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

“Oh hell, I was so hoping…” Makie felt like throwing the phone across the room once she’d gotten the most recent report on Vance. Yesterday it had looked as if he was going to quit the booze. The watchers had reported that, to the best of their knowledge, he hadn’t had a drink since he’d thrown away the half-full bottle. And they should know, they were the best of the best at what they did.


Now, the day-man had told her Vance had two more cases of whiskey delivered. When she thought about it, it scared her. Until today, he’d at least kept it to one case at a time.


“Why don’t you just put a gun to your head, Van,” she growled angrily. Seconds later she regretted voicing that thought. The last thing she wanted to do was throw it out there and have the fates make it true.


When her phone rang again she checked the ID and sighed as she answered. “Here, Urbain.”


Chapter 121