Page 67 of Covert Mission
A snort from Oliver. “You can wait to rush her back upstairs, bro. This is more important.”
He folded his arms across his chest. “What do you want?”
“Really?” Sebastian set his coffee mug down with a thud. “Is that how we’re playing this?”
“Spit it out or leave so Teagan and I can get on with our night.” Seth’s gut knotted. He hated doing this to his brothers. Man, he’d have to eat crow for a long time after this mission was finished. Forgiveness would be slow in coming.
“You haven’t returned our calls and texts,” Oliver said in the opening gambit. “We wouldn’t be here if you bothered to respond.”
Seth rolled his eyes. “Come on. I was busy. I would have gotten around to it.”
“We don’t ignore family.” Sebastien slammed his fist on the table. “Family rule, bro.”
“Well, you’re here now so let’s get on with this so I can go to bed.”
Under the table, Teagan rested her hand on his knee and squeezed lightly, offering silent support.
Although he appreciated the gesture, nothing would make him feel better about lying to his family.
“That’s the way you want it?” Oliver glowered at him. “We can do it that way. You got fired from the force.”
“Wrong. I quit.”
His brothers stared at him. “What were you thinking?” Sebastien shoved back from the table and paced the length of the kitchen and back.
“That I was being set up to take a hard fall.” He sneered. “Turns out Noah was in the doghouse with me. We both dropped our weapons and shields on Burnett’s desk.”
“You worked hard to earn that shield. Why would you turn it in without a fight?”
“I’d prefer not to take a knife or bullet in the back.”
“Rumors are flying hot and heavy that you’re a dirty cop,” Oliver said.
Seth shrugged.
Fury glittered in the eyes of his brothers.
“That’s it?” Sebastien demanded. “A shrug? Why aren’t you fighting to keep your job instead of playing house with your woman?”
“Maybe I don’t want to be on the job anymore.” Big lie, that one.
“No way.” Oliver shook his head. “You’re lying, bro. I don’t know why but I’m not having it. We don’t lie to each other.”
“What’s going on, Seth?” Sebastien dropped into his chair again. “You can trust us. You know that, right?”
“What is this, an intervention?” Seth scowled.
“If that’s what you want to call it, then sure.”
“You’re interfering in my life. Get over yourselves and butt out. I don’t need or want your sympathy or listening ear or whatever you had in mind. I’m not depressed but I am furious about how things went down. Although none of this was my fault, I’m the scapegoat along with my partner. The department thinks we’re dirty? Fine. We’ll land on our feet somewhere else with people who appreciate what we offer.”
His brothers exchanged glances. “You already have a job offer?” Oliver looked skeptical. “With a black cloud of suspicion hanging over your head?”
“What have you gotten yourself into, bro?” Sebastien’s brows knitted.
“Nothing I’m ready to talk about. I haven’t decided if I’ll take the job. If I do, however, my problems will be over.”
More suspicion filled the eyes of his brothers. Seth didn’t blame them. He’d question the explanation if he was on the other side of the table, listening to Sebastien or Oliver spew this drivel.