Beau, thirty-five, is a gangland enforcer who has gone into hiding rather than following the orders of his boss, Mercer, to harm a rival's kid. Now, all Beau wants to do is eliminate Mercer before getting out of town. When Rick, an eighteen-year-old denizen of the streets, witnesses Beau killing one of Mercer's men who has found him, Beau takes Rick under his wing instead of killing him, as well. He offers Rick a place to stay while he figures out how to put his plan to take Mercer out into action -- without ending up dead himself. Befriending Rick is an act Beau may come to regret. Rick convinces Beau to take him along when he leaves town -- thus working his way into Beau's dangerous life on the run -- and perhaps, into his heart, if Beau can come to grips with the fact that Rick is half his age. Note: This story contains scenes of graphic violence.

The Runaway and the Enforcer

Beau flagged down the waitress to tell her, “Give me the same as he had, to go, and give me the check for everything.”


“You didn’t have to do that,” Rick protested.


“I need fattening up.” Rick looked at him gratefully. “Thanks.”


“No problem.” Beau finished the last of his coffee before asking, “Do you have a safe place to crash?”


“Yeah. Back where you found me. But if the cops were going there, because someone called about a dead body…”


“Got it. Okay, don’t take this the wrong way, but I’ve got a spare bed if you want to use it, tonight. You can shower, too.”


Rick looked at him with distrust, saying snarkily, “And you want what in return? A blowjob? Sex?”


Beau rolled his eyes. “I think a blowjob issex, just not all the way. And, no, that’s not why I’m offering.”


Chapter 3