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“Not to mention,” Tyler added. “They don’t even know who you are. That’s kind of what happens when you leave when they’re barely two months old.”
“It’s not too late for them to learn. I mean, what, do they think all of you are dad?” He snorted. “Good luck explaining that to them.”
“They get it just fine,” Mac said. “And when there’s so much love and support, you’d be amazed at how much those details don’t matter.”
I could sense by his body language that he was getting pissed.
“This whole living situation is screwed up! Four men living together… I don’t care if you’re brothers! And then, on top of it, you’ve got some slut living here now, taking care ofmy—”
I was already pissed enough at him talking about the kids. Mentioning Aubrey pushed me over the edge. I burst from where I stood, running over to the asshole and getting right in his face. Seth’s face flashed with fear as I approached.
“What did you say? Come on, tough guy, please, tell us exactly what’s on your mind.”
None of the boys said a word. I was getting heated, but I knew better than to go too far.
“You’re going to give those kids back to me,” Seth said, fear creeping into his words. “They’re mine and I have a right to them. Like hell I’m going to give up my flesh and blood!”
“You did that a long time ago, Seth,” Mac said. “Now’s the time for you to deal with the consequences.”
I backed up, letting Mac’s words hang in the air, not taking my eyes off Seth.
“Now,” Mac said. “You want to get the hell off our land, or do I need to call the sheriff and file trespassing charges?”
Seth stood completely still, and for a moment, I worried he might try something. Instead, he spit, never taking his eyes off of us, then turned to his car.
“This is not over,” he said. “Not even close.”
With that, he climbed into the car and gunned the engine, squealing his nearly bald tires down the driveway. The four of us watched and waited for him to disappear, making sure that he didn’t take a turn heading toward Downing Farm.
I unclenched my fists once he was out of sight. There was no doubt in my mind, however, that it wasn’t the last we’d seen of Seth.
Chapter 26
Mac
Ten minutes after the “meeting,” the four of us were in the kitchen, coffee in hand as we talked over the matter.
In that moment, however, I was furious at my own brothers. I’d learned that Tyler and Adam had kept something from Marcus and me that changed everything.
Seth hadn’t just put his hands on Kristen all those years ago, he’dhurther, while she was pregnant. The argument they’d had about the abortion had gotten heated, Seth not just putting his hands on her shoulders, but slamming her hard against the wall, hard enough that she’d been worried she might’ve lost the babies.
It was a damn good thing that Seth was long gone. If I’d learned what I just had while he was here…
“I want to know why the hell you didn’t tell us,” Marcus growled. “Why the hell you kept this a fucking secret!”
Adam nodded toward him. “That’s why – because of that temper of yours. If we would’ve told you when we learned about it, you guys would’ve put him in the damn hospital.”
“Or a grave,” Tyler added.
Marcus and I shared a look that suggested we knew that he was right.
“Fine. You kept it hidden, but that’s in the past. Now we know.”
“And there’s more,” Tyler said. “Kristen took pictures when it happened, emailed them to us for safekeeping.”
“You’re serious?” I asked.
“Yep,” Adam said. “She wanted us to have them in case anything ever happened. She was certain about one thing—that she didn’t want Seth anywhere near those kids if anything were to happen to her.”
