96AscussingGabriel LennoxsPOV Confused,Iwentforthebox,openedit,andstaredinside.
Insideweresetsoflingerie,bras,andpanties,allsoftfabricsandlace.MychesttightenedthemomentIsawthem.Theywerebeautiful,expensivelooking… Tuckedontopwasa smallnote.
Ipickeditupandreadthetypedwriting.
Thiswilllooksogoodonher.
Myfingerscurledaroundthepaper,crumplingitalittlewithoutmeaning to.
ThiscameforOlivia…notbydelivery,butaguardsawitatthedoor,Louisannouncedinanger.
Angrily,Ithrewtheboxacrosstheroom,angerradiatingthroughme.Thatmysterioussenderhas sentanotherpresenttoOlivia…hehasdoneitagainandthistimehesentsomethingasintimateasunderwears.
DoyouthinkitsGabriel?Louisasked,lookingenraged.
IpacedaroundtheroomasIthoughtaboutit.CoulditbeGabriel?Washethesender…washeOliviaslover?WasthatwhyshewenttotheShadowPack,whyshewaswearinghisclothes?Everythingwasnowmakingsensetome.
WeshouldquestionGabriel,Louisspat.
Igrowledinangerandlookedbackatmybrothers,IsweartoGod,ImgoingtokillhimifIfindoutheistheone Levisteppedforward.Calmdown,brothers…wearenotsosure…letsaskhimfirstbeforedrawingconclusions.
LeyedLevibeforegoingformycellphoneonthenightstand.
Isnatchedmyphonefromthenightstand,myfingerstremblingwithrageasIjabbedGabrielsnumber.
Withoutthinking,IpressedspeakersoLouisandLevicouldheareverydaninword.
Thephonerang once.

Twice.
Threetimes.
Pickup,youbastard,Igrowledundermybreath.
C 90ASCUSSINgGabriel Finally,thelineclicked.
Whatdoyouwant?Gabrielslazyvoiceanswered,thickwithannoyance.
Ididntwasteasecond.
DidyousendOliviaaboxoffuckinglingerieandanote?Haveyoubeensendingherpresents?Ibarked,myvoiceroughwithanger.
Therewasapause.
Thenalowchuckle.
IwishIwastheone,Lennox,Gabrielsaid,theamusementinhistonemakingmybloodboil.God,ifIhadawomanlikeOlivia,Idbespoilinghereverydamnday.Youreallfools,youhearme?Youhaveawomanlikethatunderyourroof,andinsteadofcherishingher,yourelettingİsomeoneelseslipnotesandgiftstoher? IheardLouiscurseunderhisbreath.
Levirubbedhisfaceroughly,muttering,Shit.
MyhandclenchedaroundthephonesotightlyIthoughtitmightshatter.
Gabrielcontinued,hisvoicesharpernow.Findoutwhostryingtotakeherfromunderyournosebeforeyouloseherforreal.Andnexttime youcallme,havesomedamnproof Igrowledinanger.Really?Proof?WhythefuckwasOliviainyourpack?Whywasshewearingyourclothes,Gabriel? Forasecond,therewassilence.
ThenGabriellaughedadark,mockingsoundthatmadeLouisstiffenbesideme.
Youreallywantananswer?hesaidcoolly.

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Youdontdeserveananswer.
Igrowledlowinmythroat,buthewasntdone.
Youdontevenrealizethekindoftreasureyouhave,Gabrielcontinued,hisvoicedrippingwithdisdain.Youthinkyoucanjustquestionme?Likeyouhavesomerightoverher?Letmemakesomethingveryclear,Lennoxyouandyourbrothersoweme.
Iblinked,stunned, Louissteppedforward,hisfistsclenched,face twistedwithrage .
Levismouthtightenedintoahardline.
Weoweyou?Ispatinto thephone.
BBAscussingGabriel Gabrielchuckledagain,thistimesoundinglikehepitiedus.Yeah.Youoweme.Forkeepinghersafewhenyouwerentaround.Forgivingheraplacewhenshehadnoone.FornottakingwhatIcouldhavetakenifIwasalesserman.
Yourefullofshit,Gabriel,Louissnapped.
Gabrielonlyhummedin response,likehewasalreadyboredoftheconversation.
Noexplanation.Nodetails.Youdontdeservethem,hesaidcoldly.Nowgetyourshittogetherandleavemethehellalone Withthat,thelinewentdead.
Thephoneslippedfrommyfingers,landingonthefloorwithadullthud.
Theroom wassilentexceptformyheavybreathing.
Gabrielswordsechoedinmyhead,slicingdeeperthanIwantedtoadmit.
Isatdownonmybedandthoughtaboutit.WhenwasthelasttimeIandmybrothersactuallygotheranypresents?Four,fiveyearsago?Fuck!ThereweretimesweshoweredherwithpresentswepracticallycompetedwitheachotheronwhogaveOliviapresentsmore.
Ilookedatmybrothers,notknowinghowtosayit,butIhadtosayit.

IknowOliviahashurtusinwaysnoneofuswanttotalkabout,Isaid,drawingtheattentionofLeviandLouistome.
Iswallowedhardbeforecontinuing.Weallhatehernow,Igetit,but…sheisour mate…ourwife,andwecantsitbackandletanothermankeepsendinghergifts…wehavetodosomething.
LouisstaredatmelikeIhadgrowntwoheads.
Areyouseriouslysuggestingwestartsendinghergifts?heasked,hisvoiceflat,disbelieving.
Iexhaledsharply,draggingahandthroughmyhair.
Notjustgifts,Imuttered.Weneedtostartshowingher…thatshebelongshere.Thatshesours.Thatnootherbastardcantouchher! Louisscoffed,pacingtheroomlikeacagedanimal.
Aftereverythingshedidtome?Icant ! Louis cursedunderhisbreath,kickingthefootofthebed.
Fuck.Fuck! Istayedsilent,lettingthewordssettlebetweenus.
Ididntwanttosayitoutloud,butdeepdown,IknewitGabrielwasright.Oliviahadjust AscussingGabriel_||| askedforarejectionafewmomentsago whoknowshowfarshewillgowithit?Whatifshe sendsapetitiontothecouncilofelders?Whatdowedoaboutthat? Istoodup,clenchingmyfistsatmysides.
Wedonthavetoforget.Isaid,myvoicelowandfirm.Wedonthavetoforgiveeverythingrightnow.Butifwedontact,someoneelsewill.Someoneelsewilltakewhatsoursrightoutfromunderus.
Louisglaredatme,breathingheavily,butdidntargue.
Levigaveasharpnod.
Sowhatstheplan?Leviasked.Youwanttostartsendinghergifts?Flowers?Chocolates?What,Lennox? Ishookmyhead.
No.Notjustthat.Weneedtoremindherwhoshebelongsto.Remindherwhysheeverworeourmarkinthefirstplace.Weneedtomakesuresheneverbringsupthattopicofrejectioneveragain.