{this chapter goes into katrina's childhood a little and this is mostly a filler. i was going to go another direction with benny, but decided it wasn't the right timing. so i dont know if i will eventually go back to the idea or not. but anyway, enjoy the gif of katrina and benny}

Once Seth left the parlor, I went back to my place as Sonja takes a shift. Throwing my boots on the carpeted floor, I walk over to the bedside table, turning the television on. As I'm pulling my hair up into a ponytail, I hear the name Gecko coming from the television. My eyes take in the scene displayed on the small box. There's a crash site with a black car turned over with police crawling along the scene, some being interview.

Raising an eyebrow, I know Seth is a long way from being dead considering I was pressed against him over an hour ago. It must be the other Gecko brother, Rickie, Seth refuses to talk about. Switching off the television, I rest my head against one of the pillows.

Mom sets me down on one of the leather couch seats, examining my scraped, bloody knee. All I see is crimson oozing out of the cut, and down the skin. Mom looks at my five-year-old self, pushing hair that is covering my face behind my ear.

"What happened Katrina?" Her thumb caresses my quivering chin.

"Sonja pushed me," I murmur, a loud hiccup escapes.

"I did not," Sonja says. She is standing behind Mom with her arms crossed against her chest. Her eyes narrow as I make eye contact with her.

Mom sends me a soft smile. Her thumb moves from my chin to my cheek, wiping away the fallen tears. "It's okay Katrina. I'm going to go get some things to help take the pain away." She leans forward, her dark hair acting like a curtain as she kisses my forehead.

I watch Mom walk away and up the stairs. My fingers wipe away the snot touching my upper lip and sniffle. My hand rubs against my shorts, and my eyelashes lift a little. Sonja hasn't moved from her spot.

"You're such a tattletale. You're not fun Katrina."

My teeth bite into my bottom lip as my chin begins to quiver once more. "You pushed me Sonja. You're mean."

Her eyes roll, and her arms drop to her side. "It's a scratch. Stop being a cry baby. Now, because of you, we can't go back outside to play."

Sonja walks away just as Mom is coming down the stairs. Mom tries to ask Sonja what happened, but my sister ignores her and continues up the stairs. I hear Mom let out a sigh as she walks over to me, putting a smile on her face. She kneels in front of me once more and holds up a square Band-Aid that's still in the wrapper.

"You're going to be all better in no time."

Mom layers an antibiotic ointment down first before covering the cut with the bandage. Bending my knee still hurts, but seeing my mom smiling lets me know everything will be alright.

"Don't let Sonja get the best of you," Mom says, taking one of my smaller hands into hers. "She may be your older sister, but I know you're the strongest."

Shaking my head, I look down at my lap. "Sonja says I'm a cry baby."

"No, you are not. Everyone cries in moments of weakness, but the strength comes in the aftermath of that weakness."

Something's ringing—and it just keeps going. One of my eyes open to see my cell phone screen flashing with Sonja's picture. Groaning as I stretch out my legs, I grab my phone, accept the call, and bring it to my ear.

"Yes," I mumble to my sister, closing my eyes for a brief second.

"I was just about to go to your place if you didn't answer. Why didn't you answer my last five calls?"

Sitting up, I lean my back against the headboard. "I must've fallen asleep. What do you need?"

"I'm closing the shop early tonight, so you don't have to come in since I figure you're coming in early to finish the passports for that Gecko tomorrow."

"So I have the night off?"

Sonja chuckles on the other line. "That's what I said." There's a moment of silence before my sister makes a gasping sound. "Oh, you got a call from someone that works at that bar you go to all the time. I'm guessing it was that one bartender you go to all the time—Benny I believe his name is."

My other hand not holding the phone rubs at the corners of my eyes to get rid of the dried goop, I start shaking my head. "I'll call the bar. Thanks Sonja."

Disconnecting the call before I can hear if Sonja has anything else to say, I lick my dry lips as I place the phone to my ear after dialing the number to the bar. Running my fingers through my hair, they curl and tug at my scalp as the other line continues to ring. A woman answers the phone, and before she can finish 'how may I help you' I ask for Benny.

"Hi Katrina, Benny already went home for the night. Would you like to leave a message? I'll be sure to give it to him tomorrow when he comes in."

Letting out a sigh, I thank the woman. "It's okay, I'll just head over to his place to see what he wanted to talk about.

Hitting the red circle button, I pocket my phone as I reach for the bottom of the bed where my jacket is.

