This story is about male/male relationships and may contain graphic descriptions of sexual acts between consenting adults. If it is illegal for you to read this story due to your age or residence please stop now.
This is a work of fiction. It may use names of real locations, places and/or people but only to make the story more accessible to its readers. The use of these names in no way implies or is meant to imply anything about the sexuality, personality or behaviour of the actual person named. Please be clear here - THIS IS A WORK OF FICTION.
This story is the sole property of its author and may not be copied in whole or in part or posted on any website without the express written consent of the author. The author wishes to acknowledge and thank the archivist for Nifty for allowing this story to be published here.
Questions/commentary can be sent to "rye_encoke@hotmail.com" Criticism, both good and bad are appreciated, rants and hate mail are forwarded to the senders email provider and deleted.
Authors Notes: Okay a question here to anyone reading. I need a show of hands (well e-mails). Who likes the words of songs included in the story. So say someone is serenaded, do you like the words or just the name of the song. And if you like the words, do you want the names of the songs included at the beginning of the chapter so you can get them loaded up. I like to actually play the songs when they appear in the story but that's prolly just me.
This is a make or break chapter. Things progress rapidly here and you will either decide you love the story or hate it at this point. I hope you all love it.
- Breakfast At Rye's -
"So your name is Rye Encoke?" Bryan giggled.
"I know, I know, but I say my name with the emphasis on the first part so it's not too bad," Rye smiled as the guys laughed over his name.
"Man I'd kill my parents if they did that to me," Bryan said around a mouthful of bagel.
Everyone noticed Rye's eyes tighten and squeeze shut. Jill placed her hand on his arm. He opened his eyes and smiled at her. She went back to her bagel and jam, but kept an eye on Rye.
"Sorry man," Bryan offered but Rye waved it away with a smile.
"Old wound, hurts every now and then but it's over." Changing the subject before anything else could be said he continued, "So you guys should head back to the hotel and pick up some of your stuff if you are gonna be staying with me. Let security know where you're gonna be, give them my phone number and stuff."
The others noticed the abrupt change in subject but went with it, unsure of safe ground. "You sure it's okay for us to stay here?" Nicky asked.
"Sure." Rye answered as he got up to put his plate in the sink. "Besides Mark and I have decided that before we go any further we all have to get to know each other to be sure this is all real. To do that you guys need to be here."
It all sounded so logical but Kian spoke up, "Well I agree we should all get to know each other, but that doesn't mean we have to move in and disrupt your life. I mean we could hang out for the day and go back to the hotel at night or something."
"That wouldn't work," Jill said.
"Why not?" Kian looked at her and his eyes softened and his smile brightened.
"Cuz Rye and Mark want to spend the nights together too. So we are all forced to live together for the next 10 days." Jill said then added in a saucy voice. "Unless the two of them discover they hate each other today."
Mark brought his head up to glare angrily at Jill only to see she had been teasing and he had been caught. He blushed deeply and got up with his empty plate.
"You are too damn cute when you blush Mark," Jill taunted, "You realize it is now my mission in life to make you blush as often as I can."
Mark blushed even deeper as Jill laughed throatily, nobody seemed to notice that Kian's face blushed as well and he closed his eyes as if to capture the moment in his mind.
"Right," Shane broke in trying to save Mark more embarrassment, "What's on for the day?"
"How about a tour of the club," Mark answered, "I didn't really get to see it last night."
"Yeah that would be cool," Bryan chimed in.
"Alright how about Jill takes you guys on the tour. I have a quick errand to run, shouldn't be more than an hour," Rye agreed.
Everyone headed to different sections of the house to get ready for the day. Jill laughed as all five of the guys trooped into the laundry to get dressed.
- Five Guys and A Laundry Room -
"Umm... don't you all feel a little silly all of us standing here waiting for our clothes to warm up?" Bryan asked.
The others looked around and then burst out laughing at the sight they presented.
"I just hate cold clothes," Kian said.
Everone giggled again, til finally Shane spoke up, "Mark I want you to know that we all like Rye a lot, but understand we have to do the investigations."
Mark's smile disappeared and he cast his eyes down but nodded. Shane moved in to hold him in his arms and spoke quietly, although loud enough for everyone to hear.
"Mark you have to realize you are too important to us to not do this. We said this last night, this is about you and Rye and us as friends, Westlife has nothing to do with this, if it's right for you and him and us then Westlife be damned."
"Promise?" Mark asked in a soft voice.
