Part 10 (1/2)
Bryce gazed at him. ”He goes by many. A lot of people know him by Modem.”
”Modem?”
”Yea. It makes sense if you think about it awhile.” You are my eternal love. s.h.i.+t. Why in h.e.l.l had he said that? And he had looked so weird.
”Commander?” Seth said. ”I don't understand.”
”Doesn't matter. Let's move on. We need to comb several other clubs before daylight.”
”Yes, Sir.”
Tyler crawled into bed that night feeling as if he'd run a marathon. He was exhausted. He closed his eyes only to see those fierce red eyes blazing at him. ”I love you, Joey,” a voice whispered. ”Don't be afraid.”
”I'm not afraid,” he said in his head. ”Who are you?”
”You know...you know....” the voice returned, seeming very far away.
Then he was lost in a fog.
They found nothing, but then, Bryce had expected as much.
Landing the craft on the parking s.p.a.ce above Seth Murdock's living quarters, he took off his helmet and rubbed his tired eyes.
Seth looked over at him tentatively. ”You wouldn't want to come in for a drink, would you?”
Bryce blinked at him through the murky light inside the vehicle. Sure, he would love to come inside...for a ...drink... But he wasn't going to. ”I can't. It's late.” Seth looked disappointed, but he didn't say so. ”Well, we'll find that Modem guy next time.”
”Will we?” Bryce asked, raising an eyebrow quizzically.
”Commander?” Seth narrowed his eyes.
Bryce fell quiet. It had been a strange day. Not only had Tyler Rose's comment thrown him for a loop, all his worst suspicions about the drug trade in Ruby City had been confirmed. There was a mole inside the Sky Police.
”Go home, Murdock,” he told him. ”I'll see you later.”
Seth nodded and crawled out of the machine. He raised a hand to him as Donavan lifted off into the predawn.
CASTING OFF SHADOWS
Tyler was angry when he woke. His sleep had been greatly disturbed by these stupid dreams, dreams of Bryce Donovan. And worst, they didn't make any sense. Last night, he was sure that he saw the Commander's eyes glow red. And he knew he had blurted out something quite idiotic before he pa.s.sed out. s.h.i.+t. He'd never a met a man that had that effect on him before.
Anyway today was a new day and he was determined to stop this nonsense. He had to put things into perspective. Fact, Bryce Donavan was gorgeous. Fact, he would love to get down and dirty with him. Fact, it probably wasn't going to happen. Stupidity, he and Bryce had some sort of weird connection that had its origins in another life. Wow. He was losing it.
That morning after dressing, Tyler made his way to the main office. He had promised his grandfather he would take more interest in the company, and if it would get him off his back for awhile, it was worth it. As he walked through the processing plant toward the main administration office, he was thinking that the best thing he could do was stay away from Bryce Donavan. The thought didn't appeal all that much however and he knew he was making false promises to himself. It wasn't the first time he had done that.
Suddenly, he gasped as he felt someone reach out and grab him from behind, pulling him back amongst a pile of s.h.i.+pping boxes. A hand smothered his mouth as another ran down his flank and settled on his b.u.t.tocks.
He struggled, then he heard laughter and he was released.
He turned around to see Ethan standing there, a finger to his lips. ”h.e.l.lo, Tyler.”
”What in h.e.l.l is the matter with you, Ethan? You scared me half to death,” Tyler snapped, none too happy at being ambushed like that.
”I miss you. You said we'd get together again. I was wondering if later today...?” He trailed off, looking hopeful. ”I'm busy today,” Tyler said stiffly, regretting that he had ever engaged Ethan in that little encounter in his bedroom.
Ethan looked hurt. ”When then? You said that I could...”
”I know. I know what I said,” Tyler sighed. ”But now I'm trying to apply myself to the company. Grandfather is on my back. Mother too. I don't have a lot of time, Ethan.”
”So, this is a brush off,” he muttered, looking at the floor.
Tyler tried to hold on to his patience. ”I never promised you anything, Ethan,” he said. ”Now, I have to go.
I'm late already thanks to you.” With that, he quickly walked away.
When he was sitting in the office, looking over the newest files, he felt the guilt creep up onto him. He knew that he hadn't been very nice to Ethan. He had used him, and blown him off. Well, better to hurt him now than later. He'd never make that mistake again.
By the time the lunch hour came, Tyler decided that tonight he was going to go back to that No Mercy Club.
And he was going alone, without Ryan and Pete. He was going to try it once. Maybe it was just the thing he needed to fill this void he'd always had deep inside.
”LOOKING FOR MR. MODEM”
Seth Murdock thought that the Commander looked a little distracted tonight as he walked into the briefing room. He gave each one of them a close inspection, then spoke, his deep hypnotic voice filling every crevice of the room.