Pride (Living In Sin #1)

Chapter 14

Alec

I regretted this fool hardy venture the moment I stepped through those doors.

At night, the club was a completely unfamiliar creature than at midday. At least it was a creature that seemed to suit Pry down to the ground. Somehow, it pulled off dark and neon remarkably well. It felt like those graffitied walls now pulsed with life rather than just holding the building together. I could also see why the club was doing so well.

It was a Wednesday. The place really shouldn't have been mostly full. But it was. As I surveyed the patrons, trying not to feel sorely out of place, I could see there was an eclectic selection of people around. Contrary to Max's earlier ramblings, there were just as many people in standard bar attire, as well as leather and lace.

That said; the leather and lace certainly drew the eye more. Even in Evette’s tube top and mesh shirt, I felt overdressed. I was glad I'd gone with it, though. No one seemed to bat an eyelid as I walked in a little further, but I still felt more at ease than I had earlier in the day. Actually, having the new job probably helped some. In just a little while, I'd have a steady pay cheque and actually start getting my life in order.

I wanted to stamp out that thought. I'd had hope before and it hadn't ended well. It had ended with me being homeless and on someone else's couch trying to pull shit back together. I didn't need hope. Hope was dangerous when your options were limited. For now, I resolved to take what I could get. If I squirreled away enough when the 'hope' I felt turned into a lie, I would have enough to get me through to my next stop.

Besides, the next thing I needed was food. I had had nothing since the coffee that morning and the hunger was making itself known. I never ate a lot, but that was mostly because of trying to survive. People liked to think unemployment money was more than enough to live on, but it was barely enough to pay my share of the bills. Travel expenses and even making sure I had a handful of 'nice' clothes for job interviews only came by because my body was used to noodles every second day.

Groceries were what my last unemployment cheque would go on before I actually saw money from this job. And until then I had to hope the kitchen didn't mind me pilfering food. Again, I was great at begging, for all the wrong reasons.

Another few steps in and I realised I was being watched. Just a prickle to the back of my neck. Which could have been the hair, really. I don't know how Evette did it, but she convinced me to let her have her way with my hair and makeup. At least I knew I looked good, worthy of the best kink club in the city. But it didn't get rid of the feeling someone was watching me.

That said, it wasn't hard to figure out who it was. There was only one person I knew here, and he had a throne all to himself.

Pry had already left his little stage by the time I found him in the crowd. My limited intuition had been right; his golden eyes were watching me as he made his way across the dance floor. If I didn't already know he was the owner, I would have been certain he had been born to be here. Pry made my leather pants look like they were from the discount bin. He was practically painted into his pants and vest. Not even to mention the warm tanned skin that caught the neon and reflected it back. Pry hadn't bothered with a shirt beneath the vest and it made it look like he was meant to be here.

The pure power he exuded was enough to part the small crowd of dancers on the floor. My mouth went dry, and I fought to get enough moisture to lick my lips. I didn't want to sound like an idiot on my first night. Well, any more like an idiot.

"Mr Bane, I'm glad you made it while the night is still young."

The music was loud enough to cover most of the surrounding conversation, but Pry's voice carried perfectly. It drove me wild that I couldn't really think of a way to respond, so I just swallowed and nodded. Pry laughed as he stepped off the slightly raised floor and stopped in front of me. His hand was warm as he took mine and he tugged me around the club toward the back where the offices were.

Yes. That was right. I was here for my first shift. Not to watch the lights reflect off the leather encased arse of my boss. I took a deep breath as I tried to centre myself before we were stopped just a few steps from the office.

At first glance, I wasn't sure if the guy in front of Pry was supposed to be here. He was short with a head of thick, shaggy black hair, but he was so short and thin I was almost certain he was a kid. Yet he held three beers in his hands expertly, and the way his green eyes glared up at Pry with familiarity said he belonged as much as I did.

"Big brother." The kid sneered the words, and I flinched as his eyes flicked my way. "So you finally got that assistant? When am I getting a new bartender, hmmm?"

"If you need help, you know perfectly well Chef will step up. But you haven't needed help till this very second, have you?"

"I don't need any help," the kid spat back, bristling at the very suggestion. I was just glad that Pry's words drew most of his ire away from me. "It just doesn't seem fair that you get someone to boss around."

Pry sighed, and I was tugged forward, unfortunately.

"Alec, this is my younger brother, part owner and barkeep of Club Midnight, Envy. Vy, this is Alec, our new bookkeeper. And you will behave, brother."

I was reminded again of the dangers of working in a family run business as the two men glared at each other. I ignored whatever was passing between the two of them in favor of stepping forward further and putting out my hand.

Now that I was closer, and the lights weren't as dark, I could see he wasn't really a 'kid', just a shorter and slightly younger man. I couldn't see a lot of family resemblance. Envy was all dark skin and sharp angles compared to the toned strength of his older brother. But I knew better than to pry. Even though it hadn't been actively mentioned, I would still have to interact with the head bartender during my employment. As one of the owners, I'd have to make sure we got along well, or I'd find myself on the streets quicker than I was ready to be.

So I put on my best smile and tried not to shiver as Pry's hand brushed at my back.

"I'm Alec Bane. It's good to meet you, Envy. You have a nice club here, sir."