"I promise my boy, we just have to make sure it's safe." Shane stepped back. "We just have to make sure he is not dangerous or after your money."
"He's not, he loves me," Mark said softly but with determiantion in his voice.
Shane nodded. "I believe that too, with all my heart I do. Nobody could see the way he looks at you and not believe that. But what if it turns out he is deep in debt. Wouldn't you rather find that out now instead of later. Now the problem can be dealt with, later it could complicate things between the two of you."
"I guess," Mark did not sound convinced.
"Should we do worse case?" Bryan asked.
"No," Shane said simply, "This is too important for that kind of game." He turned to Mark once again. "Mark please try and understand, I really hate doing this because I like Rye too."
Mark's head came up as Shane said these words.
"Yes I said I like him. How could I not, look what he does for you, to you. How could I not like the man who makes you so happy. But that doesn't erase the fact that we have only known him for a day. A day Mark. A day filled with so many emotions that we have exhausted ourselves. If we were normal people we could just ride this out and let it all play out. But we leave in ten days. And we have to know what is going to happen to you and him and us. And we have to know about him." Shane finished his speech and waited.
Finally Mark spoke up, in a quiet trembling voice he said, "I know you are right, but it feels so much like I am betraying him. I don't want to lose him when I just found him. I love him so much Shane." He threw his arms around Shane again, and Shane shivered involuntarily as Mark echoed the words Rye had said just last night. They had indeed found each other.
The guys all moved in to comfort Mark and each other.
Finally Kian spoke up, "I don't know Rye any better than any of you, but I get the feeling that he understands what we have to do and is going to let us do it. I don't think you could ever lose him Mark. I have seen his eyes too and he loves you Mark. I have a feeling he is going to do most of our work for us, well him and Jill. Isn't she something."
Suddenly the laundry room door opened and Jill looked in.
"Wouldn't the press love this picture, Westlife standing around in boxers holding on to each other in a laundry room. Come on guys Rye's already left and I have some stuff to show you, maybe it will help you."
Jill closed the door and let the guys get dressed. She thought about what she was about to do and wondered if Rye would ever forgive her. She was wearing her frownie face again. Finally she shrugged and thought, "He will forgive me eventually, once he sees it is all for the best."
- Memories Too Painful -
Rye drove in silence to a storage locker on the other side of the city. Not because he wanted to, music would have taken his mind off of what he was about to face, but because Shane had managed to wreck his stereo and he couldn't get it turned on.
Finally after about 10 minutes he pulled up to a storage facility and keyed himself through the gate. He drove to the locker he owned and sat in the car just staring at the big number 27 on the door. Moving as if he was being controlled by someone else he slowly got out and unlocked the door. Opening the door and turning on the light he looked around the room at his past.
His vision blurred and he reached out to steady himself as images flooded his mind.
FLASH
"Mr. Adamson, this is the FBI, we have agents on their way to get you, your family has been kidnapped and are being held hostage. Please do not leave your room or open the door for anyone."
FLASH
"I'm sorry Mr. Adamson we are doing everything we can, but we think it best if you contact your attorneys and arrange for the money transfer."
FLASH
"It's a trap. Lookout he's been shot. Return fire, find the hostages."
FLASH
"Don't move sir, you have been shot but you are in a hospital now and you're safe. Police are guarding you."
"My family?"
Pause
"I'm sorry sir, they're gone."
FLASH
AAAAAAAGGGGGGHHHHHHHH
Rye came back to himself as he realized he was screaming. He shook his head and looked around. Nobody was around, he doubted anyone had heard.
He let go of the door and moved into the locker. He knew what he was looking for. A scrapbook that Jill had made for him, during and after the incident. He kept it here because it was still too painful to have at the loft. Most things in this room were too painful for him to keep at the loft. He grabbed it from a box and turned to leave when his eyes fell on a small stuffed animal. His heart broke as he picked up the bear that used to belong to his little brothers. He sank to the floor and sobbed without restraint. After what seemed like a long time, although Rye had no real idea how long he had been down on the floor, he got back up and put the bear down. He headed for the door and stopped. Turning back he took the bear up again and brought it with him. It seemed like a small step, but for Rye it was a huge leap. He looked one last time into the storage locker and locked it up.
He put the album and the bear gently on the seat beside him and started the drive back to the club. Back to his home. Back to the man he loved.
- The Truth, The Whole Truth, And Nothing But The Truth -
Jill wandered down to the club with the guys after they had finally gotten dressed, something about warm clothes. She keyed into the club and locked up as the last guy came in. She sighed and said, "Okay lets all sit down in the back and I will get some info for ya that may help put some of your fears to rest."
