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

“Exactly. So, Mr. Montgomery, get your ass back where you belong. Not today or tomorrow, I think you need this time away, but soon.”


“You’re leaving, Uncle Van?” WJ, Walt’s oldest son looked up at Vance sadly.


“Yep, I have to. I have to save the world,” Vance told him with a grin.


“Yeah, he’s like Superman, WJ Remember?” Walt’s younger son Scott said, bouncing on his toes in excitement. “He’s gotta take out the bad guys with his X-ray vision or something. Right, Uncle Van?”


“Or something,” Vance replied, chuckling.


“You’re going to come back, though,” WJ stated. “You have to promise.”


“God willing and the creek don’t rise, I promise.”


“What creek?” Scott looked at him, puzzled.


WJ shook his head. “It’s just a saying, brat. It means he won’t let anything stop him if he can help it.”


“Exactly.” Vance smiled at the boys before going back to packing the few clothes he’d bought with him into his backpack.


Chapter 46