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

“Vance Montgomery,” she said angrily, “look at me!”


Ignoring her, he lifted the glass to his lips, sloshing some of the whiskey on his shirt in the process. He drank until the glass was empty, then set it down unsteadily on the table beside the deckchair.


Makie watched him in dismay. Despite the cool night air, he wore nothing but a ratty pair of cut-off shorts. His hair looked as if it hadn’t been washed in days, to say nothing of being combed, and she couldn’t begin to guess when he’d shaved last. He had obviously not been eating much, if at all, as his ribs stood out in sharp definition. Changing tactics, she pulled the other chair up beside him.


“Talk to me, Van. Say something, anything.”


Chapter 117