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I shookto let anyone else get involved

“Not happening,” I said “We have to learn to figure this out on our own”

The door opened and out stepped my father “Give me some time alone with my son,” he said

Dante, Williaot up

They were still azes was clear: Don’t be an asshole to your dad

It was easier for them to advise it than for me to follow it

I stayed on the ground, and much to my surprise, s drawn up, staring at me

“I’ot it?” he asked

“Do I have a choice?”

“Your sisters are notme completely by surprise

“What?”

“Yeah, you heard arettes and a lighter I watched hiarette

“I didn’t know you smoked,” I said

“I don’t This just givesto do It makes it easier to keep my hands busy”

“Joan?” I asked

“You have no idea what it et married to Alexander, the piece-of-shit student we’d taken under our wing as our little underdog project Your grandfather warned ured he was bullshitting Couldn’t standsomeone asn’t of the saer plan for all of us Joan was just the tool to get it”

I watched his jaw clench I thought about Sian Would I be able to stand her being with someone else?

No, I couldn’t iine it, nor did I want to

Running a hand down

“Drinking your way through this is not going to help,” Lucas said

“It helps to numb the pain”

“But it doesn’t go away None of it does” Lucas took a long inhale “This isn’t so either It’s bad for you”

“Then you stop”