BLOODBOUND

Hey, waitress! I'm ready to order!" a deep voice called out from the counter. Layale's gaze landed on a middle-aged man with a receding hairline and a scruffy beard. He was dressed in a faded denim jacket and a pair of worn jeans, giving off a rough-around-the-edges vibe.

"Sorry about the wait! What can I get for you?" Layale asked, forcing a bright smile onto her face as she hurried over to take his order. The man scanned the menu, his eyes lingering on the breakfast specials. "I'll have the works: eggs, bacon, sausage, pancakes... the whole shebang."

Layale nodded, her pen flying across her notepad as she took down his order. "And to drink?" she asked. " Coffee. Black." As Layale turned to put in his order, the man called out to her again. "Hey, waitress?"

"Yes?" Layale replied, turning back to face him.

"What's your name?" he asked. Layale's smile faltered for a moment before she recovered. "It's Layale." The man nodded, his eyes lingering on her face. "Well, Layale, I'm Jack. Nice to meet you."

Layale's smile felt forced as she replied, "Nice to meet you too, Jack." As she turned to put in his order, Layale couldn't shake off the feeling that Jack was watching her, his eyes boring into her skin. She quickened her pace, eager to get away from the counter and lose herself in the chaos of the diner.

Some time later

Layale's feet ached as she hurried to deliver a tray of steaming hot coffee and pancakes to table seven. The morning rush at Mae's Place was always chaotic, and she had been running non-stop since her shift started. She forced a bright smile onto her face as she set the tray down, trying to hide the exhaustion that had been building up for weeks.

The Smiths, a lovely elderly couple, greeted her with warm smiles. "Good morning, Layale! How's your day going, sweetie?" Mrs. Smith asked, her eyes twinkling with kindness.

Layale's smile faltered for a moment before she recovered. "It's going, Mrs. Smith. Just trying to keep up with the morning rush." She poured coffee into their cups, her movements mechanical.

As she took the college students' order, Layale's mind began to wander. She had been struggling to make ends meet, working double shifts at the diner just to keep a roof over her head. The stress was starting to take a toll on her, and she couldn't help but feel like she was stuck in a rut.

She gazed at Alex, her crush, caught her eye from across the diner where he was busy working on his laptop, and Layale felt a flutter in her chest. He smiled at her before he looked back down at his laptop and she couldn't help but wonder maybe, just maybe, he was interested in asking her out. But as she looked, she couldn't shake off the feeling that she was just a distraction for him, a way to pass the time.

The diner's door swung open, admitting a warm ray of sunlight and a gentle breeze. Layale's gaze drifted toward the entrance, her eyes scanning the crowd. For a moment, she thought she saw someone familiar, but it was just a stranger, lost in the sea of faces.

" Layale the orders ready for table four!" the chef said placing the order on the counter. placing the multiple plates on the tray she soon went back to work. A few hours after most of the day and rush hour had passed Layale was busy pouring a cup of steaming hot coffee, the aroma filling the air as she handed it to Mrs. Jenkins, a regular at the diner. "Here you go, Mrs. Jenkins. Your usual."

Mrs. Jenkins smiled, her eyes twinkling with gratitude. "Thank you, dear. You always know just what I need." As Layale turned to refill the coffee pot, her gaze drifted to the TV mounted in the corner of the diner. The news was on, and the anchor's serious expression caught her attention.

"...another victim has been found in the outskirts of town," the anchor said, her voice somber. "The police have confirmed that the victim, a young woman in her early twenties, had been drained of her blood. This brings the total number of victims to five in the past month."

Layale's eyes widened as she felt a shiver run down her spine. The recent string of murders had been all over the news, and the police seemed to be no closer to catching the killer. The thought sent a wave of unease through the diner, with the patrons exchanging nervous glances.

Mae, the diner's owner, frowned as she watched the news report. "Terrible, just terrible. What's the world coming to?" Layale nodded in agreement, her mind racing with thoughts of the murders. She had always felt safe in Ravenswood ever since she moved here from england, but the recent string of murders had her wondering if that sense of security was just an illusion.

