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

Thomas. “Cap, what are you doing

But what about you guys? Shouldn’t you

were following Gillian’s orders to escort Flynn, but didn’t

I’ve been in meetings

did you hand

asking you that, Gillian?” Thomas slammed the

have any idea what level of security Flynn requires? Three armored vehicles and special protection, plus my presence on the transport. And

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

have

approval. What right do you have

he turned his back, his anger seemed to vanish without a

was gone, Gillian

connected after a long wait. “Who said

“Didn’t you take Flynn?”

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

impersonating Thomas took him halfway

have no time for such antics,

now? He’s gone, and we don’t know who took

finish, the door was kicked open, and a furious voice bellowed, “Gillian! Who do you think you

office, his rage directed squarely

the phone hung up

“I had… I had approval from

headquarters,” Vance spat, ripping the badge

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

out of the office

…

driving down the Rivenwood

the backseat, writhing in

open his eyes and looked at the

time no see, my dear

man behind the wheel, masquerading as Thomas,

off the fake mask and tossed it back, hitting Flynn on

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