They all trudged back to the table where they were seated last night, glasses still on the table and the wine bottle still open in the bucket. The night staff had either been unsure what to do with the table or had been too tired to clean up last night and left it here. All the other tables were cleared so Jill assumed it was that they had not been sure what to do with the table.
"Shite," Nicky said as he picked up the bottle.
"What's wrong Nicky, you so in need of a drink," Bryan laughed.
"Shut up. You have no clue what this is." Nicky held the bottle up. "This was an eight thousand dollar bottle of wine we left here last night."
The guys laughed at Nicky then seeing he was serious turned to Jill, who just nodded.
"Eight grand, are you insane bringing us a bottle worth three grand?" Shane said.
"It was Rye who offered it," Jill explained nonplussed.
"How can he afford to do that. He closes the restaurant to the public, he brings in extra security, then he gives us a bottle of wine worth eight grand." Shane sits down at the table with a thump then slides over as the rest of the boys join him.
Jill looks at them all and makes her decision. "Sit here for a minute and I will be right back." She takes off into the back but is gone for only a minute or so before coming back with a laptop.
"Alright you guys, I know you have questions about Rye. Some I can answer, some I can't. One of them I know is worrying you is that he may be after your money."
Nobody said anything. Nobody really believed it but it was still a lingering doubt in the back of their minds. It was once again Shane who had to be the bad guy and he nodded his head yes.
"Well I can assure you he isn't. Rye has more money than God." She flipped the laptop open and keyed in a couple of passwords.
"Okay, this is all I can access but it shows the profits for the club in the last 4 years." Jill turned the laptop. The men all looked at the screen and the figures. It didn't seem to make a whole lot of sense to anyone but Shane who pointed at several numbers and punched a couple of keys.
"Is this the annual profits?" he pointed to a number on the screen.
Jill looked at it and nodded her head yes. "Those are the profits. He donates it all to local children's charities."
"He does what?" Mark asked, not sure he understood Jill.
"He donates the profits from the club to local children's groups and charities. So you see he has all kinds of money. He has millions," Jill said simply.
Everyone around the table whistled in appreciation.
"I can tell you he is worth a considerable amount. I just don't have access to any of his personal financial records." Jill said as she looked at the guys who were suddenly looking behind her.
She turned with sudden fear in her eyes and found Rye looking at her with a slightly confused but also amused look in his eyes.
"Rye, I'm sorry but I was just trying..."
He cut her off. "S'okay hon, they need to know some things." He reached out and hit a few buttons and opened up his personal financial file. He turned to the guys and said, "I know you guys need to know this, so the information is there, but it will just raise a few more questions." He paused and a look of sadness entered his eyes and his head dropped as if in resignation. "Questions I can't answer yet, I'm not strong enough."
Jill reached out to take his hand and saw the scrapbook in his hand. "Rye you didn't?"
Rye nodded his head, a single tear running down his face as he set the book in front of Jill.
"I can't do it yet Jill, but they need to know, please do it for me," and with that he turned and left.
- The Truth Will Set Him Free -
Jill was crying softly as she placed her hands on the scrapbook she had created for her best friend so many years ago. The pain was still there though, still there for her who did not have to experience it all. True she was with Rye the whole time but it had not been her family.
"Jill," Kian put his hand on hers, "Are you okay?"
She turned to look at the group, "You have no idea how much you all must mean to him for him to do this. How much he must want for you to be in his life. I can't believe he is doing this for you."
Mark was suddenly afraid, "Is he going to be okay?"
Jill shook her head, "I don't think so, not right away, maybe not for a long time."
"I should go to him," Mark made to get up.
"No," Jill said fiercely, "Not till you know. I am not going to let him do this for nothing. "
She turned to the computer and flicked down to the bottom number on the screen. She turned the laptop so everyone could see it. "That is the estimated net worth of Mr. Rye Encoke."
There was a pause. Everyone blinked. Another pause. They all sorta looked at each other then back at the screen as if to confirm they all saw the same thing. Another really long pause while their minds tried to grasp this revelation.
"How?" Bryan finally asked.
Jill took a deep breath as if to steady herself and reached for the scrapbook. She knew Rye couldn't do this, but she wasn't sure she could either. At the same time she knew she had to, he wanted these men to know and she was the only person who knew the whole story. This was just a small way for her to give back to Rye all that he gave to her. Pay back his love with her own. She would do it for him knowing that it could be the end of him if these men did not accept him afterwards. Looking at Mark, his eyes wide with fear after seeing Rye so upset, she knew that even if the others left Mark would remain and that would be enough.
