~Chapter 1~

KAI'S POV

"Ayo Kai! Looks like those chicks want you over there." Leroy, my boss, called out to me as he pointed to one end of the bar with his eyes.

Putting away the glasses that i had just washed, I turned to look in the direction he showed.

Damn...

I smirked.

"On it." I responded, wiping my hands with a towel and walking over to the four pub-crawlers Leroy showed me, as he chuckled in amusement.

Giving them a polite smile, I greeted them. "Good evening Ladies. What can I get for you this fine evening? First drinks are on the house, so order away."

"Could we get a Glass of Red Wine, two Black Russians and a Gin & Tonic?"

I smiled at the red head who answered me. Not bad.

"Coming right up."

First, I started with the Red Wine. Picking up the Red Wine that was being hand-distilled by our very own Club owner and I poured it into a glass. Handing it over to the brunette who wanted it, I started off with the two Black Russians. First I added my cubes of ice into a mixer. Next, I poured the vodka and coffee liqueur into the shaker and shook it for around 10-15 seconds thoroughly, and me being me, I just Had to do it fancily, and it was worth it. The girls enjoyed the show. After preparing two rock glasses with Ice cubes, I poured the mixture into the glasses equally. After giving it one last stir, I handed them over to the two girls who had ordered them.

Finally, I started off with the Gin & Tonic. Taking out a chilled glass from the cooler, I filled it up with ice cubes. Next, I added in some Pink Gin instead of the usual. Topping it up with some Tonic water, I added in some mint leaves and sliced up a strawberry and added that into the drink before handing it over to the Red Head who ordered the drink for everyone.

"For you, milady." I offered, winking.

Blushing, she thanked me and took the drink from my hand.

Twenty minutes later, after some couple of drinks and heavy flirting with the red head, the girls finally left the bar to go dance as Nelly Furtado's 'Promiscuous' blasted through the speakers, not before the red head - who's name I got to know was Maddison – gave me her number.

For me, this was nothing out of the ordinary. I mean, what else would you expect from a worker in one of the best Night Clubs in the city? We had to have charm and looks to keep the customers coming. It was a requirement for all the employers. Because, let's be honest. People show up at clubs to get wasted under the guise of having a good time, fuck someone to feed their hunger of lust and check out hot people.

If you have any other reason, good for you man but, as far as I have seen, that is what everyone comes here for.

"She got a new chick didn't she?" Gavin, my co-worker grinned and asked no one in particular as his customer left the bar.

I blew out a breath of air.

"Duh. Is that even a question?" replied Mark – another fellow bartender.

Leroy walked back into the bar laughing. "True that. Kai always be getting them chicks and dicks. Seriously though cousin, do be careful. " He patted me on the back and walked over to where Gavin stood cleaning the glasses.

Yes. My boss, the Club Owner, is my little cousin brother. How did I come to work under him? It's just a part time job and I am only working here to help him manage the place, because the bugger clearly CANNOT handle anything by himself and needs his older sister to help him. Nevertheless, at the end of the day, I am very proud of him.

Like all, Leroy started out small, and the support he got from his family was basically... non-existent, save for me and his older brother. Now, 3 years later, his club has managed to get some of the highest ratings from all the Night Clubs in the city. Not to mention, every employer, from the Club Owner to the Restroom attendants are all good looking in some way or the other.

It's not called the 'Heaven n Hell' club for no reason.

Ignoring the bantering of my cousin and coworkers, I clean the bar and serve the occasional dancer with a drink or two.

Since it was a Saturday, it meant it was an all-night shift for me.

I wonder what she is up to. I check the time on my watch. 12. 30 Am. She's definitely still doing some sort of work. Better remind her I won't be coming home today until late.

Just as I typed out the first few words, a loud crash sounds from the center of the dance floor as the music stops. Not seconds later, the blood curling scream of a girl reaches my ear.

"KAI!"

I look at Gavin only to see him horrified and pointing towards the dance floor. As I turn, I see Leroy getting pummeled by some guy.

When did this dumbass get ther – forget it.

Sighing, I throw my phone, along with my apron onto the counter and roll up my shirt sleeves.

"LARRY! CODE TWO! CENTER FLOOR!" I inform one of our club bouncers through my ear piece as I rush towards the commotion.

And here I thought there wouldn't be a fight today. Is it too much to ask for?

Just as Larry arrives at the scene, I 'accidently' get punched by the same guy who was beating my little brother since I tried to get him away.

Everything was silent as I wiped the blood from my split lower lip. Leroy took one look at me and snickered while he too wiped blood from his bleeding nose.

"Oh dude, your fucked." He told the man as Larry helped him up.

"Messing with me is one thing. Messing with my sister? You might as well sign your death warrant."

As I hurled my first punch at the brawny dude, all I could think about was the earful I was gonna get from Aliana when I got home in the morning.

AL'S POV

When she's working at the bar late at night, I bring all of my work into the living room.

Why?

Welllll...

It's not that I lack patience but it really does make me grumpy when she walks around aligning things on our kitchen counter or the couch where I keep my paperwork all the time. She notices how they are messy and all over the place. she comes and interrupts...that lil shit.

So, It was agreed by all the planets that it's best to work in the living room when she's out at work.

I can't win over her when it comes to the unyielding habit of keeping things speck neat.

I found myself glancing at the apartment door...she should be walking to our house right now but it seems like it would be a late night shift for her.

"Hmm..."

There's a beautiful healing in the presence of a silence made within our cozy house when l'm all alone at night. I always start to miss her presence whenever I take a breathe during work. My confusion at the beginning was untangled slowly when I realized that just as I was doing as of now, the hope filled certainty of her returning home and us managing such a household at such an age in this economy was unbelievably dreamy yet so realistic. Therefore I have grown so much attached to her.

But...

"One thirty??"

Hades whimpered at my visible pout which reflected the crystal clear glass wall illuminating the amazing night life of the vast city ahead. I was facing the huge skyscrapers enlivened by yellow lights, distant honks and loud road screeches interrupted my work from time to time.

He knew...we both knew that Kai should be here by now. She would always let me know whenever she would come home late and now I was worried, for I did not get any notification in my phone nor a call.

"I'm so hungry."

Hades huffed and walked around the stool holding me above, near the kitchen counter.

"Exactly! where is she when I need a late night snack?"

I could not concentrate on my work, so I put my pen down and plopped myself on our couch.

"Ahh." It was heavenly.

"I want to cuddle her right now but..."

The couch took me back to our school days when she would hug me during lunch break while I sit on the sink counter in our very large but empty washroom. I would wrap myself around her and she would lean on my thighs.

Kai was warm.

She was warm in a way only I could see it at times.

Her warmth had been engraved as a part of my daily routine ever since we grew close as friends and now I was missing her deeply.

Hades waddled around the living space for one last time as I watched drowsily. He too was missing her I guess. Then I looked at the two little kittens who were already asleep on the arm rest of our couch.

The vague heart beat of the busy night streets and the loud city could not bring back the warmth I so wanted, but I fell asleep with the assurance of seeing her the next morning in perfect shape and zero trouble.

Our house lights dimmed into a mellow cream and I placed the remote down on my abdomen. I heard nothing from Hades...the entire apartment chattered in its own fantasy of a late night dream.

and I...dozed off to sleep, knowing for a fact she was getting beaten up by me no matter how tall she was, hmpf!