As the news report continued, Layale's attention was diverted by the sound of the diner's door swinging open. She turned to greet the new customer but soon her jaw would drop in shock.

Two men walked in, their presence commanding attention as all the remaining patrons immediately turned and began staring at them. One was a handsome black man with short dreadlocks. His beard and mustache were neatly trimmed, framing his chiseled features. He wore a black leather jacket that accentuated his broad shoulders, and his dark chocolate brown eyes sparkled with warmth.

But it was the other man who made Layale's heart stop. He was breathtakingly, heart-stoppingly, and soul-crushingly handsome. His piercing dark blue eyes seemed to bore into her very soul, as if seeing every secret, every fear, and every desire she had ever had. His dark black hair fell to his shoulders in soft, silky waves, framing his sharp jawline and accentuating his chiseled features. His skin was smooth and unblemished , like polished marble, and his full lips pressed into a thin line.

He wore a black leather jacket that seemed molded to his body, showcasing his lean, muscular physique. His broad shoulders seemed to fill the doorway, and his commanding presence seemed to draw every eye in the diner to him. He exuded an aura of power, of confidence, of raw, unbridled masculinity that seemed to make the very air around him vibrate with energy.

Layale felt her breath catch in her throat as he turned his gaze to her. She felt like she was drowning in the depths of his eyes, like she was being pulled under by a riptide of pure, unadulterated attraction that's she's never felt for anyone before. She couldn't look away, couldn't breathe, couldn't think. All she could do was stand there, frozen, as he walked towards her, his eyes never leaving hers.

The handsome black man flashed a warm smile as he caught Layale's eye. "Hey, beautiful. We'll take a booth, please." Layale's cheeks flushed as she grabbed two menus and led them to a cozy booth by the window. As she took their drink orders, she couldn't help but sneak glances at the devastatingly handsome stranger, who seemed to be watching her with an intensity that made her skin prickle.

Layale struggled to compose herself as she stood before the two men, her eyes fixed on the devastatingly handsome one. She felt like she was drowning in the depths of his eyes, like she was being pulled under by a riptide of pure, unadulterated attraction.

"Uh, welcome to Mae's Place," she stuttered, trying to sound professional. "What can I get for you gentlemen today?"

The handsome black man smiled warmly. "I'll have the steak, rare,." Layale nodded, her eyes flicking to the other man, who was still watching her with an intensity that made her skin prickle. " And you, sir?" she asked, trying to sound calm looking him in the eyes to appear confident.

The man's voice was low and smooth, with a hint of an accent that Layale couldn't quite place. "I'll have the same," he said, his eyes never leaving hers. Layale felt her cheeks flush as she struggled to process his words. There was something about his accent, something that sent shivers down her spine.

The handsome black man chuckled. "I think we'll both have the same, sweetheart," he said, smiling at Layale. "Make that two steaks, rare with some of your regular sides" Layale nodded, feeling a wave of relief wash over her. She couldn't believe how flustered she was around these two men. She took a deep breath and tried to compose herself, but she couldn't shake off the feeling that she was in way over her head.

As Layale stood there, frozen in the intensity of his gaze, she felt like she was suffocating. But then, suddenly, he looked nods before looking away, breaking the spell that had held her captive.

Layale felt a rush of air fill her lungs as she breathed again, her chest rising and falling with a sense of relief. She shook her head, trying to clear the cobwebs, and turned to put in their order. Soon she walked over towards the counter moving out the other waitresses way. " Two rare steaks with our regular sides," she called out to the chef, a gruff but lovable man named Joe.

Joe raised an eyebrow as he looked up from the grill. "Rare steaks are you sure? Most people like 'em medium rare, sweetheart."Layale shrugged, still feeling a little dazed from her encounter with the handsome stranger. "It's what they want, Joe." Joe nodded, his expression skeptical, but he didn't push the issue. "Alright, two rare steaks it is."

