It actually didn’t go as badly as I feared. Rory listened--after yelling at me for skipping school, of course. I told him everything; I didn’t hold back a bit. When I was done, my voice was getting hoarse. I told him that if he really wanted to keep Tara in the dark and safe, then I had to go stay somewhere where the guys and I could sleep in a salt circle. He agreed I couldn’t do it here. When I explained about Miles, how I was afraid the other guys were being targeted, he understood why I ditched school. He even agreed that I needed to stay with the boys.

It only took 4 hours to convince him.

Asher texted me once, asking if I wanted them to pick up anything. I told them to get a shit ton of salt and a few jewelry-making kits. I got a picture 15 minutes later. It was of Asher pushing a grocery cart loaded with round salt containers and Isaac sitting in the basket, his arms wide. It looked like they bought out the store. It made me laugh, so I showed Rory. Even he smiled.

In the end, he told me I had to check in and ice my back every night. I packed a bag and headed out to the address Miles texted to me.

It was almost dark when I left Rory’s house. I headed east out of town on the highway until I reached the right number in front of a paved road. I turned onto the driveway and followed it. It ran back through the woods, curving here and there. It was a good 5 minutes before I reached the front gate. River-stone walls disappeared to the right and left of the metal gate. What the hell? Was Miles rich? Sure that I was in the wrong place, I reached out and hit the button on the call box. There was a buzz then nothing. I was about to hit it again when the speaker crackled.

“Hey Red, you look good on camera,” Isaac's voice came through the box.

I looked up and found the camera. Then I promptly flipped it off.

He laughed. “Aw, so adorable.”

I rolled my eyes as the gate started moving. When it was open enough, I drove through and continued to follow the driveway.

When I finally saw the house, my mouth actually dropped. The house was enormous. The house stretched out on top of the hill. Three stories of gray stone. Ivy clinging to the walls. The front yard was huge, cleared of trees, with a thick carpet of green grass stretching down the hill. The river stone wall ran around the yard and disappeared from view around the house.

I pulled into the big, circular driveway in front of the door. The other cars told me the guys were already here. This place was massive I really didn’t want to think about the electricity bill for a house this big. I got out of the truck, grabbing my backpack, my clothes bag, and my old sleeping bag. I’d have to come back for the other stuff.

I was walking up to the double front door when it opened. Miles came out followed closely by Asher and Ethan. Miles stepped to the side letting the other guys pass.

“Zeke said there are boxes?” Asher asked.

“In the back of the Blazer,” I told him gratefully.

I watched Miles as I walked towards him. He was barefoot; his collared shirt now unbuttoned showing the white undershirt beneath. His hands were in the pockets of his tan jeans. His eyes were on the ground, his shoulders tense. My stomach knotted. Miles was rather reserved, and here we all were, taking over his house.

“I’m so sorry about this, Miles. I know you’re probably uncomfortable with all of us here,” I began, trying to apologize.

His head came up, and those beautiful, dark green eyes met mine.

“I’m not uncomfortable because you guys are here,” he said, his voice sincere.

The knots in my stomach eased. But I still didn’t understand why he was so tense. I chewed on the corner of my lip, trying to figure it out.

“Is it because I’m a girl? I promise I will keep my hands to myself…. unless I need to smack Ethan, or Zeke, or Isaac…. okay I reserve smacking privileges,” I told him seriously.

Miles gave me a small chuckle and smiled.

“It has nothing to do with you being a girl,” he reassured me as he began shifting his weight from one foot to the other then back again. “I just don’t like being here at the house.”

Surprised, I was about to ask why when Ethan and Asher walked between us. They were arguing about something being fair or not. After they passed, Miles gestured towards the door. I headed inside, and he followed. I stepped into the foyer and froze. The foyer was big; the ceiling was twenty feet high. With exposed dark wooden beams. A large staircase went to the second story in front of me. Paintings lined the staircase all the way up. The whole place screamed classic and beautiful. I wanted to appreciate it, but all I could see was all the expensive, breakable things around the house.

“Miles you're rich, huh?” I asked, still looking around at all the potential collateral damage. When he didn’t answer, I turned to him. Miles' ears had turned pink.