*****

Parking in Benny's driveway, I exit the car and take a deep breath before approaching the front door. The two wooden steps creak as I step up onto the small patio. Ringing the doorbell, I can hear movement from inside the house. My fingers twist together in front of me the chill in the air cools my skin and causes goose bumps to spread along the exposed skin of my arms and legs.

The aged red door opens, and Benny's eyes widen. He is leaning against the door in a form of support and his eyes look to have bags under them. His usual well-kept beard is now outgrown a little to show he needs to shave.

"My sister informed me you called earlier."

"I just wanted to make sure you were okay after leaving with Seth Gecko."

The corners of my mouth turn up. "As you can see, I'm in one piece." Raising my arms out, I do a swirl for the man.

Benny starts shaking his head, but I can see him biting his cheek to hide a smile. "You're such a smartass. You're taking after me too much."

Resting my palms on the tops of his shoulders, I lean up and place a kiss on his hairy cheek. "You're the best Benny."

He sends me a wink as Benny takes a step back, opening the red door more so I'm able to slip into the small, one-story house. The living room is flooded with flashing lights from whatever is being played on the television, and I notice white containers full of half eaten food—a cheeseburger in one and some fries in the other—on the coffee table with newspaper pages scattered underneath in front of a worn brown lounge chair. The door shuts behind me and Benny motions his hand to the black leather loveseat that has some tearing in one of the cushions from age.

"Would you like anything to drink?"

I shake my head as I sit on the loveseat as Benny goes to his lounge chair. It sways when he plops down. Wrapping my arms around my middle, I stay silent as he shuts off the television and turns on the tall lamp which is next to where Benny is sitting.

"Sorry that I stopped by unannounced. I guess I should've called in case you had any company over."

Benny lets out a long, drawn out sigh as he takes a pop can from the coffee table and takes a drink. The chair groans as he leans back and lifts his legs so his sock covered feet can rest on the messy coffee table. "What's on your mind? Is it that Seth boy?"

Rolling my eyes, I give him a pointed look. "Benny, you're probably only ten years older than him. You shouldn't be referring to anyone as a boy." I start nibbling on the hangnail of my thumb. "I may have kissed him."

He's in the middle of taking a drink from his pop can as I bring up the kiss, and he turns his head so fast that the dark liquid droplets of the pop get lost in his beard. "I'm sorry, I thought you said you made out with a criminal."

"I'm a criminal Benny," I point out.

Taking the back of his hand, he wipes away at his beard. "You haven't murdered anyone Katrina. What you do is in a whole different ballpark than what the Geckos have their fingers dipped into."

"It was a kiss Benny. Nothing more. Don't get all stressed." Getting up from the lounge chair, I walk into the small kitchen. The kitchen is clearer than the living room, but there are empty beer bottles on the counter. "Do you mind if I have a drink?"

My eyes lift as I see Benny enter the room, shaking his head. I can feel his eyes on me as I open the refrigerator and grab a can of beer. Pulling at the tab, it gives way with a loud popping noise.

"It's not nothing," he states. "And you know it."

"He'll be gone in less than a week Benny. There is nothing, and I'm not going to get involved in whatever crap Seth and his partner are in. I'm here with you and Sonja, and that's how things have to be."

"You're a risk taker Katrina, and you're smart. As much as I'd love for you to stay out of danger, that's just not you." He walks closer so he's standing in front of me. "What's worrying you?"

Taking a drink out of the can, the bitter taste washes over my taste buds. "Something's going to go wrong. I just know it." I notice Benny clench his jaw. "You think so too, don't you?"

"If you continue to have an involvement with Seth than I do, but I think Sonja is going to cause something."

Letting out a sigh, I lean back against the counter. "I know she's up to something, but she won't tell me what it is."

"Good," Benny states, his voice raising. "Keep it that way Katrina."

"She's my sister."

He shakes his head, rubbing a hand down his face and then scratching at his beard. "Like I said, you're a risk taker, but don't let that girl bring you down with her."

"Trust me Benny. I'm just riding this out until I find another venture."

"You worry me Katrina. You're giving me premature grey hair."

At just like that, the mood lightens. Smiling, I step forward and wrap my arms around Benny's middle. His hands rest on my back as he returns the gesture.

"I love you Benny. You're the only one I can trust."

{i dont know how i feel about this chapter, but it gives katrina more time with benny before everything starts to unravel with seth. sorry for the long wait, but i was deciding which direction to go with this chapter. can't wait to write the next one. until then, stay tuned}