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

The dog was outside seconds later, with Vance hot on his heels as he sped through the trees. Ginna, being practical, ran into the house to get her gun before following. She could tell where they were by the sound of the underbrush crushing beneath Vance’s feet, catching up with them just as they reached the side of the road. She saw a dark colored car speeding away as Vance grabbed King’s collar to keep the dog from giving chase.


“Well, he just stepped the game up a notch,” Ginna declared once she’d caught her breath


“True,” Vance agreed. “But once again, he didn’t kill me, or even wound me, which means he’s a lousy shot…”


“Or, because I was in your lap, he couldn’t get off a decent shot without taking the chance of hitting me,” Ginna added.


“True enough.” Vance started back to the yard, keeping his hold on King’s collar until the three of them were inside. Once he let go, the dog paced the fence growling low.


Chapter 111