The Benton Brotherhood are infamous in our city of Ultrona, smuggling in cheap goods for the poor and stealing everything from the train tracks to the Capital. Unless you worked along side them, the brotherhood remained an enigma, clothed in the shadows of back aisles.

There was one known fact about the Brotherhood: only the desperate sought out the seven men to do business. With a bloodied hand and drunken sister, I was desperate, except my leverage was that they found my sister unbelievably attractive and tended to give her and I special treatment.

Despite their unwillingness to let outsiders into their operation, Matilda had been granted passage into their folds, and I managed to secure my spot in their work at first for the money. Now they were the people I trusted most.

Ethan and I rounded the street corner just as the sun began to touch the horizon. The Benton Capital, named in a mocking fashion towards the Capital City, sat hunched at the end of the road, its boarded lower windows dark from age and dust. The Benton Brotherhood's seven members lived together in their secret headquarters, ignoring the rotting plywood and spider webs.

Ethan jumped up the steps, and they creaked under his weight. I followed, ignoring the pounding in my hand as it trembled. From the outside the house looked deserted, ready to collapse in on itself with one powerful gust of wind. In this part of the neighborhood where homes had keeled over left and right, rats ran the streets like dogs, and curious characters found shelter in storm drains, there were hardly any witnesses to Benton activity.

"Almost there, Kate." Ethan muttered, pounding a fist against the door. "Cayson! Vulcan! Any of ya! Open the door!"

"Password?" A hushed voice muttered from behind the door only moments later.

"We don't have time for passwords, Cayson!" Ethan hissed. "I've got two girls, one unconscious and the other creating the bloody Red Sea on our front porch!"

The door unlocked immediately and I saw Cayson's pale face as he took in the three of us. He looked especially queazy at the sight of my hand. "I can't look!" He groaned and opened the door for us with closed eyes.

"It's not like my hand was severed." I said as Ethan led the way through the door.

"Bodhi! Medic needed!" He called into the house. It was dark inside, a few candles lit here and there. The staircase that rested in the center of the entry hall was covered in shadow. Curtains were drawn over the boarded windows, the inside of the house more alike to a coffin than a home.

I held my hand up, trying to slow the bleeding. "I need something to wrap it up with."

"Sorry, but it won't be my shirt."

"Keep on your clothing. I don't even want to imagine that." I grimaced and Ethan grinned before he went down the hallway to the right of the door. Cayson turned and ran up the stairs still pale faced, calling for Bodhi.

We slipped into the living room where three mismatched couches circled around one massive coffee table covered in maps. The brick fireplace was on, warmth radiating in the dark room. A few photographs hung on the walls, showing faces that I didn't recognize. They were in ornate frames shimmering a soft gold under the rosy light, maybe stolen or traded.

Ethan laid Matilda down on the red couch before turning to me. "We need to stop the bleeding."

"As I've been saying."

"I'm here. What's the problem?" Bodhi walked through the door from the kitchen carrying a container. His eyes widened at my arm. "Mercy, Kate, come here."

"It was just some glass." I replied, following him into the dimly lit kitchen. The counters, floors, and walls were all a faded yellow, once a stark white when new. He nodded to the kitchen island and I pushed myself onto it with one hand, resting my legs over the side. The soft hum of the refrigerator was like static in the background, the sound of Body looking through his supplies drawing me back to thee present.

Bodhi took my cut hand, observing it with his amber eyes. "How did this happen exactly?"

"A broken bottle."

"You fell on it?"

"No, I was holding it."

"You picked up a broken bottle?" He snickered, dimples in his cheeks. "Never thought you were that stupid."

"Ouch." I warned, but Bodhi and I exchanged a smile.

"She was trying to defend herself from Big Nose." Ethan interjected as he entered through the living room. He leaned against the door frame, his eyes closed. "I'm guessing she lost her grip on the bottle while trying to take a swing at his thick head."

"That's about right." I sighed as Bodhi turned to his container. He took out fluffy white gauze and a bottle of rubbing alcohol, poured the clear liquid onto the pad. He brushed dirt off my arm and looked up at me.

"This will sting." He covered my hand with the gauze and I hissed, flinching away from him.

"Hell! It burns!"

"I warned you." Bodhi said. Gently he removed the gauze and tossed it into the trash can in the corner. He leaned forward to take a closer look at my arm, eyes narrowed. " Lucky you, nothing important's been sliced. You won't need stitches."

