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“What kind of job?” This from Oliver.
“The kind I’m not ready to discuss.”
“Does that include Mom and Dad? You’re worrying both of them. You know that, right? Dad’s blood pressure is through theroof and Mom’s having trouble controlling her diabetes because of you.”
“That’s not fair.” Teagan’s grip on Seth’s knee tightened. “You can’t lay the blame for their health issues on Seth.”
“Stay out of this, lady. You might be Seth’s dream woman but you’re not part of our family. You don’t belong with him or with us.”
“That’s enough.” Seth stood, eager to get his brothers out of the house before any of them said something they couldn’t take back. “No one treats my woman with disrespect, not even you.”
“You’re throwing us out?” Sebastien stared at Seth, his disbelief clear.
“Yeah, I am. Both of you get out.”
“We aren’t finished yet.”
“Oh, yeah, you are. You crossed the line with Teagan. Rather than beat you to a pulp for the insult, I’m telling you to leave my house and keep your noses out of my business.”
Watching the growing mixture of fury, disgust, and hurt on his brothers’ faces almost killed Seth. This is why he’d hoped to go undercover before his family got in his face about the rumors. Should have known that would never work. His family was too close. At least, they were. Now? He didn’t know.
His brothers stood and headed for the living room. “If you won’t talk to us, at least contact Mom and Dad, all right?” Oliver glared over his shoulder as he gripped the doorknob. “You owe them that much.”
“Tell them you’re fine, just busy. Anything is better than radio silence.” Sebastien followed Oliver to the porch before turning to Seth one more time. “This isn’t you, Seth. I don’t know what’s going on or why you’re lying. Just know if you need help, you can come to us.”
Oliver reached over the threshold and yanked Seth into a hug. “Love you even if you are acting like a jerk,” he muttered.
When he released Seth, Sebastien reached in and hugged him. “Day or night, you need us and we’ll be there. No questions asked, okay?”
“I got it.” He blinked against the burn in his eyes. “Go home and get some sleep. Watch your backs.”
His brothers froze. “Why did you say that?” Oliver demanded.
He had to give them this much. It was the only way to protect them. “I received a threat earlier tonight.”
“What threat?” Sebastien scowled.
“A paper left under the windshield wiper of my girlfriend’s vehicle.”
“I want to see it.”
“Can’t. I already sent it to a private lab for processing.”
“What did it say?” Oliver asked.
“To watch my back because dirty cops deserve a knife or bullet in the back.”
“Any idea who might have left that threat?”
“Maybe Wilson and Kepler.”
“Why them in particular?”
“Wilson assaulted Teagan in an empty office at the station while Noah and I were in a meeting with Burnett.”
Another scowl, this time from both brothers. “He put his hands on her?” Sebastien asked.
Seth nodded.