Resist Read Free

finger. “I know I sound like I’ve lost my mind but I can’t pass this up. Chances are I will end up here, working under your tutelage and I’m more than willing to make the sacrifice just to explore my one true passion.”
    Professor Baasch possessed “Elizabeth Taylor” eyes. Violet-blue orbs that captivated and sparkled in spite of the bright lights from the lab. Only one of his sons had managed to receive his eye color—Zed. The most perfect specimen if ever one existed but he was harder to get to than the President of the United States.
    For some reason, Blaine and Xavier were extremely protective over him and although he was famed to be as brilliant as his brothers, some said it had more to do with his gentle disposition than anything else. He simply wasn’t a people person and found it hard to step outside of the box. He didn’t crave to make new friends and his privacy was thus fiercely guarded.
    “I don’t know, Vie.” Professor Baasch set a chart down on the lab table and crossed his arms against his chest. “Blaine isn’t . . . well, he has issues. I’m worried about your safety with him. His mother and I—brilliant and famed psychiatrists the world over managed to raise three men who have more problems than you can possibly imagine. It is quite sad to be honest.”
    My heart beat faster with anticipation. “I’m sorry . . . I truly don’t understand what you mean.”
    The professor met my eyes with a look of contrition and regret. “Blaine is bi-polar; Zed suffers from severe agoraphobia and Xavier is sociopathic with psychotic tendencies. All our sons take various pharmaceutical medications for their issues but the drugs only work as well as the patient responsible for taking them.”
    I cocked my head to the side. “Are they a danger to society?”
    “No, of course not. Otherwise they would be institutionalized but they aren’t . . . how shall I say? Well, I suppose they are an acquired taste. There’s a reason none of them are married you know.”
    “I’m willing to take my chances,” I responded before I bit my bottom lip. “I’m not some innocent—I’ve studied psychiatry my whole academic career. I believe I’m up to the challenge but I don’t want to leave you in a lurch either.”
    He shook his head. “There’s no lurch you’re going to leave me in—there is a wait list for students who would kill to get that spot I reserved specifically for you. I will allow you to pursue this but . . . please be careful. You understand better than anyone that diseases of the mind are always more dangerous and opportunistic than diseases of the body.”
    “I’m well aware of that. I had some very, very good professors while I’ve studied here at Stanford,” I replied in a gracious manner.
    “Some of the best. And don’t you ever forget it.”
    “I couldn’t—not even if I tried.”
    “Especially around them .” Professor Baasch’s brows furrowed together. “You may have been one of my most prized and gifted students but they are my sons. If anyone knows the game of mind-fuckery, my sons excel at it. Remember, they also learned from the best too.”
    “Believe me, professor, I won’t. That I can promise you.” I smiled once again as I hoisted my laptop bag onto my shoulder and left the lab for the last and final time.
    I wasn’t sure when I would see him again but I knew better than to question anything Baasch had told me. I knew his only concern was for my well being but an inner voice warned me that if I didn’t take heed, I would end up over my head.
    Sooner rather than later.

     

     

     
    B laine met me at San Francisco International Airport.
    It'd been approximately two weeks since I’d graduated from my program and was now the proud holder of a Masters of Science in Abnormal and Clinical Psychology degree. It was quite the honor and achievement yet my parents were far from proud.
    They didn’t understand why I was wasting my whole summer on some throwaway