"No drinking," Zane instructs everyone as he switches off the engine and we climb out of his car.

"Is everyone outside?" I zip up my coat, "do we not go inside?"

"Only VIP inside," Zane chuckles, and winks at me, "don't worry, Sawyer. We get full access."

"Are you cold?" Bailey drapes around me as Zane locks up the Challenger.

"Not yet, but I probably will want to sit down at some point."

"We've got you covered, baby," Bailey kisses my cheek.

There's a bonfire out front surrounded by lots of high school students sipping beer and waving hips to the music playing in the speakers on the front porch. No lights flash around and the music diminishes in the night air, so it doesn't throb in my chest nauseatingly.

The plantation house isn't as big as Zane's glass mansion, but it's at least two of my houses smooshed together. The barn out behind is pulsing with rainbow neon lights where a lot of the dancing is taking place with harder music. Students are everywhere, but I don't see anyone I recognize from Pilot Rock Senior High.

"I don't see anyone I know..."

"Me neither," Bailey shrugs, "but it's mostly Fox High School kids and only some of us. I think some others from like Bishop Kelly Academy and Centennial High."

That's surprising.

"Bishop Kelly Academy?" That's where a lot of the rich kids attend before they go to colleges like Carnegie Mellon, Notre Dame, or Berkeley.

"Zane's parents wanted to send him there, but he refused. Said he would shine better in a bigger pond, and he's second in our class," Bailey treks after Zane and Riette toward the bonfire.

The four of us stand around, trying to warm up in the cool night autumn air. Suddenly, Connor appears holding a red solo cup that only smells like Coke. He immediately starts whispering with Riette, and they shift off to the side.

Mallory is across the way, also drinking out of a red solo cup. Black hair is thrown into a high pony and dangles to her shoulders in ringlets. She has on way too much makeup, but it looks flawless with her fancy, bedazzled jeans, bright red cowgirl boots and the matching red leather coat.

A guy is draped around her from behind when she spots me. Lips are painted in red lipsticks and she smiles wide, waving to me. The guy straightens up and follows her around the licking flames.

"It's fucking Memphis," Zane grimaces, "are you fucking kidding me? I thought she was your friend, Sawyer."

"She doesn't know," I mutter to him and turn to Bailey, "she doesn't know what happened..."

Bailey's hand on my arm tightens, "I am still going to fuck him up, baby... Z, he's mine."

"Not if I get to him first," Zane growls, balling hands into fists.

"Hey girly," Mallory peels me out of Bailey's grasp, but Memphis hangs back, sensing the static air. Abruptly Mallory notices, "what is going on?"

"Memphis..." I murmur under my breath, "he... Grabbed me at school once. The guys don't exactly approve of him being around."

"Grabbed you?" Mallory narrows her eyes, determining exactly what I mean.

I move my mouth to her ear, "he smacked my ass and rubbed his hand between my legs without permission."

"The fuck?" Mallory yanks free of me and turns her glower on Memphis, "you can fuck off now! Piece of shit!"

Memphis' jaw clenches and turns tail, practically running out of our sight. Mallory pulls me into a hug, but I'm okay because the guys won't let anything happen. It does feel good to hear Mallory jump to my defense so quickly, though.

Bailey steals me from Mallory, "where's Reynold?"

"He's up in the house as far as I know. I thought Connor was up there with him, setting up some entertainment," Mallory shrugs, finishing off the drink in her cup.

"Let's go," Connor gathers us, "Reynold wants to see Memphis get smashed by one of us."

"What?" Zane is up by Connor in seconds, ecstatic, "I volunteer."

"Get your ass up there," Connor shoves Zane up the stairs, and he sprints through to another room, "why are you all up Memphis's ass?"

No one answers him as we are engulfed by a murmuring crowd. Riette smirks on his other side proudly, but doesn't say anything. Bailey pins me into his side, and we follow the susurrant into what must be the dining room, but has been wiped clean. The dining table and chairs are missing and there isn't any artwork on the fancy, taupe wallpaper.

Zane swings his arms around, jumping up and down. He looks pumped and prepared to demolish Memphis, who ambles into the room, looking terrified and distressed. Zane strips off his shirt revealing a six pack of intricate abs and sculpted arms. I hope Memphis knows how to fight because I've seen the way Zane has taken Riette down in the cafeteria. According to Zane, Riette is their best fighter and yet he took him on.

I scan the room looking for Connor, but he's in a corner taking bets with Riette. The room is stuffed full, so I fix my back into Bailey's chest, who wraps around my waist securely.

"You okay, baby?" He whispers in my ear.

"Yeah, Bay."

He kisses my cheek as Memphis and Zane get locked in the circle. The crowd swarms around too close and the two bump fists. Zane doesn't hesitate. He's already pummeling into Memphis, who crouches and holds up one arm, driving into Zane's side.

