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

“About Theo actually, which I’m sure you overheard,” Rico replied.


Vance pulled out a chair, spun it around and sat, his arms resting on the back. “Theo’s my business.”


Rico scowled. “Not when you won’t see him, he isn’t.”


“Both of you stop now,” Alice said firmly. Then she turned her gaze on Vance. “Where a child is concerned, it becomes the business of everyone who knows him, or about him, Van.” Before Vance could reply, she patted his arm. “I absolutely get why you’re reluctant to see him, but you have to think about it from his point of view. I’m not going to pull punches here. Ginna’s dead, you seem to have deserted him, Theo has to feel totally lost and abandoned.”


“I know,” Vance whispered. “But I can’t—not yet.”


Chapter 129