Loyalty

Loyalty is one of the main themes in Running Scared. There is a tremendous amount of loyalty to family relationships, friendships, and within the organized crime families. One of the first real examples of loyalty is between Mike and Zelma Wynn and their children, particularly Stephen. No matter what was going on in the family or in Mike Wynn's personal business, the husband and father always stayed loyal to the family structure, ensuring that they had the best of everything. Even after Mike's death, the loyalty continued as Steve tried to pay off Mike's debts and clear the slate of favors and monies owed to various people nationwide.

Another example can be seen when Wynn meets Charlie Meyerson. Meyerson becomes somewhat of a mentor to Wynn, partially out of loyalty to the recently deceased Mike Wynn. Meyerson helps Wynn by introducing him to contacts and later by helping...