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

“Haven’t really had much practice at it. Last time I tried, I had to have the woman arrested an hour later.”


“Hang on a second Van. The woman, do you know where she is now? Could she be doing this?”


“Already thought of it. She’s still in prison. The judge threw the book at her. I made certain he would at the time.”


“Okay, so to reverse the question you asked me. Is there anyone from your past who might be upset we’re seeing each other?”


He snorted in amusement. “You know me, you know what I’m like. I’ve never let any female get close enough to me for them to even think I might be interested in them. Well, except her, and you. So,” he quirked an eyebrow, asking teasingly, “is this your way of trying to make things progress faster?”


“You caught me. Not. If I had, it would be backfiring since you keep trying to send me away.”


Chapter 109