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CHAPTER

THIRTY-ONE

SUMMER

Abuzzing sound wakes me up as I shoot my eyes open. I’m warm, my headache is gone from the water Lincoln—or whoever the hell that was—got me after we fucked again. Then I must have fallen back asleep, but I’m unsure for how long.

Lincoln works at his desk a few feet away from me, his glasses on, his forehead scrunched together, eating popcorn. The fire an image beside him and soft piano music playing above.

Psycho music.

My stomach grumbles from that salty, buttery smell as I come back into myself, but at least my headache is gone.

It’s like this man doesn’t sleep; he just reads psychology all day, every day. Then he uses it to control my mind.

My phone buzzes again.

“It’s been buzzing for an hour,” Lincoln says without looking up. “Maybe let Dani know you’re still breathing. I’m sure she’d appreciate it.”

I shoot my head up and see my phone on the nightstand. Where did it even come from? He must have given it back while I was asleep.

Dani! Oh shit. I ignored her call last night, and that was almost a full twenty-four hours ago. Twenty-four hours of fucking Lincoln, talking to him, snuggling him, and getting to unravel the different layers of his mind.

She is not going to forgive me for that.

My fingers brush against the soft, yielding pillows as I reach for my phone, acutely aware of my nakedness.

I have two missed calls, one from my mom, and a bunch of text messages from Dani. I quickly shoot her a text, letting her know I’m fine and that I won’t be home tonight.

I saw she had read it, and the three dots on the text thread went wild for a few seconds, disappearing and reappearing. After that, she sends me a link to a news story with a long message attached.

Dani: The missing girl was discovered walking alone in the woods. She’s traumatized and too shocked to speak. Call me NOW.

The image of Cali cracks my heart open wide. Her face is white as a ghost, but otherwise, her eyes are intact. She’s dirty and skinny, but alive.

Did he release her while I was asleep?

I shift my eyes to Lincoln, who seems composed and relaxed. He’s wearing nothing but boxers, leaning back with his hair mussed, running his hands through it as if deep in thought. Memories of this afternoon race through my mind, highlighting the contrast in sex between last night and earlier today. And my interaction with Mikael, which was even more confusing. Like I was fucking a completely different person.

I’m fine. I’m fine… Lincoln’s my protector.

“Is this your plan for me, then?” I lean back, resting my head on the headboard, and pull the blanket up to cover my stomach. “I’m in your bed, waiting for you to use and fuck whenever you need a break from your research?” I say jokingly.

I roll out of the bed and shuffle over to Lincoln’s desk, my footsteps light and airy. Without looking up, he opens his arm as if anticipating me, and I slide onto his warm lap and try not to stare at him curiously.

But he’s so curious…

“That’s not the worst existence in the world, is it?” He smiles, but it doesn’t reach his eyes. His arms curl around me as if protecting me. His body is warm, and his fingers tickle my sides, but he remains focused on the screen in front of him. A notebook is beside him, filled with various musings and scribbles.

He’s distracted.

I attempt to act as if everything is normal. Like there wasn’t a third alter that came out to play—one that embodies a perfect combination of the two of them. I pretend that I am not under their control, trapped like a prisoner or a plaything.

I pop a piece of popcorn into my mouth. “So, what are we going to do about Cali?” I ask him, curious about what he will say about it.

He removes his glasses and cleans them before putting them back on and turning to me. “I got rid of her earlier while you were napping.”

I shift on his lap. “What? How? I thought you were worried about her telling everyone it was you?”