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

“Got one,” Ben heard over the transmitter the following Tuesday, as he sat in the parking lot of the diner where he had a partial view of the side of the building. The hijacker relayed the license plate and DOT numbers to his cohorts. Ben did the same to Zach, then, as he waited to be picked up, he saw the man scramble down the fire escape, getting to the bottom at the same time that a dark sedan came to a stop a few feet away. He jumped in and the sedan took off, heading, Ben was certain, to the highway entrance two blocks away.


“Took you long enough,” Ben muttered when Ez’s van pulled up beside Hayley’s car three minutes later. He got in, taking his place behind the driver’s seat. Hayley was next to him, Zach was riding shotgun.


Reaching over the back of the seat, Hayley grabbed a tactical vest, giving it to Ben. He put it on before retrieving the rifle he’d be using—the reason he was seated where he was.


Chapter 29