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

“The other thing is, I want to find out why that guy was after you, and why you think others are, too.” Rick’s lips quirked up. “I’m nosy that way. I like to know the whys.”


“It has. Like when I’d tell some kid I know that he should stop working with one of the local dealers and it gets back to the dealer that I had. Got the shit pounded out of me a couple of times because I did, until I learned to keep my mouth shut.”


“I’m sure you did. They don’t like people trying to interfere in their business.”


“I was trying to help my…friends, I guess they were. There’s other ways to make money.”


“Very admirable of you. How do youmake money?”


Rick shrugged. “Mainly begging, sometimes on my knees if people aren’t in a donating mood.”


“Giving blowjobs, like you thought I wanted, last night.”


Chapter 5