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

He smiled when Con came up behind him, wrapping his arms around him as he kissed the back of his neck.


“Are you sure you’re all right?” Con asked softly.


“You know I am,” Urbain replied, leaning into the embrace, “though the plane ride’s going to be interesting.” He chuckled. “I might be walking the aisle a lot.”


Turning in Con’s arms Urbain looked up at him. “I’m teasing, mostly.” Cupping Con’s cheek in one hand Urbain kissed him slowly with love, until he felt his partner relax. “Now,” he said, pulling away a bit, “We’d better finish packing and get moving. Our plane leaves in an hour.”


Con nodded. “Actually it leaves whenever we’re ready but yes, we should get going.”


An hour later on the dot, they were entering the company’s private plane. The captain greeted them, telling them the weather reports looked good as long as they avoided a strong storm cell over the southeastern tip of Missouri. “Doing that could put us behind but it’s better than taking chances.”


Chapter 53