About Demons Inside
Written by Mike Shade
30 pages / 11000 words
ISBN: 978-1-60370-503-5, 1-60370-503-1
Available file types - html,
lit, pdf, prc
Rye is trying to settle into his latest job, which he likes enough that the thought of moving on again makes him ache. The girls at the club are sweet, the nights go by fast, and for a while, Rye thinks he can forget all of the bad things that have happened to him. When cop Jaime shows up, looking for his sister, Rye is a little worried, thinking someone is after him, but he soon finds out that Jaime is a good guy.
Jaime thinks Rye is hot, fascinating, and a little sad. The guy is certainly scared of something, and it brings out Jaime's protective side. There's just something about Rye that makes him want to keep the man safe. Can he convince Rye that life, and love, are worth coming out of hiding?
Sample
"Jaime!" A happy squeal left Nana and her eyes lit up. The door flew open and he found himself hugged tight, sequins and glitter flying. Before he could say another word, Nana was running for the bar.
He chuckled and made his way slowly back in that direction. Well, he guessed he'd made the right decision. Still, maybe he'd grab a burger from the kitchen, keep an eye on Nana and her brother.
They were still hugging when he rounded the corner, Nana holding her brother tight, tears marring her eye makeup, leaving dark streaks on her cheeks. A wave of jealousy hit him hard and he nearly stumbled. It must be nice, having someone care if you were alive or not.
He sat down at the other end of the bar, and asked Jason for a burger as the kid went toward the kitchen, tray in hand.
The embrace finally ended, Jaime fishing out a handkerchief from his back pocket and wiping Nana's face. They talked for a few minutes, Jaime never letting go of her hand, and then Jason brought his burger out.
Nana laughed and waved Jason down, ordering another burger. She smiled back at Rye. "You made mi hermano here hungry!"
"Nah, it's whatever Rafferty has piped through the air that makes folks buy his overpriced food."
"Come on over. I'll introduce you properly." She grinned, motioning to him and pulling out a barstool. "This is my older brother, Jaime."
He took the man's hand and offered a quick shake and a small smile. "Rye."
"Jaime came all the way from Tucson, just to see me."
Jaime nodded, rolling his eyes. "Came because somebody wouldn't answer her phone and made me come hunting her."
"Sometimes people just don't wanna be found," Rye pointed out evenly. Though he supposed this had worked out pretty good, Nana was obviously happy to see her brother.
"Aiie, don't say that to Jaime. He can find anybody." Nana reached out and patted her brother on the cheek. "He's relentless."
"Can he now?" Just like them. Rye felt his smile freeze a little and he stepped back. "Well I'd better get to my burger and then get back out to the door before I'm fired."
"Hey, only when I'm looking for people who are lost." Jaime grinned over at him. "I'm pretty harmless, otherwise."
He managed a grin back, but it still had him spooked -- a reminder that this wasn't permanent, that sooner or later they'd find him. They always did. They'd find him and take him again, shaking up his world and leaving him broken and scared and... fuck. Maybe it was time to move on again. If he couldn't go even a month in the same place, though...
Rye finished his burger as quickly as he could, ignoring the way his hand was shaking.
Just as he was getting up it hit him; he should have been expecting it, stress always triggered the memories, and for a moment he was in two places at once. In the strip club and in the ship, strapped down so he couldn't move, that sucking thing going down his throat to pull up samples from his stomach, and he couldn't breathe, couldn't breathe at all and he was suffocating and the last thing he was ever going to see were those spooky fucking eyes and it was all going grey.
He tried to stand up, but he was stuck where he was and then everything when blessedly black.