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

“I’m not a kid,” Rick protested when Beau returned, before getting the gist of what he had said. “So the real reason you offered to let me stay here was to throw whoever sent that guy off the track?”


“Not the only reason,” Beau replied. “You do need a decent place to stay, at least for tonight. Still, having you with me helped, although I don’t think anyone knows where I’m living, at the moment.”


Beau nodded. “I’m not stupid. We weren’t followed, and no one’s outside, watching the building, but…” He shrugged.


“Glad I could help,” Rick said sourly. “Not that I don’t appreciate the offer of a bed.” He shot Beau a look. “As long as I’m not sharing it with you.”


“You won’t be. This place is small, but there are two bedrooms. Another way of…” He didn’t finish what he was going to say.


Rick did it for him. “Throwing off the people you’re hiding from. They’d expect you to rent a one-bedroom, or a studio, depending.”


Chapter 4