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

“Get the bastard,” Romano shouted, pointing to the open window.


The two men he’d brought with him raced to the window. One fired off a shot before they both took off down the fire escape.


Rico, Romano, and the men had arrived at the bodega a few minutes earlier. The man at the counter had told them the prisoner was in the basement and they’d immediately gone down there.


Rico had expected the worst, figuring he’d find Vance there and probably beaten to a pulp. Instead they’d found a dead man, a slat of wood thrust into his throat. Romano raged and ranted as they headed upstairs to the second floor, telling Rico that he intended to ask his distributor exactly what had happened. When they got there, the office was vacant and the window open.


Romano turned to Rico, growling, “I swear you can’t find good help any more. How could one man manage to overtake two of what I thought were some of my best people? What is he, superman?”


Chapter 13