“Well, yes,” he said, his voice uncertain.

I nodded.

“Does your family have a lot of breakable priceless things, like Ming vases? Stuff like that?” I asked, really hoping he’d say no.

His eyes ran over me, his gaze questioning.

“I believe so.” His voice was flat.

I nodded. Shit.

“I think we might want to put anything like that away. We are expecting a ghost to come and be pissed that she can’t reach us, remember?” I said, my smile strained. “We don’t want her to start destroying any priceless heirlooms.”

Miles blinked a couple times then stared at my face for a few heartbeats before he gave me a wide smile.

“That’s a good idea, Lexie.” His eyes were warm on mine, and an odd look crossed his face. It was only there for a couple seconds and then it was gone. He walked away through the open French doors on the left where I could hear the other guys.

“Guys, we have work to do before we eat,” he announced.

It took a little over an hour with all of us working together to hide away all the priceless pieces of art. After we were done, we headed into the kitchen to reheat the Chinese food Asher and Isaac had picked up on their way in.

“You are the best guys ever. I swear,” I managed to say around a mouth full of General Tso's chicken.

The guys thought me talking with my mouth full was cute. They thought it was hilarious when I stole someone's egg roll. Being the only girl in a group of guys had its benefits. Zeke had made a point to put a big helping of stir-fry veggies on my plate. I made a face at him but ate it anyway. I had just thrown a fortune cookie to Asher when Miles pulled out his phone.

“Lexie, Rory says to pick up your phone,” he called across the long table.

I groaned as I got up and walked down the long hall that ran the length of the house. Seriously, this place was huge. I picked up my cell phone in the living room. I was just walking back into the dining room when I read Rory’s text message.

Rory: Send a picture of you with ice packs on your back or you will be grounded for a month after this.

My heart sank. I didn’t bother sitting down.

Alexis: Rory, please don’t make me. The guys don’t even know about my back. I hate the way it makes me feel.

It wasn’t long before I got a text back.

Rory: I’m sorry hon, but you have to. Doctor’s orders. Zeke knows. He’ll help you.

I was still standing behind Isaac’s chair trying to decide if getting grounded for a month was worth it when Zeke pulled out his cell phone and checked it. My stomach knotted as I waited.

Zeke looked up and met my eyes. “Lexie.”

His voice was understanding, but his face was hard. He wasn’t going to let me get out of this. Fucking traitor.

“You know you have to,” he said.

The room grew silent; I shook my head at Zeke telling him I didn’t want to.

His jaw clenched. “Miles, do you have any ice packs?” His eyes never left mine.

I closed my eyes, my face warming.

“Uh, yes. I have a couple in the freezer, but I also keep a lot of frozen veggies around,” Miles answered uncertainly.

I turned around and started walking out of the dining room.

“Lexie,” Zeke called me, his voice hard this time.

I stopped and took a deep breath.

“I’m just changing,” I told him calmly over my shoulder. “I’ll meet you in the living room.”

I walked out, my hands in tight fists. I wanted to hit Rory right now, hell, I wanted to hit Zeke for this. I went to my bag of clothes by the stairs. I knelt down and was pulling out my black sweats and a gray cami for sleeping when Ethan stepped up behind me.

“Lexie, what’s going on?” he asked.

I shook my head too angry to speak. No point, they were going to see everything anyway. I grabbed a hair tie and got to my feet.

Ethan's dark eyes ran over my face, his brow furrowed. “Talk to me.” His smoky voice was low, almost toe curling.

“Physical therapy,” I said through clenched teeth.

I stepped around him and walked down the long hall again towards the bathroom. The guy’s voices came from the kitchen asking Zeke what we were doing with the ice. He told them to ask me. Asshole. I shut and locked the door behind me. I was cursing Zeke and Rory the whole time I was changing. I couldn’t have just kept one fucking thing to myself, could I? Nope, everyone had to know everything. I put my hair back in a loose braid that hit the bottom of my ribs. No point in hiding them now.

