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

Ignoring it for the time being, he snagged his backpack from beside the bag, slinging it over his shoulder. Then he moved the bag to the middle of the floor, opened it and then one of the fake books. He smiled coldly as he set the timer inside for five minutes.


Vance was out of the house and into the car that had brought him there when he heard a loud explosion. Then the basement windows blew out and flames appeared. They ate their way quickly up the dry wood shingles on the exterior as well at working their damage on the inside. Soon the house was engulfed in flames, the occasional sound of a smaller explosion from ammunition stored there fighting for dominance over the noise of the fire.


It took him less than a second to get the car turned on, and less than five minutes to get it onto the highway. As he drove back to the city he placed a call. “It’s done,” he said when someone answered. Then he gave them the name and address, smiling tightly when they told him, “Job well done.”


Chapter 8