Page 9 of The Prodigal Prince

Not exactly how Mac had envisioned a reunion with a member of his family.

He barely knew his brother-in-law. They’d met a couple of times during his mum’s short illness, and probably a few times in passing as they grew up, but he wasn’t certain he’d have recognized the other prince in a different setting.

Gabriel’s face hardened into an impassive mask. “What are you doing here?”

“He’s Gray’s father.” Fiona broke the news for him. “I haven’t seen him in years, and they’ve never met.”

Not entirely accurate, but close enough for the moment.

“You’re the secret fling?” Gabriel crossed his arms over his chest. “I suppose now I know why Fiona would never tell me. Your sister is going to be both thrilled and furious at the same time. She’s been worried about you since you disappeared.”

Mac managed a nod, but before he could respond, Gabriel went on.

“All of that can wait. The first thing we need to do is find Gray and get him home safely.”

“Of course.” Did Gabriel think anything else would be more important? Esme would agree, too.

Should he still call her Esme? After the death of their mother and his sister’s ascension to the throne, could he? That didn’t even take into account the bombshell bit of information he’d learned on the same trip.

Did Esme know?

Mac shook his head. No. Right now, Gray had to be his sole focus.

The rest could come later.

But did that bit of information - the thing that made him walk away from Fiona and his son for so many years - have anything to do with his missing son?

Probably not.

But definitely a possibility.

Mac shook himself internally and tried to focus on the conversation his brother-in-law and Fiona were having with a member of the security team. The resort had been locked down pretty quickly, but had it been fast enough?

Gabriel didn’t seem convinced they had been.

As much as he wanted to be at the forefront of the discussions, Mac hung back. He didn’t know Gray. Not really. He’d observed the little boy with Fiona more times than he could count, andfeltlike he knew him, but he really didn’t.

“Your Royal Highness.”

It took Mac a second to realize one of the security officers spoke to him. It had been years since he’d been referred to that way - except by Silas in a snarky mood. “Yes?”

“I need you to come with me, sir.”

Mac looked at Fiona, who wasn’t looking anywhere near him, and Gabriel, whose glare could melt glaciers. With a nod, he followed the officer to another room in the security offices, taking the seat indicated.

“Sir, we need to go over your whereabouts since you arrived, including anyone who can vouch for you.” The man pulled a tablet out and removed the pencil from its holding spot. After a couple of taps he was ready to write. “When did you arrive?”

There wouldn’t be any point in lying, not that he would have. Mac spent the next hour going through everything he’d done since he arrived a few days earlier. Silas could vouch for him.

Would that count? Or would he need another way to prove where he’d been?

Afterward, he was allowed to go back to the conference room where Fiona and Gabriel waited.

“The queen is on her way,” Gabriel told him with a glare.

Mac glared right back. “Which queen? Queen Penelope of San Majoria or my sister?” At least he remembered that, since he’d been gone, King Edward had been widowed then remarried.

The door opened to let two people in. Everyone in the room immediately stood and bowed or curtsied their general direction.

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