It wasn’t really about the boys seeing my back, I knew that. That was just my excuse. I didn’t want to lay there and remember. I didn’t want to answer questions as those memories washed over me, over and over again. I took several deep breaths before I found my calm again. It was a fragile calm, but it was the only kind I had. This was going to happen, and there was nothing I could do about it. Except maybe punch Zeke and take the grounding. No use stalling, Zeke would probably just break down the door anyway, the shit head.

I took a deep breath for calm and opened the bathroom door. My stomach rolled as I walked into the living room. Everyone’s eyes were instantly on me. I crossed my arms over my stomach as my face started to burn. The guys were spread around the room, and everyone but Zeke looked tense. Ethan's face was dark, his eyes never leaving me. I glared at Zeke. He stood by the coffee table where he piled the ice packs and frozen veggies. He gestured to the couch to the right. My hands started shaking. At least this time I’d be comfortable, and Zeke could get a good picture for Rory.

“What’s with the ice? And why does she have physical therapy?” Ethan demanded, his voice low and boiling with its usual smoothness. It would have sent shivers down my back if I wasn’t already breaking out in a cold sweat.

“Someone needs to start talking because she’s as white as snow right now,” Asher demanded, his voice hard.

I took a deep breath and swallowed hard. I kept my eyes on the floor as I walked to the couch. I stepped past Zeke, refusing to look at him. My fists were clenched, aching to take a swing at him for making me do this. I laid face down on the couch, looking toward the back cushions. They all stepped closer. I bit the corner of my lip trying to keep myself from moving.

When they saw my back, I knew it instantly. Curses went around the room. I closed my eyes. My face burned so hot I thought it might actually burn through the leather.

“What the fuck?”

“Son of a-”

“Who the hell did that to you?”

Why didn’t Zeke put the goddamn ice on already?

Someone moved my braid from my back. A towel covered me from neck to butt.

“I want a goddamn answer,” Ethan said quietly, his voice no longer smooth but almost rough. His voice moving as he walked behind the couch.

I felt the ice packs being placed. I wished Zeke would just fucking hurry up. This was a nightmare. My arms started shaking now as he continued to place the packs.

“We all want an answer,” Asher snapped.

Leather squeaked above me. I opened my eyes to see Ethan standing there, his hands gripping the cushions until his knuckles turned white. His dark eyes were storming as Zeke put another ice pack on my back. I closed my eyes again. I curled my fingers until my nails bit into my palms and pressed hard.

“I don’t want to talk about it,” I told them, my voice dead. Another round of curses went up. Zeke put the last pack on. My stomach rolled, chills ran up and down my body. Memories of my mother coming at me poured from the back of my mind. I tried to push them back, but this time they weren't going so easily. I focused on staying still, waiting for him to take the fucking picture.

“Beautiful,” Ethan called his voice scorching but gentle at the same time. “You have to tell us who did this to you.”

“Why?” My voice was deadpan. My stomach stopped rolling, it was like a rock in my belly. Hard and unmoving. She yanked me from my bed, screaming at me. I was feeling it all again. The first hit of the belt, the next and the next. I bit my lip stopping myself from making a sound.

“So we can fucking tear them apart,” Isaac’s voice came from near my head, bringing me back to the present.

“I’m actually on board with that,” Miles' voice came from near my feet.

My breathing was shaky as I realized they were standing there looking down on my back, surrounding me, seeing everything. The memories kept coming along with the memory of what it felt like when she dropped the belt and started punching and kicking me. The bite of the engagement ring my Dad had given her. Her cursing at me because I was a freak, a demon child. I could hear my heartbeat in my ears as I focused on trying to remember where I was.

“Did you take the picture, Zeke?” I asked, my voice weak. Images kept flooding through my mind, over and over. My entire body started shaking. It wouldn’t stop.

“After twenty minutes,” he answered.

I didn’t have fucking twenty minutes of this in me. At that moment I hated Rory, I hated Zeke. I desperately needed everyone to just leave me alone so I could push these memories away. She was pulling my hair again, the hard, thin carpet under my face as I hit the floor.

“How did this happen?” Miles tried asking gently.

“When did this happen?” Isaac chimed in.

