Life After Dark: Book Two of the Dark Series

Chapter 58

"Is this line secure?" Jason asked with a frown.

"Of course, it is. I called you, remember?" Sonny asked with his signature laugh.

Jason relaxed a little, but a few nagging doubts remained. "Are you sure?"

"Look, man, if you don't want to talk, just say so-"

"No! That's not it... Don't think I'm not happy to hear from you. Actually, I was thinking about calling you, or maybe making another visit. There's some things we need to discuss."

"I thought as much. That's why I called...to see how things were going with you and to see if some changes were to be made. I take it everything worked itself out?" Sonny asked, not bothering to mask the concern he felt for the man he thought of as a younger brother.

"More or less," Jason said with a smile as he remembered the time he'd spent with Keesha. Come to think of it, he thought, the emphasis definitely belonged on the 'more' side of things.

"Mm... You sound like a man who's in love, my friend," said Sonny with laughter in his voice.

"Well, that's cause I am. She's everything I remembered and more," Jason said in all seriousness.

"So, you and Keesha are together?"

"No, not yet, but soon. We're taking it slowly, but I know that in her heart she still loves me. But trusting me... Well, that's something else. Jason Morgan hurt her deeply and I'm trying to prove to her that I'm not him anymore. It's gonna take some time, but I think I know a way I can speed things up."

"Yeah, I'm listening," Sonny said quietly. He had a strong feeling he knew what Jason's line of reasoning was and he thought he'd be ready when the time came. He wasn't, but he was a man and he would take Jason's decision like one.

"I have to leave it all behind, Sonny. I can't do what you did, but I need to find a way to walk away. Do you think you could help me?" Jason asked.

"Whatever you need and in any way I can. How soon do you need me to be there?"

"You're coming here? I wanted you to help me get out, but I didn't expect you to come back. You can't risk your life for me. Not like this," Jason said, his voice filled with anxiety at the thought of anything happening to his best friend.

"Jason, you need me. I don't turn my back on my friends. I got you into the organization and I can get you out, but I can't do it long distance. Trust me. I'll be okay. Now, answer my question, mi amigo. How soon?" Sonny repeated.

Jason wiped his face with his hand. He knew when he was defeated and wouldn't try to fight him anymore. Sonny could be even more stubborn than Jason and resisting him would only drag out the inevitable. Jason smiled and asked, "Is yesterday too soon?"

Sonny laughed and said, "You've got it bad, my friend. Very bad. I'll be there."

~*~

AJ tried to give the plans for the new neo-natal unit his full attention, but he couldn't. His thoughts kept drifting back to a lovely vision in white. The dream he had, refused to be ignored, and he couldn't help but wonder what it meant.

Being a Quartermaine, he wasn't prone to believe in psychic premonitions, but still he wondered. Was the dream a promise of things to come? A honeymoon for him and Keesha, perhaps? A smiled crossed his face at the thought of Keesha, dressed in white, coming down the aisle to him. She had a smile on her face as she gave herself to only him forever and always.

A glance at his watch told him that lunchtime was close at hand. His stomach rumbled softly, reinforcing the idea. AJ normally worked through his lunch hour as his position at ELQ meant a great deal to him. He didn't want the other employees to think he maintained his status because of his last name. He wanted them to know that he was an executive because he earned it. He was proud of his accomplishments, and he didn't mind the extra work.