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“And you three?” he drawls, fully aware I ignored that part of his question.
I huff an exasperated laugh, “We’re as good as can be expected. Mac and Finn got some much-needed rest, and I spent the night with Harper. We talked this morning when she woke up.” I don’t feel the need to explain to him exactly what we talked about because surely he knows. He’s all too familiar with the weight that I carry day in and day out.
“Good. And Mac? Is he coming around?”
Luca had never met Mac before Harper was taken, so for all he knew, my brother was just some raging psychopath who was killing anyone he could get his hands on. Not that Luca would judge him for his actions, but I could tell he was wary of Mac. So, one day, I pulled him aside and explained Mac’s past and exactly what was going on with him. From that moment on, Luca kept an extra eye on my brother, ensuring he didn’t get too lost inside himself.
“It’s hard to say, honestly. He let his guard down when we found her at the cabin and held her in his arms all the way home. But there’s still that vacant look in his eyes, you know? I just hope her being back is enough.”
“It will be. Just give him some time. He was in a really dark place, and it’s going to be hard to just snap out of it.” I know Luca’s right. It’s just hard to see my brother without that light in his eyes. “You guys have any idea what your next move against Declan will be?”
I scrub my hand down my face. “No. We haven’t got a chance to talk about it yet.”
“Alright, when you do, we’re here for whatever you need.”
“I appreciate that. Is Sebastian still running facial recognition on Logan?”
“Yeah. If he shows up on camera, we will find him. I’ll let you know the second we do.”
“Thanks, man. For everything. I mean it.”
Luca scoffs on the other end of the line, like what he’s done for us over the last couple of weeks has been no big deal. “Don’t even mention it.”
“I’ll call you in a few days when we come up with a plan?”
“Sounds good. Hey, tell Harper I’m sorry I was gone before I got a chance to meet her, not that she really would have been up for it anyway. Sebastian and I had some things to take care of, and we knew you were all safe and on your way back.”
I’ve been so hung up on everything happening that I haven’t gotten a chance to pry into this. Looks like now is as good a time as any. “Hey, speaking of you and Sebastian. Want to tell me what’s going on there?” I don’t even bother fighting the sly grin on my face.
There’s a beat of silence on the other end of the phone before Luca answers, “Nope,” he says, making sure to pop the P.
“Oh, don’t be such a prude, Luca. We all see it.” I decide to dig even further, “I mean, you’re a hot piece of ass. He’d be crazy not to jump on that.”
“Shut the fuck up, Ronan.” I let out a deep belly laugh, the first one since before we killed Liam.
“If you guys ever want to double date, just let me know.”
“I’m hanging up now,” his tone sounding beyond annoyed, and I don’t even care. I just keep laughing. “Call me in a couple of days.”
The line goes dead, and I slide my phone into the pocket of my sweats. Slipping back into Harper’s room, I walk over to her side of the bed, noticing her empty IV bag. Doc said once this one was gone she should be good to remove the IV from her hand. Bending over, I tuck some hair behind her ears, trying to gently rouse her from her sleep. She stirs a little before slowly blinking and smiling up at me.
And fuck if that sleepy little smile doesn’t hit me square in the chest.
I still can’t believe she’s here, back in her bed where she’s safe. And safe is what she will be for the rest of her life. Because I, no, we, intend on keeping her.
“Hey, Baby.”
She stretches her arms over her head, pushing out her chest, causing her nipples to poke through the fabric of the sweater she has on. I try not to stare at them, but I’m only human after all, and damn, do they look good, even underneath the heavy cotton. She follows my line of sight and just lets out a soft giggle. “My eyes are up here, sir.”
My eyes snap to hers, and I can’t help the groan that slips past my lips. “I almost forgot how good it sounded when you called me that.”
“I almost forgot how good it felt to say it.”
Fuck me.
It takes every ounce of my restraint not to climb on this bed and sink into her. But, I can’t—not yet. Not until she’s fully healed. Tipping my head back, I close my eyes tight, willing myself not to get a hard-on. “Harper, you can’t say things like that to me right now.”
I don’t have to see her face to know she’s sporting a devious grin. “Why not?”
