Page 32 of With You Forever

“We ain’t, but I’m callin’ her that because I’m marrying her in three damn months since you’re so goddamn interested.”

Luke steps to the right, getting in between them. His brother’s face is strained. “Let’s go, Seth.”

The woman smiles. “Is she pregnant?”

A knife in his gut. “No fuckin’ comment.”

Turning away from the reporter, from Luke, Seth strides forward fast, wishing the reporter was a man, because if she was, she’d be on the ground right now.

His overprotective instincts are in overdrive. The last thing he wants for Lacey is this in the paper. She ought to be able to have her privacy, and it makes him goddamn sick he can’t give that to her.

The voice follows him. A sharp shuffle of high heels.

“Is she sick?”

Seth stops. Turns.

“What’d you say?” His voice tumbles out like thunder.

A bark of warning from Luke. “Seth.”

“Is she dying?”

The world slows. Rage bubbles in his veins.

Seething, fists clenched, he shakes his head and advances. “Lady, I am gonna ruin your fuckin’ life.”

With a harried glance at Luke, Jace steps into Seth’s path, blocking him from going any further.

“Seth,” Luke snaps, grabbing Seth’s jacket in his fist. “Knock it off.”

Seth twists in his brother’s tight grip, still looking at the woman. “Stop followin’ me and stop takin’ pictures of Lacey. She ain’t sick. She’s fine. Leave her alone.” His voice is a shout and people stop to stare. “Do you hear me? Do you fuckin’ hear me?”

“Seth.” Luke pushes him back, pain in his expression as he gives him a shake. “This ain’t helpin’. Shut the fuck up.”

The woman smirks and nods her head. “Thanks for the comment, Mr. Kincaid.”

“Go!” Luke yells at the woman, anger burning bright in his dark eyes. “Get the hell out of here!”

The woman pauses as if she’s about to say something else, but then she turns and walks back down the block.

Out of Jace, a hiss. “Bitch.”

Luke immediately lets Seth loose and steps back.

“Fuck,” Seth swears, his gut knotting. He rips a hand through his hair and turns away, breathing heavily.

It feels like there’s a rope around his throat.

Squeezing the life out of him, the hope.

Jace and Luke’s low voices sound like they’re underwater.

Is she dying?

Is she?

And that’s when Seth gets it.

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