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My chin trembles. I hate that Logan took this from us. “You–you can’t call me that.” The hurt on Mac’s face is evident. “He called me that.” I don’t have to say who he is—they know. “I–I’m sorry, Mac. I didn’t think it would bother me. But then you said it, and it took me right back to that cabin. He took that from us. I’m so, so sorry.” I choke on a sob as I look down at my lap, unable to stomach the look on his face.
“Harper,” he hooks his finger under my chin. “Look at me.” He lifts my chin, and I’m fully expecting to see anger and frustration when I look into his steel-gray eyes. Instead, all I see is complete understanding. “You have nothing to be sorry for, absolutely nothing. Do you understand me?”
“But—”
Mac shakes his head. “But, nothing. It’s just a word. Consider it eliminated from my vocabulary.”
“I loved being your Princess,” I whisper, my voice laced with regret.
“I know you did, but you are so much more than that.”
“I am?”
“You are. You are our queen, Harper. Only a queen could have been strong enough to make it through all of that. Only a queen could have escaped and made their way back to us. Only a queen could have brought me out of the darkness I was swimming in. Only a queen could have washed away all the red.” Mac’s voice cracks, and I push one of his long strands out of his face. He immediately leans into my hand and whispers, “Is tú Mo Grá.”
He’s called me Mo Grá before, but I’ve never asked him what it means. I tilt my head in confusion, and he exhales heavily before giving me the sweetest smile, quickly glancing between Ronan and Finn, who I can see out of the corner of my eye are trying their best to pretend like they are not listening. I get the feeling that this is a conversation Mac would rather have had in private, but it’s too late now.
“It means . . .” he grabs my hand from where it’s still resting on the side of his face and kisses the top of it before resting it back on his chest, this time over his rapidly beating heart. “It means, ‘You are my love.’”
All the air is immediately sucked from my lungs, not because I don’t love him, but because after the way he looked at me when I came out of the woods, I wasn’t sure I would ever hear these words from him. As soon as I saw him, I knew what was happening with my sweet, gentle giant. Nobody had to explain it to me. I could see the torment in his eyes clear as day. I thought my Mac was gone for a moment, but then he looked into my eyes, and I knew he was in there somewhere. I just had to let him know I trusted him enough to come back to me. I know who Mac is, all of him, even the parts of him he despises. I know he tries with everything in him to hide that part of himself, to keep it as separate as he can from the man he wants to be. But he doesn’t see what I see… what we see. We see a Mac that’s strong enough to embrace every single part of him because that makes him who he is, and who he is, is perfect. I just hope he can see that he’s strong enough one day. He’s strong enough to face his demons and be the man he wants to be to live and the man he has to be to survive.
“Honey,” I release a harsh breath.
He closes his eyes briefly, and when he opens again, all I see is an unconditional and all-consuming love. He shakes his head and lets out a light chuckle, “I really didn’t want to do this in front of these two,” he nods toward Ronan and Finn, who, when I glance back at them, are practically trying to be invisible while simultaneously folding their lips in trying to hold in their laughs. I roll my eyes and give them a stern look, silently warning them not to be dickheads, before looking back at Mac.
“But I do, Mo Grá, I love you. You stole my breath away the day we met you; ever since, it’s been yours. Because I cannot breathe when you are not near, Harper. My reason for living is now wrapped up in you.” He scoots towards the edge of his chair, drops his forehead to rest it against mine, and whispers, “Thank you for bringing me back.”
“Always, Cormac.” He doesn’t even flinch at the use of his full name. I know it’s not his favorite, but for some reason, it just felt right. “I will always bring you back. I’m not afraid. Just as I’m safe with you, you are safe with me. I love you too.”
Mac’s lips crash into mine, kissing me so hard it literally feels like I am breathing for him. Mac continues to kiss me deeper, and I can’t help but tug at his bottom lip with my teeth. A rough groan falls from his mouth when I do. He kisses me softly before pulling his lips away, keeping his forehead firmly pressed against mine. “I love you, Harper. You’re my whole heart, my Queen, my Pretty Girl—Mo Grá.”
“Now I’m the one that’s going to cry,” Ronan laughs behind me.
Mac lets out an exasperated sigh. “I knew he was going to ruin it.”
I laugh as Mac sits up straight and grabs the back of my chair, spinning me to face the counter again. Finn’s still standing at the sink, but his hand is now covering his mouth, trying to hide what I’m sure is a shit-eating grin.
The oven timer goes off, signaling Mac’s delicious cinnamon rolls are done. He makes his way around the kitchen, and I jokingly reach out my right hand and backhand Ronan in the chest. His jaw drops with feigned shock, and he dramatically grabs at his chest where I tapped him. “You always take his side!”
“Because you’re usually the one giving him shit.”
Mac looks over his shoulder and winks. “Still my hero.”
Unable to hold it back any longer, Finn drops his hand and lets out a roar of a laugh.
“Not cool, Baby. Not cool.” I’d maybe take him seriously if he didn’t have a practically devious look on his face.
The guys continue poking jabs at one another but not picking on Mac any further about the fact that he just told me he loved me for the first time in front of them. I know they’re nothing but happy for their brother, and as obnoxious as it sounds, even happier for me.
Mac plates cinnamon rolls that are easily as big as my head, topping each with a generous amount of cream cheese frosting and roasted walnuts. He gives us each a side of mixed berries, and I don’t miss that he adds an extra spoonful to my plate. I inhale the roll and side of fruit in minutes, and they all smile big when I ask for seconds. I know they’re worried about how thin I got while I was gone, and quite frankly, I am too. I miss my curves and want them back.
Once we have all finished eating, I clear my throat, drawing their attention toward me. “Sooo, what’s the plan? What are we going to do about Declan and Logan? Does anyone even know where Logan is?”
They share quick glances among one another before Ronan speaks, “Luca still has Sebastian running facial recognition on Logan. So far, he’s stayed under the radar, but Sebastian will find him if he shows up anywhere with a camera.”
“If he’s still alive,” Finn says, now sitting at a stool next to Mac at the end of the island. “Judging by the amount of blood in that bathroom, you got him good.” He winks at me, and I feel the puff of pride in my chest as I sit up a little straighter and turn back to Ronan.
“He must have gotten a hold of Declan after you escaped because the plane he was supposed to send to Erie International never showed up. Logan hasn’t been seen at a single hospital or any other airport. If he is alive, he’s hunkered down somewhere, probably waiting on further instruction from Declan and trying to heal whatever nasty wound you gave him.”
