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

“You get to ride in front so you can keep your leg straight,” Zach told him, before helping him into the van. Then he got in, sitting on the floor beside the back seat, gently resting one hand on Hayley’s shoulder. “How you doing?” he asked her.


“Of course you will,” Ez said as he got into the driver’s seat. Taking out his phone, he made a call to Durand. “You might want to send a couple of guys to do clean-up,” he told him, before giving him the GPS coordinates. After a pause he said, “Yeah, we know. It was supposed to be a fishing trip but someone had different ideas.” Again, he paused before replying, “Carter.” Whatever Durand replied had Ez nodding his head. Then he told him they were heading to the clinic, and why, before hanging up.


“Who’s Carter?” Ben asked as Ez drove out of the barn and swerved around the two dead men to get to the lane that would take them back to the road—and eventually into the city.


Chapter 52