As Layale waited for the orders to be prepared another waitress named Mindy slide beside her watching the two men as well. " Who are those two hunks?" she asked. Layale shook her head. " I have no idea" she comments. Mindy purses her lips together " I wonder if either of them have a girlfriend?" she asked. Layale only shrugged in response as she took up the tray with their orders and began walking towards them.

Layale carefully balanced the two plates of rare steak, eggs, and hash browns as she made her way to the booth. She set the plates down in front of the two men, who looked up at her with expressions of anticipation. The handsome black man, who had ordered first, smiled warmly at her. "Thank you, sweetheart." Layale smiled back, feeling a sense of relief that she could finally breathe again. "You're welcome."

The black man's eyes crinkled at the corners as he asked, "What's your name, beautiful?" Layale's cheeks flushed slightly as she replied, "I'm Layale."

The black man's smile broadened. "I'm Zyair, and this is grumpy over here is Kaden." he said. Layale's eyes flicked to the handsome stranger, who was watching her with an intensity that made her skin prickle. She felt a shiver run down her spine as he nodded at her, his eyes never leaving hers.

Zyair's voice broke the spell, and Layale turned back to him. "Thank you, Layale," he said, his voice warm and friendly. "You've been very kind to us." Layale smiled, feeling a sense of gratitude towards Zyair for breaking the tension. "You're welcome," she replied, before turning to leave.

As she walked away, Layale couldn't help but feel like she was being watched. She glanced back over her shoulder, and her eyes met Kaden's. For a moment, they just stared at each other, the air between them crackling with tension as he stared at her he allowed his eyes to trail down her body before he looked up at her his eyes lingering intently at her neck before he looked at breaking the spell once more.

Layale felt a shiver run down her spine as she quickly walked away, trying to compose herself. She was a professional, after all. She couldn't let herself get distracted by a handsome face... no matter how perfect it was.

Layale was wiping down a table with a rag. She was so focused on her task that she didn't notice Zyair walking towards her until he was standing right next to her. "Thank you again, Layale," Zyair said, his voice warm and friendly. "You've been a wonderful hostess."

Layale smiled, feeling a sense of gratitude towards Zyair. "You're welcome," she replied. "It was my pleasure." Zyair reached into his pocket and pulled out a wallet, extracting a few bills. "Here, let me take care of the check," he said, handing her a wad of cash.

Layale's eyes widened as she took the money, counting out the bills. There was a three hundred-dollar bill on top, followed by several twenties. She looked up at Zyair in surprise.

"This is too much," she said, trying to hand him back the excess cash. Zyair smiled and waved his hand. "Keep it," he said. "You deserve it and besides it's my friend who said we should give it to you." he said she immediately looked towards Kaden who was already walking out the dinner without so much as a backwards glance.

Despite his sudden and rude departure Layale felt a surge of gratitude towards Zyair. "Thank you," she said, smiling up at him.. "It was my pleasure," he said. "Take care, Layale." With that, he turned and walked away, leaving Layale feeling stunned and grateful. She watched him go, feeling a sense of wonder at the generosity of strangers.

Later as the last of the customers left, Layale glanced at the clock on the wall. It was 9:00, closing time. She let out a sigh of relief, feeling exhausted but satisfied with the day's work.

She walked over to Mae, who was counting down the register. "Goodnight, Mae," Layale said, smiling. "Thanks for the great day." Mae looked up, her eyes warm with affection. "Anytime, sweetie. You did great today. Get some rest, okay?"

Layale nodded, smiling. She had changed out of her waitress uniform and was now wearing a fitted blue jeans jacket, a pair of dark wash skinny jeans, and a crisp white blouse. Her dark black hair, which was streaked with subtle silver strands, cascaded down her back like a waterfall of night.

Her beautiful amber eyes sparkled with warmth as she smiled at the woman who had given her a chance when no one else did. But as she walked down the sidewalk, shivered, feeling a sudden chill run down her spine. But she didn't see anything out of the ordinary, just the usual deserted streets of Ravenswood.

She quickened her pace desperate to get home. Not noticing the pair of scarlet red eyes were trained on her, their gazes piercing through the darkness as they watched her from atop the dinners roof.