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

Carefully he pulled the top half of the broken slat free, using the raw edge to saw at the rope around his wrists, ignoring the splinters biting into his skin while praying he could rub the rope enough to weaken it before the man realized what was going on.


“We know who sent you,” the man growled. “He was a fool to think you’d be able to find the centers and destroy them.”


Vance chuckled, staring at the man through swollen eyes. “What makes you think I haven’t already?”


A fist to his gut had him gasping for air. The man grabbed his hair, pulling his head up.


Chapter 12