Chapter Title: Happy Hour

Kevin glanced up from his task, realising he's been wiping the same glass for a good five minutes. He couldn't help being nervous but he hoped it wasn't showing. Walker's plan had failed and Kevin had failed. He'd done exactly as Walker had instructed, planting the drugs somewhere they could be easily found, provided the person knew to look for them. Seeing the flashing lights of the black Mariahs amassed outside Chez Chez, he'd felt only panic when it had been clear that Brendan hadn't been led away in handcuffs. He must have found some way out of it. Kevin had gone back to the bathroom but the toilet tissue holder where he'd planted the drugs was on the floor, it looked like it had been ripped from the wall. He had no idea how Brendan had discovered it but all he knew was this: Brendan was surely going to "come after" him, just as Walker had predicted.

A shadow suddenly fell across Kevin and he gulped, looking up into Brendan's inscrutable gaze.

"Hi," Kevin said lamely, not expecting Brendan to return the greeting.

"There's been a drugs bust. The place was crawling with coppers last night," Brendan leant across the bar, letting his crossed forearms take his weight. The movement made his tight blue shirt strain against his chest. "But you wouldn't know anything about that- would you?"

Kevin shook his head.

"You went home last night? Ate your dinner, watched university challenge, said your prayers? Slept soundly while the sirens went and my club was torn apart?"

Kevin nodded.

"You know what I said when we first met? About that guy who stole from me…?"

"Yeah?"

Brendan straightened up, and turned his head so he was cheek-to-cheek with Kevin. "That applies to guys that frame me, too." He whispered this in Kevin's ear.

Kevin drew back, his fears confirmed- Brendan knew it was him. He hurriedly shook his head. "Look- Brendan- I know it looks bad-"

"You'd better start talking before I smash a bottle over your head." Brendan snapped. There were a number of bottles behind Kevin to choose from, so he immediately started talking, rattling off the first excuse to pop into his head.

"They are my drugs and I did put them here but not to frame you, Brendan, I'd never do that! I was- I've been working with this guy called Wal- Wallis and he told me that the police were onto me so I should hide the drugs somewhere. He- he said for me to hide them here for a few hours and when the coast was clear, to come and get them. He must have been the one to call the police, to frame me! The drugs have my fingerprints on, there's nothing to tie it to you-"

Without warning, Brendan grabbed a handful of Kevin's t-shirt, yanking on it so Kevin was pulled forward, his nose bumping Brendan's cheek. "Don't be naïve, Kevin, drugs found on my property will affect me. You're an idiot. Now- what are we going to do about Wallis?"

The blood drained from Kevin's face. "W-what?"

"He framed you and caused trouble for me. You're a small-time criminal, kid, you don't know anything, you can't deal with him. Give me his number- let me…talk to him."

"I can't- I mean- I don't have his number! He contacts me! Look, let's forget about this, ok, I made a mistake and I'm sorry,"

"Alright. I won't clean up your messes. But if you cause more trouble for me or my business, I will make you wish you could just climb back into mammy's womb, ok?"

Kevin cleared his throat, not daring to speak. He knew his voice would betray him, would show how scared he was. He nodded again and winced when Brendan clapped a hand on his shoulder.

"Good boy. But…there is still the matter of your punishment."

"My- my what?"

"You lied, you took liberties that weren't yours to take- need I go on? I expect, above everything else, obedience in my employees because how else can I trust them? And you don't seem like you even want to be here."

Now that Kevin knew he was off the hook, he was desperate to regain Brady's trust. "I'm sorry, I said I was sorry- I do want to be here!" He could feel his own heart hammering in his chest, looking into Brendan's dark eyes and the fingers of his right hand unconsciously circled the wrist of his left, feeling his panicked pulse flutter with fear.

It was a face-off, Brendan and Kevin, their gazes locked. Kevin didn't dare blink even when he felt his eyes water, not wanting Brendan to read the fear but also the relief at not being found out. A few more tense seconds passed until Brendan's jaw unclenched and he said "Ok," with a nod, turning to go into his office. Kevin collapsed against the bar in relief but then saw Brendan jerk his head to the office door before slipping inside. He wanted Kevin to follow him.

When Kevin entered the room, Brendan had his back to him. Nevertheless, Brendan heard him and responded. "Nice to see you joined me. Kevin, when you said you're sorry- did you mean it?"

It was far easier to speak to Brendan's back. "Yeah. Yes."

"And you'll truly do anything to make it up to me?"

"Of course."

Brendan turned around and in his hands was his belt. His flies were undone. "That's the right answer."

"Brendan- what-"

"Bend over the desk, Kevin, there's a good boy."

"You can't be serious!"

Brendan quickly strode forward, a sudden anger in his eyes. "I AM DEADLY SERIOUS!"

There was something about the way that Brady said deadly that had Kevin hurrying to obey, bending over the desk and glancing anxiously over his shoulder at the older man.

He gasped when he felt Brendan's hands settle on his hips, but they weren't there for long, Brendan's fingers nimbly unzipped Kevin's jeans and dragged them down his thighs. His face was burning from embarrassment but mercifully, Brendan let him keep his pants on. Even with his underpants on, he still had bare flesh on display, and he felt the unmistakeable touch of cool leather trailing down his thighs, Brendan's belt.

"You'll want to find something to hold onto." Brendan's voice sounded amused. Kevin faltered, grabbing a table leg in each hand.

"Boss-"

All he could hear was the sound of the air whooshing as the strap cut through it and then Thwack! The leather hit his skin. First there was coolness, of the air and the leather but then

"Uh!"

a warmth, a hotness, burning, spreading across his skin, he was just glad he had his underwear on-

"Stop making such a fuss."

"I don't like this," Kevin groaned, holding the table legs in a death grip. He heard Brendan snort with laughter and then thwack! Brendan hit him a second time.

Brendan can't have belted him for that long but it felt like forever to Kevin. All he was aware of was each hit, Brendan wasn't using the buckle end thankfully and he wasn't going as hard as he could, but it was still enough to make the Irishman pant from exertion and enough to make Kevin groan or cry out.

It was like sex, he thought, each whip crack of the belt driving Kevin forward on the desk, his panting, and Brendan's low grunts. The worst thing was when Brendan dropped the belt, or rather it flew from his hand and hit the wall in front of Kevin. Kevin automatically bent further over the desk to stretch and retrieve the item, and Brendan leant over his back to get it. Something hard was pressing against his arse and he squirmed, recoiling from what he was sure was Brendan's erection.

"Don't move," Brendan grunted, pulling the belt up. It slithered up Kevin's back with a dry whisper and he shivered.

"I'm sorry, Brendan," Kevin gasped, as Brendan leant back, giving Kevin his own space. "I- I really am, I'm so- I'm so sorry,"

"Alright then." Brendan said.

Kevin yanked his trousers up, his face on fire. "Are we good, boss?"

"Yeah. But don't do it again."

Kevin took the chance he was offered and quickly left. Walker wouldn't be pleased.