After Iris fell asleep, I carefully placed her in a comfortable position and laid the blanket over her. I pressed a kiss to her forehead and looked at her sadly. How could someone dare harm a young woman? I swear, when I get my hands on John, I'm going to-

"Lisa? What's going on?" David's voice broke me out of my trance. My sons were crowded around me, their expressions a mingle of concern, sadness and anger.

I took a deep breath and told them everything that Iris told me. As predicted, the boys face changed from sadness, anger and guilt.

"I'll kill him," Daimen's fists were tightly clenched.

"I'll help," Julian snarled.

The twins were staring blankly at the wall and David had his head in his hands.

"This is all my fault," David whispered, "I should've fought for Iris harder. I should never have let her go. I sent people to check up on her, and they reported that she was happy," he chuckled wryly, "I guess our little Princess is a good liar."

"It's all in the past," I said calmly, "and whatever you do, don't mollycoddle her. She's worried that you guys will judge her."

X

A couple hours later, Iris came downstairs. Her eyes were bloodshot and she had a severe case of bed hair. As usual, she wore a hoodie. I never thought to ask why.

"I expect Lisa told you about last night," she mumbled and yawned, "Daimen and Julian look angry. Will, Oscar and Elijah look sad, Brandon is blank and David looks guilty. You all look like you're trying not to pity, but can't help it."

Iris rubbed her eyes and suddenly looked very very tired. She slumped on the couch with the air of a person who'd been carrying a huge weight and has finally let go.

"Before I start," I said, "can I call Jax, please?"

An unreadable expression passed across Daimen and Julian's face, but it was gone as quickly as it came. I noticed their fists were clenched slightly at Jax's name and was confused, but shrugged it off.

"Of course you may," David said and I left the room.

On the third ring, Jax picked up, "Hello?"

"Jax," I replied, "are you busy?"

"Nah... just binge watching Netflix," he said, "why? Is everything okay?"

"I had a flashback," I answered quietly, "and my family saw my scars. Lisa comforted me and they all want to know the truth and I really need a familiar figure with me. So, can you come?"

"I'm on my way," Jax said, and I could hear the car door slam and the engine hum, "I'll be there in 10 mins. See you then."

"Bye," I replied and cut the call. I wiped my sweaty palms on my trousers and went back to the living room, "Jax says he's going to be there in 10 mins," I informed the others.

The next 10 minutes were one of the most painful and silent minutes of my life. When I heard the car pulling into the gravel driveway, I resisted the urge to jump for joy.

I quickly opened the front door and in came Jax. His sharp grey eyes were wild and alert, though they had faint traces of bags underneath.

"You okay?" He asked and shook his head, "stupid question. Will you be okay?"

I shrugged, "I don't know," I said honestly.

"Well, come on," Jax smiled, "let's go."

X

A couple minutes later, Jax and I were sitting on the couch. Jax had his arm wrapped around me and I leaned against him. I saw Julian and Daimen's eyes flash with some unrecognisable emotion as they looked at Jax and I.

"What do you want to know?" I was less tired than this morning and I decided to get the questioning out of the way.

"Everything," David responded immediately.

"That's a lot to talk about," I chuckled humourlessly, "but, hey, we've got time. Wait," I looked at Jax as a sudden thought struck me, "shouldn't you be at school...?"

Jax shook his head, "I'll tell you later," he murmured, "right now, you're more important."

I smiled and took a deep breath, "This starts when I was about six years old. Elise and David were starting to fight. Elijah, Daimen and Brandon did their best to shield me, but it was affecting them as well, I guess. One day, Elise had shouted at me and I was scared, so I ran to Pratoh Park. There, I met Alex and two years later, I met Jax.

You know what happened next: the divorce. Elise got me and David got the boys. I still remember the four of us hiding in the bathroom as they tried to take me away...

The first few months weren't that bad. Elise neglected me, so using YouTube, Alex and Jax, I learned to take care of myself. I joined a gang when I was about 10, just to buy household necessities.

