Horribly abused by his mother, Van eventually goes in search of his father. When he finds him, his life is radically changed. His father works for the FBI, and has contacts to a covert group, run by the Old Man, that goes after the worst of the worst criminals. Van is recruited to join both -- and does. Van handles every job he's sent on with cold efficiency, letting nothing stand in his way of gaining the information he seeks and stopping his foes. Eventually, he's offered a team of his own within the Old Man's organization. He accepts, with one caveat -- none of them can be female. Because of his mother, the only woman he has ever trusted is his handler, Makie. His attitude takes a hit when he meets Ginna, a cop, while on a job for the Old Man. When it's over, much to the shock of everyone involved, he requests that she be added to his team if she's willing -- which she is, as long as the organization can promise to keep her young son safe while she's on assignments. Ginna fits in well with the team, and though she is appalled at some of the tactics Van uses to gain information, she finds herself attracted to him. Can she break through the walls he's erected around his emotions? If so, then what? Only time will tell.

A Shattered Life

“I’m fricking freezing my ass off here,” Vance muttered under his breath.


His partner Steve, an older agent in charge of the assignment and of Vance, smiled in acknowledgement as they watched the subject of their investigation.


The man in question sat in his car three stories below and across the street from their vantage point. As they watched and filmed, two men approached the car. The driver jumped out to open the door for them.


“Nardi and his enforcer,” Vance said quietly as he listened to the beginning of the conversation happening in the car. Suddenly the headphones went quiet. “Damn it.”


“Yeah, damn it.” Vance inched away from the parapet, standing when he was certain he couldn’t be seen from the ground. “Don’t go anywhere, I’ll be back.”


Before Steve could order him to stop, Vance vanished down the stairs from the roof.


Chapter 6