Zane is a fricking beast, attacking mercilessly and unafraid to get hit. I've seen the way Riette takes complete control of any fight he is in whether he lets his friend hit him or he picks who hits who as long as it isn't him. Even Bailey has control, avoiding hits and dancing around his opponents smoothly. I haven't seen Connor fight yet, but Zane's style is insanity.

Zane gets Memphis' head hooked in his arm and yanks him down, plummeting his fist into his head and then his shoulder. Memphis is only protecting his junk and neck at this point. He was putting up a hell of a fight at first, but Zane hasn't let up. Memphis looks like he can't breathe and Zane is barely sweating.

"Holy fuck," I flinch to watch Zane thrust his last blow into Memphis' head, "Jesus..."

"He's powerful, isn't he?" Bailey kisses my cheek, clearly happy to watch Memphis get his ass handed to him.

Connor breaks through the circle and jerks Zane's arm in the air. Memphis collapses to the floor, wiping his bloody face and trying to crawl away. Riette yanks him off the floor and flings him through the crowd and out the front door. Memphis barely gets his shirt dragged over his head before he's in the cold night air.

"That was exhilarating," Zane wipes his sweaty brow.

Connor joins us, passing him his shirt, "that was an annihilation!"

"That was the greatest thing of my fucking life," Zane chortles, patting my shoulder, "that was for you, Max."

His hand lingers there for a half second longer than usual. Bailey presses his chin into my ear, sighing heavily, and I nuzzle into his hot breath. I don't even notice when Zane pulls away.

"I've got to locate Reynold," Connor vanishes, no shock.

Mallory disappeared at some point, but I'm sure she was here when we came into the house. Zane, Riette, and Bailey shift us backward as Connor is off searching for Reynold to start another fight. The crowd starts to disperse looking for more alcohol and fun in the meantime.

"Are you thirsty?" Bailey nudges his cheek into mine.

"I'm alright, but my knee hurts... Just a little."

"One more fight and we can find a place to relax," Zane heartens, looking high on life right now.

I nod at him and a wide smile brightens his face. He's easily intimidating to anyone that doesn't know him, but when he gives you that boyish grin, you know he's just a big teddy bear. I doubt he lets anyone but his brothers see him look this way.

The smile diminishes and is replaced with a stoic expression as he scans the crowd like he's on the prowl. Searching for a hot chick and a quick lay, no doubt.

When Connor reappears, he is leading a tall guy with him, who is about as tall as him maybe a quarter inch shorter. I can see that he has dark hair from here with olive skin and looks a lot like Bailey. I remember noticing that when I saw him making out with Cassie. Zane and Riette close in on either side of Bailey, smiling and actually looking thrilled to see Reynold.

"Fucker! You missed my fight!" Zane claps him on the back.

"Connor said you wrecked him," Reynold grumbles and his voice sounds familiar.

Maybe I remember his voice from that party, but I don't recall him saying anything to the boys. He took off when Zane and Bailey saw him going at it with Cassie without saying anything. He had his tail between his legs, trying to avoid the Ghost Riders. Now, he's here confronting them and they're all completely happy to see him. I figure that means they give him credit for Bailey getting out from underneath Cassie's thumb.

"Hey, this is Sawyer, Bailey's girl," Connor jerks Reynold forward so I can get a full view of him.

Startling gray eyes make my stomach curl and flip, and my entire body trembles unexpectedly. Thoughts barge into my mind, trying to put together the frozen, numb feeling raging through my body. I'm not sure how to react other than the desire to run is swelling with the adrenaline.

"You're so small... You're taking all of me. It must burn you up inside, sunshine," his breath is lava against my skin.

I choke on sobs, flailing, and thrashing. I beat against his shoulders as hard as I can, digging my nails into his skin wherever I can reach it.

Reynold's expression fills with recognition as he remembers who I am. It becomes too much for me and tears brim my eyes. I spin around, tweaking my knee and thrust on Bailey's chest to get away.

Away.

Away.

I want to move!

"Let me go... I-I want to leave... L-leave," I can't form a coherent thought, "Bay... Move!" I batter his chest with my palms, "move, damn it! Bailey!"

Bailey secures his arms around my waist and hauls me away from the others, "baby... Jesus, stop hitting me. I'm moving, Max." Bailey gets us into another room and I feel the bodies following us, "what is the problem?"

"Leave... I w-want to... Go!" My eyes flick to see the other Ghost Riders and Reynold coming up behind him and I slam a fist against Bailey's chest, "Move! God damn it!"

Bailey clasps my hands, and his eyes pierce into me, "Max! Talk to me baby... Stop hitting me!" He puts up his elbow when I yank my hand free and blocks my next blow, "stop! Fuck!"

"Max, easy," Zane is right behind me, grasping my shoulders cautiously, "what is the problem?"

"Should I fuck off or something?" I hear Reynold mutter to someone else.

"Make him leave! Please!"

"Come on, let's start a fight," Connor and Reynold depart.