She opened the book to the first page. There was a picture taken ten years earlier just before Rye left for university. It showed a much younger, but recognizable, Rye and five other people. Jill pointed them out. "His dad Edward, his mom Beth, younger sister Julia, the twin boys Dale and Keith. Rye's last name was Adamson, but he changed it after..."
The guys just nodded wordlessly. The shock at the amount of money Rye had was forgotten as they looked at his life in front of them. All of them were scared to speak, knowing that something horrible was about to unfold in front of them but they were drawn by it all the same.
Jill turned the page and showed pictures of the family growing up. Always with Rye and his brothers, or Rye and his sister. Then came pictures of Rye at school. Rye with friends outside a pub, Rye in a small apartment with Jill.
Jill left the page open for some time. Scared to turn to the next page knowing what was there. Closing her eyes tightly she turned the page and heard Mark gasp.
She opened her eyes and stared down at the newspaper clipping. She didn't need to see it to know what it said.
Multi-Millionaire Edward Adamson and Family Slain
She flipped through the remaining few pages. Clippings showing various stages of the story and negotiations. Clippings talking about the horrendous murders. Stories that guessed at the details of the events but never even coming close to the true horror. Finally Jill started.
"This," she indicated the album, "all started in Rye's second year at university. He was a double major in business and music. We met in his first year and I of course fell for him right away. Luckily right away he told me he was gay. I was devastated of course, I mean he was beautiful, still is, but I quickly realized that I didn't need to be his lover as long as I was his friend. So we became best friends. I teased him constantly about his majors. I mean business and music, how could anyone have such disparate interests. But he did. He was absolutely brilliant in business. But his music put his business talent to shame. People throw the word genius around a lot but in Rye's case it's true. He played classical guitar and composed," Jill spoke around a lump in her throat, "and he used to sing. You've heard his voice when he talks, the way if flows through you and around you, the way it enters your body and touches you somehow, you can't begin to imagine what it does when he sings."
"Well on summer break he took me back to meet the family. That was when he decided to come out to them. It was terrifying him but all for nothing. Like you guys knew about Mark, his family all knew about him. The sister was 16 and the twins were 13. They all knew and nobody cared. That summer was incredible, it passed in a flurry of fun and laughter, and we went back in the fall to university feeling rejuvenated and alive."
Jill once again took a deep breath.
"Then just before Thanksgiving we were sitting in our apartment and the phone rang. He said hello and then there was this long pause. I paid no attention until he sobbed once. I was beside him in an instant but knew that something was seriously wrong. Finally he hung up and just stood there. I was so scared. He had tears falling down his face but he didn't move at all didn't even blink. I was screaming at him by then. There was a knock at the door but I ignored it and just kept screaming his name. Finally someone busted the door in and suddenly there were armed men all around us. They identified themselves as FBI and started to take Rye out. Realizing finally what was happening he screamed out my name and promptly passed out. One of the FBI agents looked at me and asked me to follow them.
"We were led to a van and were surrounded by a couple of dozen agents. They filled me in on what was happening as we drove. Someone had kidnapped Rye's entire family and was holding them for ransom, for 200 million dollars."
Jill stopped and caught her breath for awhile. Nobody moved or made a sound. Mark's head was in his hands and he was crying. Bryan was also crying openly and the other guys were on the verge.
"It took forever to get the money. The kidnappers kept calling and getting more and more upset. But the banks were dragging their feet, and I think the FBI were purposely slowing things down so that they could capture the kidnappers. Finally six days later the money was ready. Rye was supposed to deliver it alone, but of course the FBI would have none of that.
"When they got to the drop, there was a van waiting and Rye started to walk with the 2 suitcases of money. As the door to the van opened the snipers realized there were only three people in the van and not his family as was supposed to be. Some guy stepped out and shot Rye. Rye fell to the ground bleeding and the snipers took out the three guys in the van.
"Rye was unconcious for a week. It was pretty bad. In that week they finally found his family. They had been dead for some time. The FBI figured they had all died within the first two or three days. They didn't die easily and the kidnappers had filmed it all.
"Apparently the kidnappers had tied them all up and then took turns raping his sister while his brothers and parents watched. Then they killed her in front of the family. Then they started on the twins. They tortured and raped the twins for almost an entire day before killing them. When they were dead, they killed his parents."
