Like a Knife by Annie Solomon

special gift."
    There he was, across the courtyard.
    Danny gave Nick a hearty handshake. "If you need anything, Nicky, you whistle at me. Grand to see you-"
    But Nick was already moving away. He cut through the crowd, gaze on his target. He conjured up the hole in the ground that had just swallowed Shelley, pictured Rachel, wrists bruised, sleeping like an angel.
    Then he was face to face with the man who had been his teacher, his mentor, who had defined his life for over twenty years.
    "You touch Rachel again, I'll kill you." Someone gasped. Nick ignored it. "You hurt anyone again, I swear I'll rip your fucking heart out"
    The people around them melted away until the two of them were alone. Fury flashed across Spier's face, but only for a instant. He smiled. It was a wolf's smile, victorious, satisfied. "I don't think violence will be necessary. Do you?"
    A silent message passed between them.
    Leave her alone, and I'll do what you tell me.
    Do what I want, and there's no reason to bother anyone else.
    The deal made, Spier eyed Nick's work clothes, which were matted and wrinkled from the long night of tears with Rachel. "Go find something decent to wear. You're working for me now. Show some respect. I'll send Martin to fill you in." He put a fatherly arm around Nick's shoulders and gave a shout of laughter. "God, it's good to have you back! Welcome home, Nicky. Welcome home." A rough squeeze, and he was gone.
    * * *
     
    Frank watched the reunion with a burning sensation in the pit of his stomach. The guys had a pool going, the odds running three to one that Nick would stay away. But Frank had bet against the odds. Nicky had a soft streak that got him into trouble, got them all into trouble. And Frank didn't think it would be any different this time. Rennie tumbling down the road to disappointment, and Nicky, well, who knew where Nicky would end up? Frank had a feeling about bringing Nick back, and it wasn't a good feeling.
    He thumbed a Tums from the roll in his pocket and sucked it down. Sidling up to Rennie, he drew him aside from a circle of well-wishers. "You think he'll find the kid?"
    Rennie didn't ask who Frank referred to. Together they turned to watch Nick weave through the crowd and disappear out a doorway. "He'll find him."
    Doubtful, Frank shook his head, and Rennie clapped him on the shoulder. "You're an old woman, Frank. You worry too much."
    Frank did worry. But then, he never understood what Rennie saw in Nicky Raine.
    Frank still remembered the day he'd caught Nick and Marty in Rennie's yellow Porsche. He'd hauled the two pipsqueak car thieves into the kitchen, pitching them into hard-backed chairs so he and Rennie could have some fun. Frank got out the Luger-a war souvenir, an antique that wasn't even loaded, though the kids didn't know that-and pressed the gun under Marty's chin.
    "Why'd you try to steal the car?" Marty was blubbering by then, melting into the chair like a blob of butter in the sun, but Nicky... well, Nicky always wanted to be a hero.
    "Leave him alone," Nicky had muttered, and when Frank continued to ram the gun under the other boy's chin, Nick scowled and spoke louder. "Fuck you, man. You want to shoot him? Go ahead, be my guest. But it was my idea, asshole. It was me who did it."
    So Frank gave him his chance, cramming the weapon against Nick's throat. "Okay, big shot, you want to tell me what you think you were doing?" He could see the kid was scared enough to crap his pants, what with the gun shoved in there so tight it cut off his wind. But the boy answered fast enough.
    "I like yellow," he croaked. "It's my favorite color."
    Jesus, Rennie had roared. And repeated what Nicky had said, and roared again. But then, Rennie liked a smart mouth. And he was always crazy weird about having a son.
    After that, reeling in the kid wasn't hard. It was like that story of the gingerbread house. All Rennie had to do was give Nicky a whiff, a taste of what he could have, and he was hooked. What was