TC Stark: Wow! I cannot believe how quickly this story became popular lol Thank you guys! I hadn't thought I would update so soon, but all your support inspired me. My next update will most likely be to Limerence. Maybe I'll do a switch thing every time I update lol Whichever muses take me, huh? Lol I know at first Leyla may seem a little too submissive, but I work it out where this flows really well with the plot. I have it all mapped out and you won't be disappointed! Though, I always take suggestions. Also, this chapter is short than the last. Its really a filler chapter. Next will be very eventful. You'll just have to stay tuned!

Disclaimer: I only own Leyla and my ideas.

Chapter Two

John Daggett had lied. Once his meeting was over with the bulky mercenary, her boss had informed her that she needed to stay and do expense reports and billing letters. Leyla ended up leaving three hours later than her normal work day. Someone else would have protested, since he had promised her an early day; or even left after he had. But, she would never do that.

The only saving grace was that it had been Friday and Leyla wouldn't have work for two days. Not that she did anything on her days off. Every once in a while, Leyla went out for a drink. Not anywhere girls her age would go. Rather a small pub near her home, in the Narrows. A place where she could slink away and not be noticed. Perhaps when she was a young teen she went out with friends, but that life was long gone.

Tonight she decided would be one of those nights. A nice glass of red wine. Enjoyed in the corner before she headed home. The pub was quiet and dark. A few old timers sitting at the bar, wallowing about their sorrows over whiskey. No one ever spoke to her. She would walk in the door and the bartender would place her drink down on the table she usually occupied. She would drink, leave her money on the table, and leave. As if she hadn't even been there.

Leyla sighed while staring down at her glass. John was a man who cared about one thing and one thing only: money. He couldn't see the tragedy in what was happening to Wayne's business. A whole empire left to Bruce in love and hope, destroyed. Her heart broke every time she thought about it. Then again she would never voice this opinion.

"Hello."

The new sound made Leyla jump inwardly, her body tensing in an attempt to suppress her shock. Slowly looking up, she noticed a man standing above her. Far too good looking to be in this bar. What was he doing here? The man who had subtle eyes and a slight scuff. The man who wore a beautifully tailored two piece black suit. The kind of man who never spoke to her, as if they could see John's name etched onto her skin.

"I'm Barsard."

He spoke in a light droll, impossible to figure out his origin and making him seem mysterious. Leyla became nervous. Her mouth tightened and her eyes shifted down. He waited for her to realize he was speaking to her. Looking up, she meekly replied, "I'm Leyla."

"May I sit?"

"I suppose."

Barsard slid next to her. Probably a little too close. She could feel his body. Taking in a large breath, she reached for the wine. He grinned lazily and cooed, "Do I make you nervous?"

Leyla's breath hitched in the back of her throat, as his face buried itself within her hair. The Narrows was a place where rapists and molesters were to be expected. Squeezing her eyes shut, Leyla spoke, "I don't feel comfortable, sir."

"Wait until you meet my boss."

She soon felt the butt of a gun pressed into her stomach. Leyla couldn't help, but let out a light gasp that attracted a few stars from bar patrons. Barsard let out a gutter growl, while turning her face towards him, "Pretend that you're kissing me."

Eyes wide. Kiss? John didn't even kiss her. Though, it seemed she hadn't a say in the matter as the man kissed her. His lips tasted like whiskey and his stubble stabbed her soft face. It was an odd feeling, to be so attached to a man other than John. Oh Gosh, he wouldn't be happy if he found out she had kissed another man. That wasn't allowed.

Barsard soon pulled away, after seeing that the bar patrons had gone back to their drinks. Pressing the gun deeper into her, he quietly sneered, "Now, let's try this again. Come with me."

Leyla bit her lower lip, hesitantly staring down at her stomach. A real gun was pushing into her stomach. The slightest pull of his finger could take her life. Her heart had pretty much stopped. Who was this man? Why did he want to kill her? She should have put some sort of fight up, but she didn't want to upset the situation even more.

The suited man slung his arm around her waist, to make others thing he was taking her home. Once outside, though; he instantly let go. Leyla said nothing as they made their way around the back of the pub. She should have made an attempt to run, but that wouldn't have ended well. He had a gun and from the look in his eyes, he wouldn't hesitate to use it. No, it wasn't her nature to make things difficult for others.

Soon they approached a manhole; Leyla holding her hands in front of her as Barsard removed the cover. Standing up straight, he motioned with his gun, "Get in."

It was then that her eyes darted up wide, "I-In there? That's the sewer."

"I said get in."

Leyla gulped at the coldness in the man's eyes. It wasn't a good moment to be wearing a skirt. With a shaky sigh, the pale woman gingerly bent down the hole. Inwardly she was cringing and trying desperately to hold her breath. It stunk terribly and she was terrified at getting any of the sludge on her clothes.

