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

Roger nodded. “Maybe, just maybe, he’s really on the road to recovery now that Theo’s here.”


Roger wondered if he’d spoken too soon when, two hours later, he found Vance sitting in the backyard at Walt’s home.


The ride back from the airport had been filled with Theo’s chatter as he told Vance everything that had happened to him while he’d stayed with first Roger and Rico and then with Makie. By the time they’d arrived at the house, Theo had finally wound down and was asleep in Vance’s lap.


Alice had readily accepted that Roger would be staying with them as well, rebuffing Rico’s suggestion they should find a motel. “We have more than enough room,” she’d told them, as Vance carried Theo upstairs to put him to bed. “So get that idea out of your head this instant.”


Chapter 131