Shane let out a moan as he placed his head on his hands on the table. Bryan had his head back against the chair and had both his arms across his face, everyone was crying freely by this time.
"When Rye finally woke up he already knew they were dead. Nobody had told him but he knew. I could see it in his eyes. His eyes which had been so full of life that they would sparkle with an inner light were now dead and lifeless. My heart broke and for the first time in my life I felt real fear. I knew he was going to try to kill himself.
"The first time was in the hospital. He had managed to steal some pills off of a tray. Luckily most of them were pretty mild. He did manage to sedate himself for a few days but that was about it.
"When he woke up he was restrained and he freaked out and started to scream. I think he thought he was kidnapped. I don't know, maybe he was just upset because he was still alive. His eyes were so sad and filled with anguish and loss and despair. They sedated him again. It went like that for a few weeks. Finally he was stable enough to remove the restraints. He had months of therapy and things seemed to be getting back to normal. He had moved back in with me and we were planning to go back to school. We went out and danced at clubs. He would get sad every now and then but it would pass. I thought everything was okay.
"A week before school started I got a call at the pub where I was working and was told that Rye was at hospital. He had driven his car into the river, apparently by accident. I raced to the hospital to find them releasing him. He was okay, well at least physically okay. I knew what had happened but let on like I didn't. Until we got home. Then I told him straight out, if he was going to keep trying to kill himself then he had to leave and our friendship was over. I told him he was no better than those kidnappers, trying to kill himself in front of me, how did he think that would make me feel. I finally got through to him and he broke down. We didn't go to school that year. But I finally had my Rye back. He wasn't totally there yet and he had given up his music. The sparkle in his eyes wasn't back, but for the most part things were back to normal."
Minutes passed by as the guys digested this information. Finally Shane, his voice raw and broken, pointed at the laptop. "So this is... "
Jill nodded, "The family fortune multiplied like a hundred times because, like I said, Rye is brilliant."
"A hundred times?" Bryan asked as he looked at the laptop again.
Shane clued in and pointed at the number, "There's no decimal point there my boy, those are all commas."
Bryan's eyes widened as the other guys looked again to confirm the astronomical number.
What Shane did not point out was the small 'k' at the end of the stream of numbers. "No he certainly isn't after our money," he thought to himself.
Mark spoke softly, "Do we know enough about him now?"
Shane nodded his head and said, "We didn't need to know this much but I think he wanted us to know. He's not taking the chance of letting us make a decision without knowing it all. I didn't know anyone could be this strong. I didn't know anyone's love could be this strong."
"I think you are right Shane. Rye has been keeping his past locked in a storage shed and finally has a reason to open it up. He loves you guys. He is in love with Mark. Rye was never able to be anything less than 100% with people. He has opened himself up to you all. Now it's up to you." Jill turned as she got up with the laptop to return it to her office. "Don't fuck this up guys."
- The Beginning Of A Beautiful Family -
Rye sat on one of the couches and stared out the window into the park below. In his hands he held the bear that had belonged to his brothers. His mind was numb as he stroked the bear. He wasn't thinking about anything. Finally he heard the door key open and footsteps cross the floor. Suddenly the world mattered again as Mark dropped down in front of him into his line of sight and placed his hands on top of the bear Rye was holding.
That was all it took, the dam burst and he began to sob into Mark. Instantly six people were surrounding him and holding him. Rye was so filled with emotion that he didnt know what to do and suddenly he found he couldn't catch his breath. He was crying and he couldn't stop. His breath wouldn't come. He panicked and grabbed the nearest person, which happened to be Nicky. Nicky realized something was wrong and pushed everyone back. Rye didn't sound right and his eyes had gotten very small and it was obvious that he was terrified and having trouble breathing.
"RYE!" Mark screamed.
Jill stepped in and not too gently pushed Mark aside. Moving into Rye's line of sight she stared right into his eyes and said loudly but calmly. "Rye, pay attention. Listen to my voice.
It was no good, panic had taken control. Jill slapped his face hard and tried again. "Rye. Listen to me.
Rye's eyes seemed to focus on Jill. "You are safe. Everything is okay. You just got a little worked up. Now take a breath."
Rye took a shallow breath. "Good. Now another. Good."
Rye had taken a couple of shallow breaths and was completely focused on Jill as she spoke.
"See you're okay. Everyone is here for you. Shane and Nicky and Kian and Bryan and Mark." She continued soothingly.
Rye's eyes flicked briefly to Mark but then right back to Jill.
