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 sat mute while the others talked, the boys filling Walt in on their day. Finally Walt noticed how silent Vance was and asked, even though Alice had told him privately while he helped her get supper on the table, “When’s Theo due in?”


Walt smiled when both boys instantly asked who Theo was. “Tell them, Van.”


“He’s…How do I explain?” He shot a help melook at Rico.


“Theo is the son of Van’s lady. She died so now Van is his guardian,” Alice replied before Rico could.


“Oh,” WJ said quietly, looking at Vance. “I’m sorry.”


“Me too,” Scott piped up. “How old is he, Uncle Van?”


“A baby,” Scott said from his advanced age of eight.


“Not really,” Vance told him with a bit of smile. “He’s very smart for his age.”


“Can we come with you to get him?” Scott asked.


Walt shook his head. “It would be way past your bedtime by the time you’d get back home.”


Chapter 130