When I was nine, the abuse started. At first, it was merely slaps and taunts when I did something 'wrong'. Then, it became bigger and bigger until I was hit almost every day. Elise fell into bad company and started drinking. She met John," here, Jax made a low growl of anger at that thing's name, "and he helped her get more... creative with the punishments. He carved words into me and beat me until I was on the brink of death. I survived only because of Alex and Jax- they were my anchor in the storm. When Alex died...," I took a shaky breath and decided not to go into that, " Then, I heard that Elise had overdosed. I was confused and surprised- I knew Elise drank, but she never took drugs. Then I remembered John..." I hesitated and decided I was too deep to back out now, "I think he killed Elise. I came over here and, well, you know the rest. That day I went out for a meeting, it was because my boss told me John was looking for me."

Suddenly, I felt exhausted and yawned. Jax gently pulled me and laid my head in his lap, running his hands through my hair and lulling me to sleep.

When Iris finished her story, we were all stunned into silence. Although we aren't technically related by blood, I felt close to Iris and she's like a sister to me- rather than a step sister.

I was incredibly angry. I wanted nothing more than to hunt this 'John' down and torture him in painful and imaginative ways- as a payment for harming Iris. I know my brothers will help me.

"Why didn't you take her out of that place?" I looked up to see Daimen glaring at Jax.

"And go where?" Jax smiled humourlessly, "I didn't tell Iris, but John is actually a dangerous figure in the Mafia. Even if we ran, he'd find us."

Julian mumbled something that sounded like 'excuses' under his breath. Instantly, the tension in the air grew taut and Jax's eyes darkened.

"You don't think I care for Iris, do you?" He directed at Julian and Daimen. When they didn't say anything, he continued, "well, I do. She's like my sister. I joined a gang for her, so that I could raise enough money for us to run away when I turned 18 and could legally become her guardian.

You're probably wondering why I didn't go to the police; if I did, they'd arrest Elise and John- the latter would escape soon- and put Iris in the system. What if she goes to another home which is worse than that one? At least Alex and I were there to help her. She told us that you'd abandon her. If we'd known that you were willing to take her in, I'd have gone to the police.

I would rather stab myself a hundred times than see Iris in pain. It almost killed me, seeing what that (beep) would do to Iris. Alex and I would sneak into her house and tend to her wounds. Once you've seen that..." he shook his head sadly. His expression hardened, "when I get my hands on John, I'm going to kill him."

Iris stirred and woke up, rubbing her eyes, "I love you too Jax," she smiled, "that's probably the sweetest thing you've said."

"And I meant every word of it," Jax responded and wrapped Iris in a hug.

"Iris," Elijah started, his voice hoarse with emotion, "can we see your injuries?"

"Iris, can we see your injuries?" When Elijah asked that, I froze.

Did I trust them enough to show them?

Yes.

Hesitantly, I took off my hoodie, leaving me in a short sleeved tank top. I rolled my trousers up. My family gasped and I looked down in shame. I looked at the word 'Useless' carved into my arm and traced it.

Useless.

Worthless

Idiot

Stupid

And more were carved into me.

I heard a loud thud and looked up, alarmed. Daimen had punched the wall. He looked angrier than I'd ever seen him and I quickly put my hoodie on and curled myself into a ball.

"How many words are there?" Jax demanded, for even he didn't know the full extent of what I'd suffered.

"I don't know," I whispered, "about ten?"

Suddenly, my phone rang and I quickly answered it. It was Harry.

"Hey Boss," I made my voice cheery.

"Rose, we have a situation," I was immediately alert, Harry was rarely so serious, "some man called John has threatened the gang if we don't give you up."

"I know," I replied evenly, "Jax told me."

"How do you know this John?"

I sighed, knowing there was no escape, "he was friends with my mother and used to abuse me."

And 3...2...1...

"WHAT?!" Harry exploded and I pulled the phone away from my ear as his tiny voice spewed out profanities. I smiled charmingly at my family and Jax was smirking.

"I'm going to kill him," he finished, taking his first breath in over a minute.

"Good. Jax, me and my family will help you," I said breezily, "nice talking with you Harry, but I have to go," I ended the call and sighed.

"Thank you," I said quietly to my family, "for listening. I feel so much better."

"No problem Teresoro," Elijah grinned slightly.

"Sirs and Ma'am?" One of the guards came into the room, holding an envelope, "this is addressed to Iris?"

I thanked the lady and took the envelope from her hand. I opened it and gasped.