Chapter 20

Paul took the wheel, expertly maneuvering the car out of the driveway and onto the open road.

It had been a bright day, Ethan noticed, and the compliment the old man gave him was enough to make his day.

Back in school, he always came out first in everything, breeding hatred among his classmates. He became a target for bullies, and with no one to help him, he turned to the Mafia Boss for assistance.

Ethan bit the insides of his cheeks, wondering when the Mafia Boss would come for his added interest. There was something the old man didn't know.

He didn't know that a debt couldn't be settled with money.

Money wasn't enough to buy his freedom, Ethan reasoned. He knew the gangsters would miss him, but not in a good way.

They could barge into his new life, expecting a warm welcome, and when Ethan failed to provide it, they could kill him. It was that bad. Ethan concluded that to safeguard his things, he must be alert.

"What's on your mind?" the old man inquired.

Ethan squirmed uncomforta