"Is everything cleaned up?" Ethan asked, stilling holding his eyes shut.

"Everything except the floor. Don't look down." Bodhi chuckled. He wrapped my arm quickly, applying gentle pressure as he went around each time. I felt the soft touch of cold fingers, watching how he furrowed his eyebrows in concentration. With medical tape he sealed his handiwork and let go of my arm.

"Thanks." I examined it as Bodhi stretched his arms over his head.

"What happened?" Malaki entered through the other door that led back to the entry hall, his grey eyes dark and strawberry hair ruffled. He took one look at me and the blood on the floor before holding his breathe.

"Matilda's asleep on the couch." I said, and Malaki released the breath he was holding as the tension in his shoulders dissipated. He nodded to me before walking across the kitchen into the living room.

I glanced at Bodhi. "How's Leighton?"

He ruffled his black hair, his face contorting. "He's in his room." Bodhi leaned down and picked up his container. I swallowed; Leighton hadn't told me that he'd be home today. "I'm done here. Ethan or Malaki can take you two home."

"Is Leighton...?" I felt my heart beat in my chest as I stared at Bodhi, waiting for the words to fall out of his lips. It was agonizing waiting for him to speak.

"He and Vulcan had an argument earlier, so I'd step with caution if you plan on visiting the tiger in his cage." He shrugged, crossing his arms. "I don't think he wants company, but maybe you'll be an exception. Ethan, clean up the floor."

Ethan's eyes shot open. "I can't clean it up! I'll..."

"You're wasting brainpower you don't have!" Bodhi's voice resonated down the hall and I watched Ethan's face shrivel up, lips tightened.

"Damn, I don't even think we have a mop."

I took a hold of the rotten banister, staring upward at the remaining stairs leading to the second floor. Breathe, Kate. It's just Leighton.

I nodded and took a deep breath before continuing up the stairs. It grew darker the further I climbed and I could feel my arms quivering.

Leighton was finally home. He'd been gone on business for nearly two weeks, but now he was back. I smiled to myself before feeling anxiety gnaw at my stomach. Why hasn't he come to see me?

I realized that I'd climbed all the steps, the thought jerking me out of my inner dialogue. I saw the faint outline of his door, illuminated in a thin rectangle of candlelight. He was definitely inside.

Going down the hallway, I felt my heart beat faster with each step. The door grew steadily bigger and the darkness heavier. With my good hand, I knocked on the door, feeling my legs begin to shake every so slightly.

"I want to be alone." Leighton's deep voice made me draw in another breathe. He sounded irritated, but the thought of seeing him in person again made me keep my feet in place.

"It's Kate."

I heard rustling and footsteps before the door creaked open. I swallowed as my eyes rested on tanned skin and a toned stomach. Lucky me...

I looked up slowly, absorbing every curve and each muscle until my eyes came to a halt at his green eyes. Leighton's dirty blonde hair was ruffled and fluffy as though he had been asleep. He bit his lip as he took me in and I watched his jaw flex.

"What happened to your arm?" He leaned in closer to me, a sweet smell of spice filling my nose.

"I was cut by glass at the pub." I shrugged, dropping my gaze to the floor. I couldn't sit and stare at his face or bare chest.

"Who cut you?" He asked and took my wrapped hand, holding it with gentle fingers. I held my breathe when he began drawing patterns along my skin. The feeling made me shiver.

"I did, by accident. Jack..."

"Remind me to beat his ass later. That little shit has been on my nerves for weeks and I've been lenient, until now." Leighton pushed off the door frame and retreated back into his room. I followed, looking around. The room was empty besides his bed, which had blankets and bed sheets tangled together in a giant heap.

"I missed you." I told him as he turned and took a seat on his bed, leaning forward on his elbows.

He gave me a soft grin, making me blush. "I missed you too." White pearly teeth, striking green eyes. It was no wonder the girls liked him, found him handsome. I couldn't help myself from noticing him either.

"When did you get home?" I began.

Leighton's eyes darkened before he shook his head. "Don't talk. Come here."

"What...?" I managed to say because that was all my brain had the capacity for.

"Come here." He repeated, holding out his hands to me. I couldn't move, my legs transforming into stone. Leighton grinned, curling his pointer finger to beckon me to him. My legs unglued themselves as I walked forward slowly, watching him as I moved. He took my hands in his, looking into my eyes. "There we go."

