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

Thomas. “Cap, what are you doing

was surprised, too. “Where else would I be? But what about you guys? Shouldn’t you be training instead of hanging

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

looked 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

did you hand Flynn over

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

of security Flynn requires? Three armored vehicles and special protection,

had hoped to keep things low-key by moving Flynn discreetly.

have been her

to keep her composure, Gillian retorted, “I had headquarters’ approval. What right do you have to question me? Shouldn’t you

However, as he turned his back, his anger

Gillian frantically

a long wait.

“Didn’t you take Flynn?”

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

Thomas took him halfway through.

such

“What do we do now? He’s gone, and we

the door was kicked open, and a furious voice bellowed, “Gillian! Who do you think you are? Secretly transferring a high-profile prisoner—is that badge just

office, his rage directed

the phone hung up

chair. “I had… I

ripping the badge from

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

flung out of the office and landed on the ground

…

car driving down the

the backseat, writhing in agony

he managed to open his eyes and looked at

see, my

man behind the wheel, masquerading

tossed it

the mask, managed, “Uncle, you’ve become quite the hothead since we last met. I thought we might catch