Bailey relaxes when my hands clench at his shirt, "baby..."

"I'm sorry..." Tears trundle down my face and I sob, "I'm sorry."

"What's going on?" Zane removes his hands, but his chest presses into my back like a shield.

"He... He's..." I shake my head and burrow into Bailey's chest.

Bailey envelopes me, rubbing my back, "do you know Reynold?"

"I-I didn't know... I-I know h-him..." I stammer.

"How do you know him?" Riette moves in next to us.

"He... He's the... The guy..." My throat constricts painfully.

"The guy?" Riette sounds confused.

"No fucking way," Zane catches on first.

"Fuck!" Bailey realizes, moving his sweaty hands to my shoulders, "Zane take her! Take her right the fuck now!"

Zane's hands replace Bailey's and he storms out of my view. Zane guides me around into him and we ease back into the other room.

Suddenly a caw echoes around the room as we shuffle along the wall. Riette stands on one side, fists balled at his side. Zane keeps a firm hold on me with both of his hands, glaring into the middle of the room. Bailey is already on top of Reynold, striking his face hard. Connor struggles to clear the room and finally Riette gives in and helps him get everyone else out of here.

"Is he going to kill him?" My body quakes in Zane's hold.

"What the fuck is going on!" Connor makes his way to us once the room is cleared.

Bailey is relentless, driving fists ceaselessly into Reynold. He blocks his shots, but doesn't hit back. Blood spills down his face no matter how much he tries to shield it.

"Stop!" Reynold hollers, "Bailey! I don't understand! Stop!"

"He's the one that raped, Sawyer," Zane mutters to Connor.

"When the fuck was this?" Connor snarls, "where was I?"

"That second party before they were official..."

"Okay, fuck! Bay!" Riette peels Bailey off him and slams him back against a wall, "fucking stop! You can't kill him! Not yet!"

Connor yanks Reynold to his feet, "how the fuck could you do that! You piece of shit! You can't just fuck around with one of our girls! You can't fuck with any girl and think that's okay!"

Reynold looks legitimately confused, "no... What the fuck are you talking about?" His eyes turn on me, "I didn't do anything to her! Mallory set us up!" Reynold quivers in Connor's hands, "I didn't fucking hurt her!"

"What did you call her?" Riette spins on him, "huh! Cause I know there's a fucking name she can't stand!"

Reynold frowns, flitting his eyes fretfully between each of the Ghost Riders, "what the fuck... I called her sunshine because of her hair. Right? That's what I called you..." He looks at me scared for his life, "Mallory said you like it... That way. I don't treat girls that way, but she said that's what you wanted!"

"Mallory told you that she likes to be treated like she's been raped!" Bailey charges him.

Riette holds him back with a lot of struggle, "easy, Bay... We're fucking handling this, brother!"

"I didn't do anything to her that she didn't want!" Reynold gestures to me and my heart sinks, "I was told that's what she wanted!"

"Is that what she told you?" Connor gets quiet and dangerous, putting his nose against Reynold's face, "did she tell you herself that she wanted you to treat her that fucking way!"

"Jesus, fuck," Zane mutters, tightening his hold on me as I quiver in his arms, "Sawyer... Do you need us to leave?"

"He said Mallory told him I wanted this...?" I can't believe it, and yet it makes too much sense.

Zane frowns at me, "oh fuck..." He releases me and moves up to Reynold, "Mallory told you she wanted to be handled that way?"

"Yes...." Reynold looks relieved one of them is calm, "that's what I was told. I didn't... I wasn't trying to do anything to her... I... Fuck... I'm so sorry..." He bows his head in shame and wipes blood from his face, "I would never treat a girl like that if she didn't ask me to."

"She didn't fucking ask you!" Bailey snarls.

Reynold won't look at anyone, "fuck... Guys... Bailey... I'm sorry, man.... I would apologize to her, but I don't think that will make her feel any better."

Bailey glances back at me, seeing me standing alone now. Brusquely, his male bravado fades and he rushes to me. He embraces me hard and kisses my forehead, melting me into him. I give into the weeping and soak his shirt in seconds.

"Let's get the fuck out of here, baby," Bailey whispers.

"M-Mallory d-did this..." I stammer.

"Baby... I'm so sorry, baby," Bailey sweeps my feet off the ground and wraps my right leg around him, anchoring my left leg, "I'm getting you the fuck out of here."

"Let's fucking go!" Zane shouts to the others and I hear them clambering after us, "now! Ry! Connor!"

"Can I kill him first!" Riette retorts.

"He lives for now!" Zane crows.

Connor is right behind us, "I've got my Bronco right up here, Bay."

"Let's all meet at my place," Zane suggests.

"No..." I whimper into Bailey's shoulder.

"She can't go there now, Z..."

"My place?" Connor offers.

"My mom is working, so Dad will be out with his sleeping pills. We'll just have to be quiet," Bailey confirms we'll go to his house.