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

When he opened his door, he saw Beau sitting on the sofa, his head buried in his hands. Going over, Rick sat next to him, asking, “Did you mean it? About quitting?”


“Yeah.” Beau glanced at him, barely smiling as he added, “I’m not going to announce it to the world, but I am.”


“Are you doing it because of me? I mean, if I walk away, will you still do it?”


Chapter 44