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

“Is this a private party or can anyone join in?” Vance asked as he stepped into the room, his gun pointed at Miss Barlow for the moment.


“Who the hell are you,” the guard growled, reaching for his own gun.


“Just a concerned citizen.” Vance’s gun hand seemed to move almost of its own volition and he fired once, bringing the guard to his knees and then face down on the floor, blood streaming from the exit wound in his back.


Vance swung the gun back to cover Miss Barlow and the other man. “Sit down next to her now,” he ordered.


“Why the hell should I? You can’t get lucky twice in a row.” A small pistol appeared in the man’s hand.


“You’d be surprised how lucky I can get, Mr. Macino.”


“Especially with backup,” Frankie said as he stepped into the room from a door in the far corner. When Macino swung around in shock, Frankie smiled wickedly, gesturing with his gun for Macino to do as Vance had ordered.


Chapter 30