Ties That Bind: The Sage Chronicles, #4

By Michael Jerome Johnson

Sage and his best friend, Lucas Tolliver, embark on separate missions that will impact each other, as well as their respective families. They soon discover that their missions intertwine their families in ways they never expected. Meanwhile, a mysterious woman from Sage's past has been hunting for him. Now that she's found him, the world will never be the same.

• Language: English
• Publisher: MJJ
• Release date: Oct 30, 2018
• ISBN: 9781386747611

Michael Jerome Johnson

Michael Jerome Johnson is the author of The Sage Chronicles: Family Matters, Books 1 and 2. He also contributed three pieces to the anthology - Campfire Tales From Hell: Musings on Martial Arts, Survival, Bouncing, and General Thug Stuff." Gods, Created is the first of three novellas featuring characters from The Sage Chronicles. The next two will be released in 2017.

Book preview

Chapter 1

Thanks, again, for doing this, Bro, Tolliver said.

M y pleasure, Tee, I said.

We were standing in line in one of those chain coffee and tea places that had flourished around the city – Coffee, Tea & Sweetbreads, aka CTSB. We had claimed a table next to a wall by putting our small backpacks in the chairs. The table was in the most strategic spot in the shop where we could see the comings and goings of everyone there. CTSB had been expanding throughout the city during the past year. This one, their thirtieth shops, was celebrating its grand opening. A banner floated along the wall behind the counter proclaiming this CTSB as the thirtieth one in the city. Balloons of various colors were tied to the end of each table in the shop. They were tied in a way that didn’t interfere with the customers as they walked about and sat at the tables. Several winged Sprites flitted about teasing and flirting with the customers. They would ruffle the men’s hair, sway, gently, on the women’s dangling earrings, dive into an open purse or backpack and pull out some interesting item that they would ooh and ah over before putting them back where they found them. Some customers were sprinkled with what the Sprites called faery dust, but on close inspection, I saw it was actually glitter. Since this was the Black Elven part of town and there were so many Black Elves in the shop, the Sprites’ magic wouldn’t work around us. Their faery dust would just turn to gray ash and plop to the floor. So they used glitter instead. None of us complained. Two rather bold Sprites flew up to Tolliver and I, took off our caps, gave our baldheads an adorable noogie, and kissed our noses before flitting away to other customers.

Tolliver and I looked at each other.

You blushin’? He asked. I can’t tell with your brown skin.

Yep. I said. So are you.

My pale skin give me away? he asked.

How’d you guess? I said.

We grinned and ordered our treats. Tolliver handed the cashier his CTSB travel mug and ordered a large Vanilla Tango coffee, black, in a CTSB travel mug he’d brought. It was one of CTSB’s signature coffee flavors. The barista who made the coffee told him he could get cream, sugar and honey on the counter behind us.

Thank you, Sweetness, Tolliver said. But I like to savor your flavor straight up. 

He winked at her. She winked back.

I ordered one of their signature tea flavors – Chai Tea Latte, large, no water, extra hot. I also handed the cashier one of their large travel mugs that I’d brought. The first batch was lukewarm, so I smiled and asked her to make it even hotter. The First batch still wasn’t hot enough.

Burn his ass, Sweetness, Tolliver said.

She smiled at him. Then she practically glared at me as she took back my mug a second time. After making the third batch, she poured some of it into a paper cup and handed it to me to taste.

I wanna make sure this is hot enough for you before I pour it into your mug, she said, sweetly.

I took the cup. It was hot.

Oh, yeah. This is definitely hot enough. I said.

I handed the cup back to her and gave her my best smile. She gave me a half smile and poured my order into my mug.

She likes me, I said.

Uh-huh, Tolliver said.

I heard that, the barista said. She gave us both a side-glance.

What’s your name, Sweetness? Tolliver asked.

Sweetness, the barista said.

Well, Sweetness, Tolliver said. He pointed his thumb at me. This here is Knucklehead.

I pointed my thumb at Tolliver.

And this is Lug Nut, I said.

Pleased to meet ya, Lug Nut, Knucklehead. Sweetness placed my mug on the counter and looked at me. Are you always this picky?

Yep, I said. I picked up my mug.

So I should probably remember this order for when you visit in the future?