Without warning, he pulled me into his chest, his lips capturing mine. Leighton's mouth silenced my surprise. His arms wrapped around my waist and his hands ran up and down my body, making my knees quiver under his touch.

I felt myself kiss him back and he took what he could grab. I couldn't think; I didn't even feel like I was breathing. He made my brain fail me, my body freeze, and conjured waves of heat that burned my skin.

Leighton began to scoot backwards, coaxing me to follow like I usually did. As soon as I leaned forward to press my lips to his own, his arms latched around me. One of his hands snaked up into my hair while the other held my waist against his body.

He started to push up my shirt. I pulled back, taking a deep breathe as we parted. He panted, his hand staying firmly underneath my shirt on my stomach.

"Leighton, I..."

"I'll go slow. It can be at your pace." He drew circles on my skin with his finger. "I can tell you're a virgin, so I'll..."

I pushed off of him, now on my feet away from his bed. A feeling took over me that I couldn't explain and couldn't name, from a place inside of myself that demanded to be heard. It was hissing inside of me like a rock snake, its tail shaking ready to squeeze the life out of the man who who misstepped.

"This isn't my pace at all, Leighton. It's yours. I didn't think this was..."

"I figured this is what you wanted."

"How could you just figure? Just because I came to see you after you'd been gone for weeks that I'd want to throw myself into your bed?"

"I saw you staring. You looked hungry and so was I. I thought it was win for us both." Leighton said.

"You aren't even my boyfriend!" I groaned.

"People have sex all the time without the strings, Kate." He leaned forward, edging closer to me. "You can't waltz up here into my room looking like you want to eat me and not expect a man to do something about it."

I balled my hands into fists. "Well, unlike you, this stuff actually means shit to me! I came up here to see you because I missed you! I like you, Leighton. I want the strings and everything that comes with it."

Leighton tapped his fingers against his knee before stretching up straight. "Fine. If you need commitment, then let's commit." My heart began to beat fast and hard in my chest. "I'll commit to you if you commit to me. No open ends. No cheating. Just you and me."

"I just want you to want me too," I breathed out, feeling my cheeks begin to heat up again. Something in me ached and I felt as though I were asking all the wrong questions, demanded the wrong things.

"I want you, Kate. But, in physical ways too. If you can't handle it..."

"I can handle it and I want it too." I snapped.

"Then why have you refused now?" Leighton snapped with a stone cold expression. I narrowed my eyes.

"I want to be yours and have faith that you want me as much as I want you before I throw myself at you. I want us to mean something. I don't just want the sex, and I'm afraid that's all you want from me."

"That's not true..." He started but I cut him off.

"Then why were you ok with it just five minutes ago?" I shook my head. "You wanted to sleep with me 'without the strings'. And that was fine for you until I denied you access. Then, you were ready for a relationship."

"I thought it was what you wanted!" Leighton growled, narrowing his eyes. "If you had wanted me, Kate, I would have given myself to you! I was willing to satisfy your needs and be close with you!"

My mouth fell open as my temper began to spike.

"Oh, well don't you deserve an award for being willing to fuck me without the commitment because you thought I wanted it? You hero! What a sacrifice!" I clenched my teeth together, rage filling every chamber of my body. "Leighton, I'm going to find a man who wants me for reasons besides just my body. Who respects me and values me for more than just a hook-up because clearly you don't!"

I turned on my heels, feeling tears brimming up in my eyes as I slammed his door behind me. Dammit, why was I crying? I was supposed to be mad!

You are mad. He broke your heart more than he broke your patience.

I felt the tears run down my cheeks as I came to the stairs, balancing myself against the banister. I wanted him so badly, and I thought that he wanted me too. I dreamt of him kissing me like I was the only woman in the world. I'd daydreamed about us loving each other as equal partners. I had seen myself marrying him one day.

I guess things change, but I couldn't understand why he didn't feel the same about me as I did about him. It was a fact I'd never be able to change, but I'd have moved mountains if for a single moment I saw something in his gaze that was true.

Wiping my eyes, I took a glance back at his door. It was closed just as I had left it. He hadn't even bothered to follow me, to chase me and tell me he was sorry or that he really did love me and wanted me to be his because he couldn't be without me. I felt a lump rise in my throat. I guess that wasn't how he felt.

I was ready to go home. Steadying myself, I patted my face with the edge of my shirt before heading down the stairs towards the living room to get Matilda. I prayed no one would notice that I'd been crying or heard the altercation upstairs.