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

When Vance heard the woman move away from the door he turned his full attention back to the girl with a calculating look. “I wonder if a little pain would hurry along your need for another fix,” he said, taking his blade from his boot. “A whore like you should be used to being hurt, so I suspect I’ll have to inflict a good deal of it. What do you think?”


She watched as he circled the point around one dark nipple, her eyes brimming with tears and terror.


“Are you willing to talk to me?” he asked, putting some pressure on the blade.


It took her a minute and a bit of blood as he pierced her skin before she nodded.


“Good. One word, one sound out of you other than to tell me what I want to know and you’ll be looking for another job because no one will want to look at you.” He touched the tip of the blade to her cheek. “Understand?”


When she nodded he removed the gag. “Talk,” he said coldly.


Chapter 28