Chapter Three

"Garrison." The gruff voice came from the other end.

"Jonah." I purred into the speaker.

"Amari." The voice became much less gruff and took on an affectionate tone. I had known Jonah for a long time. When I had first met him, he was just your regular street punk with big dreams. He was attractive and driven so it was no surprise that he had amassed such an empire. He had grown older in the time I had known him; he knew what I was too, which made things easier and harder. I didn't want to be around him as much, call me vain if you like, but it was true. Still, we talked often still, and I maintained a friendship with him. If I was in his presence it got weird but if I maintained my distance, we could maintain what we had without complication.

"What do I owe the pleasure, my darling?" he asked me, his aging voice sounding a little more like the boy I had first met.

"Aaron Crews," I said simply and he made a noise.

"That punk. Yeah, I know him. He was caught counting cards. Owes me quite a bit of money, slippery one too. I had to send one of my best guys after him this time."

"Well, Jonah darling, I hate to be a bother, but it seems that will be a problem for me. You see, little Aaron is my brother. What will it take for you to drop this silly hit you have out on him?" I was at first met with silence.

"He is your brother? Hm. Well, of course, if I had known that Amari, I wouldn't have… I would have called you instead. As a favor to you and our friendship, I can drop the hit but, if it's not any trouble, I would still like the money he made back." He told me, giving me a fair offer.

"Of course, Jonah. I will send it to you tomorrow." I told him agreeably. "One more thing while I am at it. Your man, Jaxson?" again I was met with silence.

"Is he okay?" he asked me in a quiet voice.

"Oh, of course. He is sitting right here with me. I just wanted to inform you that I was going to be keeping him for a while." Once more, silence.

"But, Amari, He is my son…" he told me.

"Oh, is he? Well, that explains his striking good looks."

"I… I would rather you send him back to me." I frowned at his reply.

"But, Jonah," I whined at him.

"I... I... I can offer you someone else." I pouted though he couldn't see it.

"But I want this one. I don't want another one." My magic didn't work over the phone, not really unless there was already a connection. I was trying not to pull on it too much given we were friends but damnit I wanted this guy. I couldn't explain it. Sometimes my brain just got stuck on things and I always got what I wanted eventually. I hadn't touched Jaxson in a while, and I could see that some of the glaze had left his eyes. "Do you want to stay Jaxson? Would you rather go home?" I asked him, knowing he wasn't fully under my influence, so if he really didn't want to go, he could easily voice it.

"I want to stay if you want me to stay." He told me and I looked at him for a moment.

"See, Jonah, he wants to stay," I said into the phone. "And just so you know he is lucid. I've let my influence fade, if he didn't want it, he could easily leave."

"You're not going to let this go, are you?" Jonah asked me softly but didn't wait for my reply. "I won't get in your way then. Consider him on loan for now, but the moment he wants to leave, you will let him?"

I scoffed. "Of course. I don't make a habit of keeping human pets, as you well know, I prefer them with me willingly. I want him because he resisted me. He is strong. When he comes back to you, he will be no worse for wear, maybe even better." I told Jonah, meaning every word of it.

"I admit. I am jealous. I remember when it was you and me against the world." He huffed out a sigh. "To be young and desirable again." He said sadly and I leaned into the phone a little, feeling guilty.

"You were always enough, Jonah, but I couldn't sit back and watch you fade, watch your mortality take root. You're still my best friend." I spoke into the phone softly, pushing every ounce of comfort into the words I spoke to him, hoping it would reach him.

I ended the phone call without another word, feeling more than just a little guilty. The night had been way too eventful for my tastes. I couldn't be lucky enough for the night to just be over, oh no, for the second time that evening my father walked into view.

"Sorry to intrude again, angel, but…we need to talk… again…"