Page 18 of The Prodigal Prince

She gasped and jumped from her chair. “Gray!”

He ran to her as she moved toward him. “Mama!”

She picked him up and swung him into her arms, holding him tight. “Oh, sweet boy. I’m so glad they found you.”

“I missed you, Mama.” He leaned back and fiddled with her necklace. “The nice men got me ice cream for dinner.”

Nice men?

At least they’d treated him well. He looked fine.

Fiona took him back to the chair she’d been in and sat down. He snuggled close to her.

“I went to the pool and we had ice cream for lunch. Then I played in the other pool with another boy and girl. A nice man brought me more ice cream. He said he’d take me to you, Mama. We went to a park and played hide and seek. It was my turn to find them, but they were gone.” He shrugged. “I did what you told me to. I found another mom and told her I was lost.”

Mac looked toward the king who nodded. The mum would be rewarded well.

“Then the police came and brought me here.”

“I’m so glad you’re here, kiddo.” Tears continued down her cheeks, but these had to be happy tears.

“Mama,” Gray whispered loudly.

“Yes, bud?”

“Who’s that?” He pointed at Mac.

Mac let Fiona take the lead. He wouldn’t tell Gray anything she didn’t want him to.

“That’s Mac,” she told him, then sucked in a deep breath. “Your daddy.”

6

Of all the ways Fiona imagined introducing Gray to his father, this one had never been on the list.

She’d never envisioned a scenario where Gray had been kidnapped either.

“My daddy?” Gray whispered.

“Yes,” she confirmed. “Mac is your daddy.”

Mac leaned forward but didn’t reach for Gray. “Hi.”

Gray snuggled a bit closer to Fiona. “Hi.”

The look Mac sent her way seemed to be full of uncertainty. “It’s nice to meet you, Gray.”

She could tell Mac wanted to reach for Gray, but she respected him for not insisting.

“Your Royal Highness, ma’am, we need to leave.” One of the security team members motioned to them.

Mac quickly hid the look of disappointment that crossed his face as Fiona stood, situating Gray on her hip, though he’d been too big to do so comfortably for some time. She wasn’t about to let him go.

They followed the security officer through a hallway and into a reception room of some sort. King Antonio and Queen Penelope waited for them, as did Gabe.

“We’re going to send you to Sargasso with Gabriel while the investigation continues,” the king told them. “Gabriel was slated to leave this afternoon anyway. It’s been arranged so that no one will know you’re with him. The media will be told you and your son have been taken to a secure location. They’ll assume you’re here at the palace. We’ll let them think that until you’re ready to reappear somewhere else.”

Fiona nodded. Normally, she didn’t like hiding from the media, but this wasn’t a normal time. She’d do anything that needed to be done to keep Gray safe. She had no doubt Mac would as well.

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