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“He’s ready to be part of the family business,” I tell them. “He even made a torture record book.”

“Yea, that’s pretty ingenious. Just keep that notebook locked somewhere safe, even though it is all in codes,” Linda says. “Okay. I’ll call him. I think he’s ready for his one-on-one lessons. We can start next month,” Linda declares with an eager tone.

“God help us all,” I deadpan, because it doesn’t seem wise to leave them alone together.

“Gabriel,” Meg calls my name. “Do you remember when you used to hurt yourself, recreating some of the tortures you suffered to help you control yourself?” Strong lights, cold showers, and loud noises were what I used when I was thirteen.

Fun times, Bez says sarcastically.

“You wanted to get rid of Bez. You thought he was the reason why your mother was dead. Thatyouwere the reason since your mind created your alter. You wanted him to stop taking over. You were afraid he’d be, that you’d be the cause of someone else’s death. Someone close to you.”

Why is she digging up old stuff? I’d rather keep it in the past where it belongs.

“You didn’t do it though. Didn’t want to kill that part of yourself. Finally, you accepted it. Bez,” Meg continues. “You’ve made such progress. Co-fronting was an amazing achievement. You have such an inner force. Just as firm a control on your emotions. Now that you’re with Lori, I think you’re letting go of that control, letting yourself go, letting yourself feel, and Bez likes that. That’s why he’s compromising with you and taking over more.”

Is it? I do let go of my control when I’m with Lori. It doesn’t seem so important anymore.

“What did I always tell you? Embrace yourself and be true to your own choices.”

For fuck sake,are we done with this shrink crap?Bez mutters.

“You chose Lori. Both of you. A throuple. I support it fully, boys!” Linda makes a weird face that I can’t decipher, while Meg very unprofessionally rolls her eyes. But Linda does make her loosen up and smile like no one else can.

Does Lori do the same for me?

A while later, I’m entering the garage through the entrance attached to the house. Serena lets me know that Lori is still athome, and I want to get this donor thing over with to get back to him.

I kind of like your bro’s level of ruthlessness with a donor, we can enjoy it before going back to our Little Wasp,Bez says.

You just want to be sure Lori will be asleep, so you can wake him up with your dick.

Two things I will enjoy.

Uri suddenly slides out from under his Hummer.

“Problems with your car?” I ask.

“Fucking Raph found the knife I took from him, and stole my spare tire.”

I’d suggest to just get another spare tire, but this stupid game of hiding each other’s stuff until the other finds it has been going on for years now, and nothing will ever stop them.

“I’ve got those contracts for your new restaurant ready—” I start telling him, but he cuts me off.

“Why do you keep him locked up? Bez. He doesn’t go on rampages or fuck anything that moves unless it’s Lori. So, why?” He’s playing with his tongue piercing, rolling it over his lower lip.

My brothers have never asked me about my multiplicity. We don’t talk about ourissuesamong us.We have Meg or Linda for that. Hissudden interest is odd. He doesn’t really care since he’s a sociopath. It must be curiosity.

“I can’t lock him up. He’s stronger and unpredictable.”

“Isn’t unpredictability a big part of our lives? We cannot control everything. I wish we fucking could.” Pretty sure he’s thinking about Sari and his new combative response to him.

“You need to getstabbyand relax a bit, bro,” he adds.

That I do, but I can clearly see the tension in his shoulders.

“You’ve met hundreds of annoying people. Why are you obsessed with Lori’s particular brand?” Uri then asks me.

“Why are you so obsessed with Sari?” I flip the question on him.