Barsard had no such concerns as he effortlessly jumped in. He began walking forward, somehow knowing Leyla would follow. It was dark and hard to keep up with the man in front of her. He seemed to not even be concerned with the fact that she was behind him. The sounds of her flats splashing against the watery floor alerting him that she was in tow.

After walking down several flights of stairs and rounding some corners, they approached an area of the sewer she wasn't aware existed. There were men dressed as soldiers everywhere; working on something she wasn't sure of. There were computers everywhere and it certainly looked as if these men were planning something large.

Barsard stopped suddenly, Leyla halting in order to not clumsily bump into him. Her eyes had been fixed on the floor the whole time and she hadn't noticed why they stopped. That was until she looked up and he shifted aside. Once again her breath was caught in the back of her throat, as she noticed a very large figure crouched in the corner.

He was shirtless and as he stood, Leyla noticed every muscle. Every chisel. The way his flesh moved, as if there were a purpose to all of it. She gulped. His triceps were massive and his stomach seemed to be made of steel. All he had done was stand up and the scarred woman felt her knees going week. What would a man like him want with her?

Bane nodded over to Barsard, who instantly turned on his heel and walked away. Leyla feared her heart had stopped beating and she was going to faint right then and there. Her blue eyes fixed on his massive figure calmly near her, his boots hitting the floor heel first. The closer he got, the smaller she felt. Now standing in front of her, she noticed that she was at least five inches shorter than him.

"Welcome, Ms. Carter, so glad you were able to join us."

"H-Hello, M-Mr. Bane."

He held up his large hand and corrected her, "Bane is fine. I did not have time for formal introductions earlier; you are Leyla, correct?"

Oh God, this monster knew her name. In that moment she wanted to curse John for even speaking her name in front of Bane. No, no. She would never curse John. Gulping, she nodded nervously, "Yes."

"How long have you been Daggett's assistant, Leyla?"

Her name on his tongue sent chills down her spine. He spoke her name as if to tell her that at any moment she could be broken. With her name spoken she knew how insignificant she truly was to him. Attempting to steady her breathing, Leyla answered, "F-Four years."

"Interesting," Bane slowly nodded, as he circled around her. His large hands holding his belt, "Now, tell me, why would one work with a man such as Daggett?"

"D-Don't you?"

At this, Bane stopped directly in front of her. His eyes bore into hers and instantly she needed to look down, "Child, I work for no one."

This wasn't good. She knew it. John had been so blind to think he could hire a man like Bane and be the boss. Then again that was the John she knew. He would think this mercenary was for his disposal when in reality, it was the other way around. He would never believe her.

"You never answered my question."

Bane's booming voice alerted Leyla on just how silent it had become. She found that around him she truly had no voice. Sucking in some air, she quietly explained, "He's…all I have."

The arch of the monster's brow told her to continue, gulping, "My mother…passed away when I was ten. My dad…" Leyla took in a deep breath, while closing her eyes for a moment. It had been a long time, "When I was sixteen. John and him were childhood friends…so he became my legal guardian."

Thankfully, he didn't ask for details as he pointed out, "I don't believe what he does falls under the role of a guardian."

Leyla's eyes widened and her heart stopped. How did he know? No one knew. Not wanting to talk about it, explained while wringing her hands together, "I don't want to talk about it."

There was a small pause. Bane was looking at her. Observing her. The way she stood, breathed, and spoke. So submissive. While her posture was straight, her head hung downwards and her hands wrung together nervously. Her feet stood perfectly together, never daring to move. It was clear that she had been trained on how to behave. Whether completely by an event or person or a combination of both.

Finally, he spoke, "Be that as it may, John Daggett's time is running out," He then reached his hand out to pick up her chin. He hadn't done it roughly, but the slightest touch of his massive hand forced her to jerk back. He waited for her eyes to finally pick up, before, "Be forewarned and chose which side you fall on."

Leyla heard the threat and inside instantly panicked. There was no way she could tell John. He wouldn't believe her. He was too arrogant, thinking just because he paid Bane that somehow he owned him. Besides, part of her knew if she did bother to warn her boss that the mercenary would find out. Either way, she was going to die.

"Take Ms. Carter back to the surface, her time is done here." Bane commanded to one of his men, motioning forward with his arm.

Her blue eyes shifted over to where a different man was approaching her. Barsard had appeared by his boss's side, though wouldn't be the one to take her back to the streets. This man didn't even glance her way, rather begun walking with almost the knowledge that she would follow. Somehow she had become completely predictable.

Once Leyla was out of Bane's line of sight, Barsard turned to him, "What are you gonna do?"

It wasn't often that Bane shared his plans with his men. Most of them were disposable and served only one purpose. Many of them failed to meet his standards and the punishment was death. There were always more where they came from. Another testimony of how easily man's mind could be manipulated.

But, Barsard was a different story. He was Bane's right hand man and a most trusted ally. Staring down the way that Leyla left, he simply stated, "How interesting."