"That's right, Mark is here. He loves you. We all do. Breathe. Everything is okay. Take a breath. Good. Now try taking a deep breath. Good. Now let it out all the way. Good."
Rye slowly relaxed and after a few minutes started to breathe normally. "Thanks, sorry guys I panicked I guess. I should be okay now." He then promptly passed out.
Jill reacted before anyone else and simply stated. "It's alright guys, panic attack, and the release of all those emotions, he just passed out is all, this has happened before. He will be fine when he wakes up."
"Why don't we go pick up our stuff and get back here before he wakes up," Nicky suggested.
"Sounds good," said Shane.
- Is It Worth It -
Kian and Mark stayed with Jill while the rest of the guys headed back to the hotel. Once in the car and on their way, Bryan cleared his throat.
Shane looked at him and asked, "Whats on your mind my boy?"
"Well," he paused, "Is this all worth it?" he finally blurted.
"All what?" Shane asked.
"All this emotion and turmoil. I mean my God we are supposed to be on break and I feel more exhausted after the last 24 hours than I did after the whole tour."
"That's a shitty thing to say," Nicky answered from the back seat.
"No, no its not," Shane replied, "I can see where Bry is coming from. This has been draining on us all. But I can only give you one answer Bryan."
Bryan looked over and nodded.
"When you said you would give everything up for Mark, did you mean it?"
"Of course"
"Then why are you asking if it's worth it? We are going through this as much for Mark as for Rye. Do you really think if we told Mark to leave he would? Could you be the one to tell Mark that we are not going to be there for the man he loves? Could you stand in front of Rye and Mark and tell them they are too much trouble and we are going to leave them and go back to the hotel?"
Bryan was crying, "No, that's not what I meant at all. I just.."
"I know my boy," Shane said lovingly as he pulled Bryan's head into his shoulder and hugged him, "but that's what we would be doing. Rye is one of us now. He may not be Westlife but he is as much our family as any of us are. And you weren't alone in thinking what you were. It's normal to try and avoid hard times. I thought about it too."
Bryan sat back up and looked at Shane to see if he was lying. Shane merely nodded.
"I did, I thought let's cut our losses and leave. Mark would get over it eventually and we wouldn't have this whole emotional scene to deal with. But then I looked at Mark and knew I just couldn't do it to him. Then I surprised myself and looked at Rye and knew I couldn't do it to him either. I love Rye guys."
The two guys stared at Shane. He loved Rye?
"I love all you guys. I say it all the time to you. I love you Bryan you know that right?"
"Sure I do, I love you too."
"And you Nicky?"
"Of course, and I love you too."
"And I love Rye. It's crazy I know. But Kian told me the other day something that Jill had told him. Some people are just meant to be together. She was talking about Rye and Mark, but I think it's more than that even. I think that Rye is meant to be with all of us. Jill called it one of God's twisted little miracles and I believe her. When I was thinking about possibly just leaving Rye behind, my heart hurt. Not because of what it would do to Mark but because I would be leaving Rye behind. I don't want to do that. I don't think I could even if I tried."
There was a long pause as the two other men in the car took in everything Shane had said. Finally from the back Nicky said, "Until you said it and made me think about it I never realized but.....I feel the same. I try to picture us back on tour or going on with our life without Rye there and I can't. That can't be normal, to feel so strongly for someone after a day, but it's there and I can't deny it."
Bryan nodded, unable to say anything so overcome with emotion.
Finally Shane spoke again. "You know this really could be the end of Westlife." He didn't have to turn to see the looks directed at him. "They are going to be together and they are going to be happy, there is no way I am going to stop that. I don't think I could stop it even if I wanted to and I don't want to. We know management isn't going to let anything interfere with Westlife so it may be up to us to stop management. You know what that would mean."
A long silence. After several minutes Bryan spoke up
"It would be worth it, I would do it." When Shane looked at Bryan there was a light in his eyes. A fire within Bryan had been awoken. Bryan would do whatever it took to keep Mark and Rye together, but also to keep Rye in their lives, and Shane was so proud of him at that moment.
"Me too," said Nicky from the back, "but let's not go looking for trouble. It will find us fast enough I am sure. For now let's just enjoy our time together."
After about five minutes Bryan wondered allowed, "I wonder where he was shot. Ya think he would show me the scar?" He turned to see Shane and Nicky looking at him like he had just sprouted a second head. "What? What? I've just never known anyone who's been shot before and I wondered what it looked like."
The other two guys burst into laughter as they continued to the hotel.
...to be continued