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Dr. Peter Kalos is merely doing his job, attending to a critical patient, when he notices signs of abuse. He alerts the police, who arrest the boy's father shortly thereafter. Kalos is unaware that the man being apprehended is a local kingpin named Phil Darso. Darso is a man who believes violence is a way of life, both in business and in personal matters. Darso views Kalos as an obstacle needing to be eliminated before the good doctor can testify against him. Darso reaches out to an infamous assassin nicknamed "The Black Stallion," who can operate stealthily and efficiently. As multiple witnesses have already been eliminated, Kalos has been placed under twenty-four-hour protection by local police as the district attorney wants Darso prosecuted. However, "The Black Stallion" proves to be a formidable adversary to the D.A.'s plans.
The simple act of performing his duty leads the protagonist into a world of danger populated by ruthless gangsters with deep pockets and long memories. The narrative jumps from drama to thriller almost instantly, as the circumstances become dire for Kalos and his family. The story then pivots to the perspective of the chameleon-like assassin dubbed "The Black Stallion"—a meticulous and prolific killer who operates by his own rules. The multiperspective storyline allows for a deeper insight into Kalos, his perspective killer, and other significant characters as the riveting story unfolds. Good Samaritans are in short supply, but Kalos appears to categorically fit this description in this tense, dramatic thriller. While aspects of the book reflect a pie-in-the-sky optimism, the book is ultimately about good versus evil and the possibility of redemption.