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

The man smiled. “I totally understand.” He asked a few questions to determine which house it was where that had happened and what the other man looked like. Then he excused himself, saying he had to talk to his boss.


The instant the man was out of the room Vance was up and moving. He knew he didn’t have time to gain access to the computer’s files, but he did have the time to use the spy stick. He inserted it into a USB port, ran the sixty second software installation and removed it. Now he could get to all the information he wanted on the computer from any other one that had an internet connection. Taking a chance, he checked the file drawers, but if there was anything there relating to the alderman’s involvement in the seamier side of the town’s life it wasn’t evident from a quick scan of the titles on the folders. Hearing footsteps Vance quickly sat down again, twisting his cap in his hands as the man returned.


Chapter 27