"I'm homeee," Kashi called as the door shut behind her.
She stepped out of her heels and tossed her bag onto the sofa.
Zarri wandered out of the kitchen with a toothbrush in her mouth and a cup of water in one hand. "Velv-cum."
[Welcome.]
Kashi looked at her. The toothbrush, her dishevelled hair and general state of collapse. "Did you stay home gaming all day?"
Zarri nodded. Not even an attempt at denial. Kashi stared at her for another second. Then decided whatever this was had nothing to do with her and headed upstairs.
Zarri turned around and disappeared back into the kitchen.
💜 ~~~~~~~~
Music rolled softly through the speakers as technicians completed the final sound checks.
Neon light spilled across the dance floor in strips of violet and blue. Bottles worth more than cars lined illuminated shelves behind the bars, while private booths curved around the upper levels behind tinted glass.
Club X looked nothing like a place where people disappeared.
That was the point.
From the outside, it was all black glass, gold lighting and impossible exclusivity.
A glowing silver X hung above the entrance, reflected across the polished pavement below. Velvet ropes divided the public queue from the private entrance, while security teams in tailored black suits moved with the quiet efficiency of men who knew exactly how much violence they were authorised to use.
Inside, the main floor was still empty. Alex Sergeyev stood on the upper balcony overlooking the club, one hand resting against the railing while the general manager spoke beside him.
Everything smelled new. Expensive. Untouched. By tomorrow night, none of that would remain.
"The main-floor capacity is confirmed," the manager said, scrolling through his tablet. "General VIP occupies the upper east wing. Private reservations are already at seventy-eight per cent."
Alex glanced down, pushed away from the railing.
"And downstairs?"
The manager's fingers moved across the screen.
"Access control is active. Private lifts will require biometric clearance in addition to membership verification. Every guest assigned to the lower levels has already been screened."
"By whom?"
"Mr Xavier's security division."
Alex's expression eased. They started along the balcony. Below them, workers hurried across the main floor carrying bottles, lighting equipment and boxes of decorative glassware.
None of them paid attention to the black door tucked beneath the western staircase. Most of them had no idea what was behind it.
The manager lowered his voice. "The first private level is ready."
Alex gave a small nod.
The levels beneath Club X had been designed to become whatever the people inside required.
No questions. No records. No morality. A politician wanting to meet a crime boss without appearing on a security camera could do it there.
A cartel representative searching for a new distribution route could negotiate beneath the dance floor while hundreds of people partied overhead.
Drugs changed hands. Weapons changed ownership. Debts were purchased. Secrets were traded. Preferences too vile for respectable society were indulged behind doors that never appeared on the building plans.
Nothing entered Club X without someone knowing.
Nothing left without permission.
The public would know it as the city's newest nightlife obsession. Influencers would fight for tables. Celebrities would post photographs beneath the silver X. Fashion houses would host after-parties there.
People would stand outside for hours just to say they had been allowed in. And beneath their feet, another world would breathe.
Alex's mouth curved faintly. His brilliant idea had finally taken root.
The manager stopped beside another set of glass doors. "We still have one issue."
Alex looked at him. "Speak."
"The accommodations were prepared according to the original numbers, but Harbinger's latest shipment exceeds capacity."
Alex's smile vanished. "By how much?"
"Twenty-three."
He clicked his tongue.
The manager lowered the tablet. "We could move some to the secondary holding site until space opens."
"No." Alex leaned back against the wall. Then paused. "Wait." Somewhere below, the bass shifted. "Red Dragon House is receiving part of the shipment anyway. Let them handle the overflow."
"Yes, sir."
Footsteps approached from the corridor behind them. Unhurried. The manager turned. His posture changed instantly.
Chaos walked through the glass doors dressed in black trousers and a black shirt, his coat hanging open. His pale blue eyes travelled once over the space before settling on Alex.
The manager bowed deeply. "Boss."
Chaos gave him a brief glance.
Alex tilted his head towards the door. "Leave us."
"Yes, of course." The manager bowed again. "I'll take my leave."
Chaos watched him disappear through the doors. Then looked at Alex. "You enjoy frightening the staff."
Alex pushed away from the wall. "They're more efficient frightened."
Chaos walked towards the balcony and looked down at the club. The polished bars, dark booths, the enormous dance floor and the silver X suspended above it all.
Alex joined him. "Well?"
Chaos rested both hands on the railing. "You put in quite the effort."
Alex placed a hand dramatically over his heart. "Was that praise?"
Chaos gave him a flat look.
"Too late." Alex grinned. "I'm keeping it forever."
Chaos ignored him.
"Opening night is ready," Alex continued.
"Invitations?"
"Sent to everyone who matters."
That meant politicians. Judges. Corporate heirs. Mob families. Crime syndicates.
Arms brokers.
Men who funded wars and women who profited from rebuilding what those wars destroyed.
People whose names appeared in newspapers. And people whose real names never appeared anywhere.
Alex reached into his pocket and pulled out a cigarette. He rolled it between his fingers without lighting it. "The people Harbinger sent can be moved here too."
Chaos's gaze shifted towards him. "Some of them."
"We don't have room for all of them. Red Dragon House can take the rest."
"How many are here?"
"More than expected."
Chaos said nothing.
Alex continued. "The ones suited for Club X stay. The rest go to Red Dragon."
Chaos looked down at the empty dance floor again. Tomorrow, it would be packed with people laughing beneath flashing lights.
Glasses raised. Bodies moving.
Money flowing. No one above would know what moved through the lower corridors.
Most would not care even if they did.
"Fine," Chaos said.
Alex glanced at him. "That easy?"
"What were you expecting? A magnificent speech?"
Alex shrugged. "You've been strangely philosophical lately."
Chaos draped an arm around his shoulders. "Have I?"
Alex immediately pulled away. "Very concerning. And way too touchy. I don't swing that way, brother. Ugh."
Chaos rolled his eyes, he was this close to punching him. "I pack quite a lot down there. Want to see?"
Alex recoiled. "Fuck, hell no. I prefer soft bodies and warm clits."
"I'm hotter than the women you sleep with." Chaos said.
Alex looked him over with exaggerated seriousness, he shook his head quickly. "Nope. Not my type."
Chaos turned away. "Separate the allocations tonight."
Alex fell into step beside him. "Already started. You know," he said as they walked, "this place is going to make us an obscene amount of money."
"We already have an obscene amount of money."
Alex grinned. "That is exactly why I want more."
Chaos glanced sideways at him. They reached the private lift. Alex pressed the button. Behind them, Club X glowed beneath unfinished lights.
Waiting.
Tomorrow, the city would call it glamorous.
Exclusive. Dangerous in all the right ways. They would photograph the entrance. Fight over reservations. Beg for membership. And never realise that the real Club X began where the music stopped.
The lift doors opened. Chaos stepped inside.
Alex followed.
"Tomorrow night," Alex said.
Chaos leaned against the mirrored wall. As the doors began to close, his pale eyes lingered on the silver X below. "Tomorrow night."
The doors shut.
And beneath the brightest new club in the city, the darkness waited for business.