They kept going like that until I wanted to scream. I couldn’t stay here like this. I can’t keep listening to them while I felt the sting of the belt over and over. Did they have to keep fucking asking?! Did they have to know about this too?! Can’t I keep one thing to myself?! They already knew everything. Why the hell did they have to have this one too!

I heard the dull thud of fist meeting skin. I felt the hits as she kept swinging into me. I was taking fast, deep breaths as I felt my mom’s foot coming down on my back, again and again. I couldn’t stand it anymore. The questions; the memories. It was too fucking much. I pushed myself off the couch, red hot anger rolling through me.

“Fuck you, fuck you, fuck you, fuck you, and fuck you!” I started out whispering, my voice rising with every word until I was shouting as I got to my feet. My body shook, and I didn't try to hide it.

They backed up a step, all of them surprised.

“Can’t you back the fuck off?” My entire core was rock hard now, my body rigid. I clenched my fists and started storming off toward the foyer, but I turned around after a couple steps. “You know everything about me! Every one of my dark little secrets!” I shouted, unable to control myself anymore. They were seeing too much, finding too much. Eventually, they’d see something they didn’t like, and that would be it. They needed to stop!

“You want to hear all about one of the most horrible events in my life?” I continued, “Like it’s so easy to fucking talk about?” I crossed my trembling arms over my chest and glared at them. “Let’s talk about your horrible life events huh?! Let’s see how easy it is.”

They seemed to not know how to answer, so I got the ball rolling. I glared at Zeke.

“Why does Zeke wake up swinging? Why does Miles hate being in his house? Ethan and Isaac, what are yours? Asher?” I asked them, knowing I wouldn’t get an answer.

When no one volunteered to go, I glared at each of them. “Not so fucking easy, is it? And that’s with you knowing everything about me. Now imagine sharing everything about yourself with someone who asks for everything and tells you nothing.” My voice was shaking now, and I didn’t care. I turned to storm off. A big calloused hand grabbed my arm yanking me to a stop.

“Lexie, you have to-” Zeke began.

My temper sparked, I turned around and shoved against his chest making him back up a step. I was on the edge of my control, and I was doing everything I could to not punch Zeke across the jaw. My eyes started to fill with tears, and I didn’t care.

“I don’t have to do anything!” I shouted as I pushed again, needing to get him away from me.

He backed up again, his arms up, his palms towards me.

I bent down grabbed an ice bag and straightened, tears were running down my face.

“Fuck Rory and fuck you, Zeke, for being on Rory’s side.” I threw the ice pack at him. He caught it against his chest. His face was completely dumbfounded.

“You’re supposed to be my friend, not Rory’s!” My whole body was shaking as I strode away, furious at him.

I stormed through the house until I found the French doors that went out back. I slammed them shut behind me. The huge yard was dark, with small lights around the path and the pool. The cool fall breeze started cooling my body down as I strode across the stone walkway out to the other end of the pool. I walked as far as I could to be away from the guys and not be on the grass. I was fuming, shaking; my gut was feeling like a stone. I sat sideways in one of the wooden lounge chaises near the end of the pool, my back to the house. I looked at the tree line as I tried to calm down. It took a long time.

I couldn’t tell how long I had been sitting out here. At some point, I had pulled my knees against my chest, wrapped my arms around them. It was cold out here, but I wasn’t ready to go back in yet. I had embarrassed myself, completely lost control. I had yelled at all of them, for what? Not telling me about their own trauma? For wanting to know who hurt me so they could tear into them? What the fuck was wrong with me? Of all people, I should know how hard talking about your own crap is. The guys were just being protective and well, guys. They always had to fix things.

I rested my chin against my knees, watching the trees move in the breeze. I wasn’t a problem they could fix. They couldn’t stop the memories from tearing me apart. I wanted to go home, I didn’t want to go back in there and face them.

Oh, wait I can’t go home; we still had Bitch Ghost to deal with. And we had those charms and stones to go over. I should go in. They would still want to know and still ask their questions. Why did I have to fucking lose it in front of them like that?

I was going around and around in circles when a jacket dropped onto my shoulders. I jumped. I looked up in time to watch Miles come around the lounge chair and sit down beside me. He rested his elbows on his knees, leaning forward, his eyes on the tree line.

