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

“Am I?” Vance’s expression showed he didn’t believe he was.


“Yes, you are,” Roger told him, reaching for him then dropping his hand. “You are one of the few people I’m proud to call friend, and that’s because of whoyou are, not what you are. As corny as it probably sounds, you have heart. Ginna saw that, it’s why she loved you. Theo sees it, too. The children you help, the people you save because of who you are, they all see the heart within your tough exterior. So, my friend, listen to it. Don’t let anger and revenge rule your life when it comes to…to those sons of bitching bastards.” Roger did touch Vance then, putting his hands on his shoulders, turning him to face the two men bound to the beams. “Kill them, they deserve it, but do it quickly. Any other way and you become worse than they ever were.”


Chapter 138