That would be nice.

Sweetness looked at Tolliver.

Knucklehead. He said.

Uh-huh, Sweetness said.

I flipped open the cap on the top and took a sip.

Heaven, I said.

Next time, I’ll burn your ass, Sweetness said. She smiled at me, winked at Tolliver and was turning away to prepare another order.

You forgot something, Sweetness, I said.

She turned to me, frowning.

What? She said.

I pointed at the counter. She looked. There was a ten-dollar bill on the counter. She looked back at me.

How did you...?

I winked.

She smiled back and gave me a wink.

See ya around, Knucklehead, she said as she slipped the ten into her pocket. She looked at Tolliver. You, too, Lug Nut.

We both smiled and started toward our table.

"A wink and a smile, thankyouverymuch," I said.

First of all, Tolliver said, you’re an old, married fart.

You’re just jealous because you only got a wink.

Secondly, you bribed her.

You have an unfair advantage.

Damn right. But she doesn’t know that.

When we got to our table, there were two twenty-something Pure Human men in our seats. Our bags were on the floor next to our chairs. Tolliver and I stood there watching them. They looked up at us.

Can we help you? One of them said.

Thank you for keeping our seats warm, Tolliver said.

But we’ll take it from here, I said.

What? The other one said.

You’re sitting in our seats, Tolliver said.

What? Said the first man.

Tolliver and I nodded at our bags. They looked at them.

Oh, sorry, said the first one. There was nowhere else to sit.

We’ll be finished in a bit, The First one said.

Without moving, or saying another word, Tolliver and I raised the intensity of our displeasure at the young men. The shop went completely quiet as everyone’s attention shifted to the four of us. The young men realized something was wrong and looked around. Then they looked up at us, and their eyes lit up with fear. 

Don’t just sit there looking stupid, Sweetness said behind us. Get your ass out of their chairs.

The young men stood up, hastily, gathered their drinks and belongings and scurried away from our table, giving us a wide berth. Tolliver and I turned around to see where they would go. They stood in the middle of the shop, frantically looking for a table as far away from us as possible. There were no empty tables anywhere in the shop, nor were there any empty table outside in the front. They looked at Sweetness, who was holding a large plate of various sweetbreads in her hands.

There’s no place to sit. The first one said.

Then I guess you’re doing take-out, Sweetness said.

But...

SCOOT.

The young men scurried to the door.

And, boys, Sweetness said.

They turned to her.

Don’t come back until you learn some manners.

They tripped over each other hurrying out the door.

Tolliver and I sat down at our table. The rest of the customers and staff returned to whatever they were doing. Sweetness came to our table and put the plate of sweetbreads on it.

Compliments of the house, she said.

Tolliver looked at me.

Owner or manager? He said.

Owner, I said. She’s much too badass to be the manager.

Yup, Tolliver said. Besides, her name says it all.

Yup, I said.

We looked at Sweetness.

Co-owner with my brother, she said.

Of the entire chain? I asked.

Yup.

Yo chain be good, Tolliver said.

Thank you, she said.

Thank you for the sweetbreads, Sweetness, I said.

You know my real name isn’t Sweetness.

We know, I said.

But it should be, Tolliver said.

Sweetness laughed heartily. She leaned her hands on the table giving us a good look at her cleavage behind her scoop neck blouse.

Don’t be strangers around here, she said.

We won’t, Tolliver said.

Promise, I said.

Good, Sweetness said. I like having sexy old farts hanging around. Even married ones.

She winked at us.

We smiled.

She smiled back. Then she went back to work.

Chapter 2

Tolliver took out his smart phone, which is so much more than a smart phone, pressed an icon on the screen, and set it on the table. It sent out a low level hum that obscured our conversation from prying ears.

Thanks for not being too mesmerized by her cleavage, Tolliver said.

I admit it was very hard not to stare, I said. She’s not afraid to flaunt her sensuality.

Just like her mother.

Tolliver was quiet for a few moments.

How ya doing? I asked.

It’s hard. Tolliver said. Seeing her all grown up. Not being able to be a part of her life. It’s...hard.

We can trade if you want.

Tolliver shook his head.

No. He said. This is the best plan. I’ll be okay.

Okay, I said. "But if you want to switch at any time,