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

“Will you really do it, Jacalyn? You’ll die either way. Is that what you want?” Conleth caught her gaze and held it with a steely one of his own.


“Even if I do it will be worth it to know you suffered and died as well. How does it feel, realizing that I’ve already killed two of those you care about?”


“It hurts deeply, knowing that they died because of me,” he murmured softly, letting deep pain to fill his face. “But they knew the odds and were still willing to risk everything for me. Can you say the same, Jacalyn? Do you have anyone who gives a damn whether you live or die?”


Behind him Con heard people shifting as they listened to the exchange. He prayed that none of them would do anything to alert her about what was happening behind her, because as he watched, Roger and Rico were slipping onto the stage, each movement infinitely slowly and cautiously.


“Do you, Jacalyn?” he asked again, his tone biting in its derision.


Chapter 72