? Shouldn’t you be

escort Flynn, but didn’t you intercept us on the

about? I’ve been in meetings all morning. I just got a break, and I

“Then who did you hand

that, Gillian?” Thomas

Flynn requires? Three armored vehicles and special protection, plus

keep things low-key by moving Flynn discreetly. She hadn’t

it have

right do you have to question me? Shouldn’t you be

and stormed off. However, as he turned his back, his

gone, Gillian

after a long wait.

“Didn’t you take Flynn?”

person said, “Didn’t I instruct you to deliver him to the designated prison at

someone impersonating Thomas took him halfway through.

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

anxiety peaked. “What do we do now? He’s gone, and we don’t

was kicked open, and a furious voice bellowed, “Gillian! Who do

into the office, his

person on the phone hung

“I had… I had approval

always headquarters,” Vance spat, ripping

out and go back to headquarters now!” He bellowed, “If I see you here in half

flung out of the

…

a car driving down the Rivenwood

lay in the backseat, writhing in agony from the poison

to open his eyes

time no see,

the wheel, masquerading as Thomas,

and tossed

quite the hothead