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

“Ritzy,” Hayley murmured a few minutes later when they entered the building. The front room was carpeted, with comfortable looking chairs in the waiting area to their left, pictures on the walls, and a long counter to their right. One of the men seated behind it looked up from his computer, smiled, and asked, “May I help you?”


“I hope so,” Zach replied. “My wife inherited a houseful of furniture from her grandmother. It’s, well to be honest, not at all our style, but it is valuable according to an antiques’ appraiser. Personally, I’d like to sell it but she—” he smiled ruefully at the man, “—said she’d kill me if I tried.”


“It was my grandmother’s,” Hayley said. “It’s been in our family forever. I won’tsee it sold to some stranger who doesn’t appreciate what they’re buying.”


“I know, sweetheart.” He gave her a hug. “Anyway, what we need is a unit, or perhaps two, that are large enough to hold everything.”


Chapter 13