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

“Now what,” Rico asked, knowing from Roger’s expression that something had happened.


“She’s escalated things,” Roger said, and filled Rico in.


“Look,” Vance said, “before you go off half-cocked and take me down to the station, do yourself a favor.” He carefully toed off his shoe and slid it toward the cop. “Check underneath the insole.”


She glanced at the shoe, then back at him. “Why?”


“Because my ID is there, I’m a federal agent.”


With a skeptical look she used her foot to pull the shoe closer, keeping her gun trained on his groin with a small smile as she knelt and used her fingernails to lift the insole, wrinkling her nose as she did so. Moments later she was looking between the ID and Vance and then back to the ID again. “It looks real.”


“It is. You can call the local office and check.”


“Oh I will.” She stood, taking out her cell phone and hitting a number.


Vance chuckled. “You have the agency on speed dial?”


Chapter 60