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 shipping 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.

"I want all available officers to accompany me tonight on a raid. We are going to the "At Your Mercy Club,"

on Decadent."

"Which role do you play, Sir?" someone called out from the back of the room.

Bryce raised an eyebrow. "We're not going there to play. Although, whatever you choose to do on your own time officer, is your business."

The room erupted into laughter.

Smart gazed up at him now. "With all due respect, Sir," he said snidely, "don't we have to have a pretty good reason to raid a legitimate establishment like the N.M. Club?"

Bryce gave him a chilly smile. Ever since their encounter at his apartment, they kept their exchanges to a minimum. "I a.s.sure you, Captain, I have my reasons. I don't choose to disclose them at the moment."

He nodded.

"Alright," he continued. "I want you to move in on my orders and secure all persons in the establishment and within a one mile radius. You will bring them all into the lobby and keep them there until I give you further orders. Is that clear?"

There was a round of "yes, Sir."

"Alright, all units move out except for unit twelve who will maintain the routine watch."

"That's my unit, Sir." Smart stood up, ready to protest.

"That's right," he said, meeting his gaze.

"I am a senior officer. If anything significant is taking place, then I should be involved," he offered stiffly.

"You are an experienced officer. I need you to hold down the fort while the rest of the patrol is utilized elsewhere."

"But," he said, "one of my immediate subordinates like..."

"Captain, are you questioning my orders?" He cut him off briskly. He had no time for this s.h.i.t.

"No, Sir," he said, his voice as sweet as syrup. "I feel honoured that you have so much confidence in me that you would leave me in your stead."

He laughed. "Bulls.h.i.t," he told him. "But I don't give a s.h.i.t."

Tyler was trembling as the woman zipped him into this skintight leather suit. There were zippers everywhere, down the legs, across the chest, down the length of his b.u.t.tocks. When she put on the mask with only two slits for the eyes and an opening for the nose, and a zip across the mouth, he found it hard to fight the panic.

"Don't worry," she said, patting his shoulder. "Remember that green light is 'Go' and red light is 'Stop'. If it gets too much, yell red light. Now, you've filled out all the information on the form. The Dom knows what it is you want. Are you ready?" she asked him, making sure the wrist and ankle cuffs were secure.

"Yes," he said softly.

She grinned, zipping the mouth closed. "Have a great time," she said, waving at him.

She closed the door. It was dark. He stood there clad in this tight leather thing, bound and gagged, and he wondered if maybe he'd lost his mind. He knew it was safe. He knew nothing would really happen without his permission. But what could he do about it if it did? He sighed, waiting, reminding himself that the idea of being completely at someone else's mercy was the whole point. Still, his stomach twisted into knots as he watched the door.

"So, who are we really looking for, Modem?" Seth inquired as he strapped himself into the craft.

Bryce cast him a glance as he lifted off the landing pad. "Why do you ask that?"

"Come on, Commander. You were very evasive in there," Seth joisted. "I might be green around the edges but I'm not stupid. You got a tip that Modem might be at that place tonight."

"Maybe," he said softly, watching the night sky with his dark eyes.

After that, Seth fell quiet.

When the door clicked open, Tyler gulped some air.

The man was dressed like him, only his zippers were all undone. He was slim, of medium height, and his face was hidden behind a mask that was similar to the one he had on.

"h.e.l.lo, Tyler," he cooed, his voice sounding scratchy, as if he was just getting over a cold. "Waiting for me?"

Tyler nodded, breathing deeply.

"Umm, I've been antic.i.p.ating this moment, the moment when I could finally make you mine. You know that you are my slave."

Tyler took a breath. He nodded again. He was trembling as the man walked around him slowly, running his gaze over him. He waited a second, then moved around in back and tore the zipper down that ran over the middle of his a.s.s. A hand moved inside the suit, roaming over one of the cheeks. "Nice. This is what I want. I want that a.s.s. I plan to f.u.c.k you until you can't walk, you wh.o.r.e."

That didn't sound all that pleasant.