I put my jacket on, grateful he thought to bring it out. I didn’t know what to say to him after my screaming fit inside. My face burned as I thought about what happened in there. I started trying to figure out what to say to him. But I kept coming up with nothing.

“You’re right,” he simply said, breaking the silence.

Surprised, I looked at his profile. That was so not what I was expecting.

“We do know everything about you, at least the big things,” he said. “And we never told you any of our stuff. We shouldn’t be asking that of you.”

I watched his throat work as he swallowed. “My Dad used to beat my mom in this house.”

A heavy weight settled in my heart. I was such an asshole. He was giving me exactly what I asked for. A horrible life event.

I tried to stop him. “Miles you don’t-”

“Yes, I do,” he said, interrupting me and meeting my eyes.

His sweet face was earnest, determined. His gaze held mine for several heartbeats before he looked out at the trees again. He licked his lips before continuing, his voice quiet.

“My Dad would come home in a rage over something, usually to do with the shipping business. He’d start criticizing my mother, calling her names. He spoke to her in such a horrible way that I can’t even begin to repeat it to you.” He looked down at the stone patio, the muscles in his jaw clenching. “I still have trouble when guys talk to a girl that way.”

He took a deep breath and let it out as he moved on. “He’d have a few drinks and start hitting her. I heard everything, saw everything, every time.”

His hands clenched into fists between his knees. I reached over, took his hand, and wrapped it in mine on the top of his thigh. He sat up his shoulders tense, his hand was stiff in mine. He slowly relaxed and continued.

“I tried to get between them, but he’d just knock me out of the way and keep going. Till finally one day, I bought a video camera. I filmed him beating her. I wanted to take it to the police, but my mother asked me not to. I gave the video to my mother, and she got a lawyer.” He was shaking his head, his mouth a hard line. “I’m pretty sure my mother blackmailed him because he left, he’s working at the offices in New York. But they are still married, and he’s still putting money into her accounts and mine.”

He gestured at the back yard. “I hate living here because I still see my Mother getting beaten. I still hear her screaming for him to stop. All over the house. I usually stay at one of the other guys’ houses, Isaac and Ethan's mom never minds if I come over and stay the night.”

My stomach dropped. And here we were, all staying in this house that was still haunting him.

“We don’t have to stay here, Miles, we can figure something else out,” I offered. We couldn’t stay here if being here was hurting him.

He gave me a small half grin, his warm eyes meeting mine. “It’s easier with other people here.” His thumb started making small circles on the back of one of my knuckles. “You guys keep my mind off it, you distract me.”

I leaned against his arm and rested my head on his shoulder trying to think of a way to make it better. Miles was such a sweet guy; he didn’t deserve to live in a house he hated. But what could I do to make him not hate it so much?

We were quiet for a while.

“Maybe we need to make good memories here for you,” I said, hoping I wasn’t pushing too far. “We can all spend more time over here. Help override the bad with the good. Fill this place with fun, games, laughing, and the occasional food fight.”

He was quiet so long that I was sure I’d overstepped, that I had insulted him or something. I was about to apologize when he finally answered.

“That’s a good idea, Lexie.”

We sat in comfortable silence, listening to the water lap at the edge of the pool. It was my turn, I knew it was. But Miles wasn’t going to push if I didn’t want to talk about it. I took a deep breath for courage, and I began.

“My Dad was a firefighter; he died when I was 12.” I kept my cheek against Miles' shoulder, watching the trees dancing in the breeze. My voice was quiet. “After the funeral, my Mom started drinking. A little at first, then it got worse and worse. Eventually, she lost her nursing job, and we soon lost the house.”

Once I started talking, I couldn’t seem to stop. It was as if I needed to get it all out for once.

“She sold Dad’s new pickup, bought an old trailer, and we left town. We’d go to a new town, she’d get a job waiting tables or something, and she’d do really well for a month or two.”

Miles squeezed my hand. I rubbed my cheek against his hoodie before settling again. Wintergreen filled my nose.

