Ben Mercer is an ex-cop, lamed, framed, and thrown off the force for a crime his partner committed. Now homeless, he has no expectations for a better life until he's recruited by Durand, head of Vanguard Security, to join a team that deals with problems the police can't or won't touch. All Ben needs is the approval of the team leader, Zach Turner.<br><br>To get it, Ben has to prove to Zach that he still retains his skills as a sniper, and that he can handle any job thrown at him, despite the still painful damage to his knee. He does, and is immediately pulled into a job with the team, rescuing a kidnap victim.<br><br>Ben had one big secret, or did have until Durand drew it out of him. Before his life was drastically changed he had denied, even to himself, that he was gay. Now that he's accepted it, and learned that Zach is as well, can the two men forge a bond beyond that of being teammates and friends? It will take several more jobs before Ben gets his answer.

A Second Chance

“Not much to tell. I’m an ex-cop who, for reasons I’d rather not go into at the moment ended up living on the streets.”


“We don’t keep secrets,” Ez said sternly.


“Good, then tell me about you,” Ben retorted, stretching out his bad leg, glad there was room enough that he could.


“Ex-bodyguard with a national security firm until Durand recruited me.”


“Stole you away is more like it,” Hayley said, grinning. “My father was furious. Then Durand asked me if I wanted to join Vanguard, too. It really frosted Dad’s ass when I accepted.”


“Don’t let her size and cuteness fool you,” Ez said. “She’s damned good at what she does or she wouldn’t have been working for her father to begin with.”


Hayley nodded. “Dad wanted a son to follow in his footsteps, but it didn’t work out that way, so he resigned himself to me and trained me well.”


“Very well,” Zach said as he dropped down into the seat across from Ben.


Chapter 11