Garner working as a waiter at an upscale restaurant with a growing attraction to a man named Alonzo, who always asks to be put in his section for dinner. One night after work, the man is assaulted while trailing Garner. Garner goes to his aid, but is shot for his trouble.<br><br>Taking time off from work to recover, Garner is resting on a park bench when Alonzo suddenly appears at the other end of the bench. Garner never saw him approach. He asks why Alonzo is trailing him.<br><br>After some hesitation, Alonzo explains he wants to recruit Garner to help fight against others who systematically hunt people like himself. Garner isn’t inclined to get involved in anything dangerous, but he does finds Alonzo more and more attractive, so he agrees to consider the idea. As he learns more about Alonzo’s bizarre and dangerous subculture, what Garner really wants to know is whether Alonzo is romantically interested in him at all.

Call to Love

“What do you think?” she said in a quiet but excited voice.


“My—” she jerked her head toward her table, “friends.”


“Oh.” Garner looked at them, and shrugged. To him they now had a slightly ratty quality, but he said nothing.


Vera looked disappointed. “They’re a coven—”


“Sorry,” Garner said, interrupting her. “The manager. He doesn’t like me talking to customers like this.”


“Oh. Okay. I’m just on my way to the little girl’s room.”


She left, and Garner went resolutely to table twelve. The man looked up at him, raising his dark eyebrows.


“Good evening, sir!” Garner said. “It’s pleasant to see you back again. May I get you something to start? A drink, perhaps?” It was pretty much rote, which was good, because even as he spoke, Garner felt confusion begin to clog his brain—due to his close proximity to the man.


The man gave him a brief smile. “Yes, your house red, please, a glass.”


Chapter 3