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

Zach snorted. “I’ve had their sandwiches. You’ll be lucky if you can get through even one, so choose. I’m getting the pastrami special on rye.”


“I think I’ll have the Reuben and potato salad on the side.”


With that decided, Zach called in their order, telling Ben after hanging up that dinner would arrive in half an hour. He turned on the TV to a local news channel.


“Are you trying to depress us?” Ben asked when the first two stories were political.


“Nope. I want to make certain there’s nothing about what happened at the barn.”


Ben chuckled. “I can see it now, ‘Massacre at barn leaves four dead, the perpetrators on the run.’”


“The reason we have a clean-up crew.”


“What do they do with the bodies?” Ben asked.


Chapter 54