“Then she’d start drinking on the weekends, then at night, then all the time. Over the years, she started doing drugs. A little at first, then that went on just like the drinking. She’d be so wasted she’d lose her job. Since I turned sixteen, I always had to keep a part-time job just to keep us going. Then suddenly she’d decide we needed to move and start over again.” I tried to keep my voice calm, but my voice was cracking. “And it would all start over again. We did that again and again.”

I took a deep shuddering breath; Miles was a warm, soothing presence beside me. I don’t know what it was about him, but something about him made me feel calm.

“I was sleeping in my bed when she came home drunk and high as hell. She yanked me out of bed, screaming that I was a devil child, that I was a demon. She had found one of my dad’s old belts and had it in her hand.” I looked down at Miles hand in mine as I remembered everything again. “She started swinging and swinging. When the buckle broke off, she used her fists, then her feet. She stomped the hell out of me. I didn’t even realize I was screaming until the cops broke in the door and dragged her out.” I looked back out at the trees. “I was taken to the hospital, Rory was called, and he agreed with the social worker to take me in. I took care of the trailer, putting it in a storage yard for her for when she gets out. And I started driving, I got here the next day.” That was it. That was everything.

“Why do you hate having your back iced so much?” he asked, his voice silky soft. It melted away any resistance I had.

“Because I have to lay there, with no distractions, while I remember her coming at me. I feel it all over again,” I told him honestly. “It’s like it’s happening all over again and again while I lay there. For those twenty minutes, I’m in hell.”

Miles leaned his head against mine.

“Lexie, that’s a flashback,” he said, his voice still that silky timber that soothed my ears. “It happens when you’ve experienced trauma.”

I nodded against his shoulder.

“I figured it was something like that,” I admitted quietly.

He squeezed my hand gently, his thumb still making small circles on my skin.

“Does it happen any other time?”

I shook my head, staying quiet.

“Have you told Rory?”

“No.”

“You probably should. He wouldn’t want you to keep getting triggered like that every day.”

“I can usually get through it. It’s just, you guys were asking me those questions,” I explained. “I couldn’t focus on pushing it away, I couldn’t...”

Miles rubbed his cheek against the top of my head. We were quiet for a while.

“How did you know I wasn’t just mad at Zeke for bossing me around?” I asked, getting a big whiff of wintergreen.

“I saw your face when you got up. You weren’t mad, Lexie. You were terrified and trying to get away,” he whispered, his voice understanding. “After I realized what was happening, it wasn’t hard to theorize from there that you were triggered and probably having a flashback.”

We were quiet for a while.

“I’m sorry your mother is the way she is,” he whispered down to me.

I smiled sadly.

“I’m sorry your Dad is an abusive dick.”

He laughed softly.

Small voices came from Miles’ back pocket. Another voice shushed someone else. I lifted my head and narrowed my eyes at Miles.

“Is your cell phone on speaker?” I asked very clearly.

Miles' face was apologetic as his ears turned red.

“It was the only way I could get the others to agree to send only one of us out,” he quickly explained. “They all wanted to come out and talk to you, but Zeke and I thought that would be too much.”

I gaped at him, stunned.

“They were all stressing out,” he continued, “wanting to find out what happened to you. Ethan mentioned shaking it out of you, and Zeke almost slugged him for it.” He shrugged, watching me cringe. “I thought this might be better.”

I looked out at the trees and counted to ten. Strangely, I wasn’t mad; it had been easier to tell one person than all of them at once. And now I didn’t have to repeat myself. But it did irritate the hell out of me.

I let go of Miles' hand and reached behind him. He stiffened as I reached his back pocket and pulled the phone out. Sure enough, it was on speaker to Isaac.

“You guys are such assholes,” I spoke into the phone. “Sending sweet Miles out here to get me to talk. That is so low,” I told them while smiling. “You all suck.”

I pulled back my arm and chucked the phone into the pool.

Miles' mouth was open as he watched it sink.

“Lexie, that was my phone; I love my phone,” he whined, his face pained.

I wrapped my arm around his and rested my chin against his shoulder, watching him watch his phone sink.

“Then you shouldn’t have used it for the others to eavesdrop on us,” I told him simply.

He glanced down to see me smiling against his shoulder.

“You’re rich, you can afford another one.”

He smiled down at me, and we both started laughing.