A 38-year-old Black man, the novel’s protagonist is a complex, multi-layered individual. While he is proud, stubborn, and resolute—so much so that he forces an injured opponent to acknowledge that he did not leave the starting line of a race too soon—Bug is also compassionate and capable of self-examination. The real underlying story is Bug’s struggle to be honest with himself about his true nature and decide what it means for those he loves.

The primary driving force in Bug’s life is the welfare of his family. This fact finds no greater demonstration than in how he spends his share of the heist money. While his accomplices dream of squandering their share on themselves, Bug immediately pays for his mother’s nursing home, his daughter’s college tuition, and $500 perfume for his wife.

The narrative gradually reveals new elements of depth in Bug. He can be deeply introspective, as when he wrestles with a reality of himself: that what he enjoys most is illegal and dangerous. Bug also recognizes that his personality holds layers and elements that no one fully recognizes, as when he acknowledges that everyone, even those who know him best, continually underestimate him.