Page 48 of Theirs

“You sure you’re okay?” he asks, holding my hand as we walk in.

I’m about to tell him I’m perfectly fine, but as we follow shortly behind Gisele, I watch her join her parents at their table and notice a familiar figure sitting in the chair next to the one Gisele’s sitting down in. The hair on my arm stands as goosebumps rise. I watch as Gisele scoots her chair a little bit away from the man who peers down at her, practically looking down her cleavage. His hand sneaks under the table, and I grit my teeth as he lets out a laugh.

My worst nightmare glances up, seeing me standing in the doorway. His smile grows even bigger as he lifts a hand to wave my way, recognizing me even though a lot has changed. I didn’t even realize I was squeezing Mac’s hand as hard as I was.

“Do you know Mr. Barnes?” Mac asks.

I turn to him, ready to bolt. How the hell does MacKenna know that monster’s name?

“I want to go home, Mac,” I say, my throat drying. “Take me home, please.”

He glances up at the evil in the room, and then back to me. I think he’s ready to go kick his ass even though he has no idea what that man has done.

“Mac,” I say, gripping his arm. “Get me out of here. Now.”

***

Mac ran me a bubble bath in his giant master bath tub, and poured me a glass of wine. He turned on my favorite show on the flatscreen in the bathroom while he went out to make a call. I didn’t tell him what happened with Barnes until we were in the car and away from the venue. Who knows what Mac would have tried to do to him. Ben told me that Mac comes from a long line of Irishmen with big tempers, but they’re all very protective of what’s theirs. I didn’t want Mac to start drama at the wedding.

“Hey,” I say as he comes into the bathroom in just his dress pants and an unbuttoned dress shirt.

He kneels down next to the tub and looks at me sadly. “I’m so sorry that you had to see him. If I had known...”

I shake my head and reach for his hand, water dripping from my fingers. “How could you know? Me, my parents, and him are the only people who know. And Gisele... shit... Gisele!”

I begin to panic, ready to climb out of the tub and go rescue that little girl from the monster who raped me.

“Hey, hey, it’s okay,” Mac says. “I’ve dealt with him.”

“What do you mean?” I ask, sitting back into the tub.

“I’ve notified Gisele’s parents,” he tells me. “And Mr. Barnes was an employee of mine, but now he’s been fired and I’ve got a restraining order in the works. I’ve got very serious rules about the type of people who work for me. He’ll never touch you again. The man is a predator.”

“But what about Gisele?”

“She’ll be safe from him,” he tells me. “Teagan, you are the bravest person I know. Gisele is so lucky that you were there to help her tonight.”

“But what if he hurts someone else?” I ask. “What if he already has?”

I don’t even realize, but I’ve started crying. Mac pulls me from the water, and sits me on his lap, even though I’m soaking his clothes. He pulls a towel around me and holds me to his body as I shake with years of pent up anger for that monster. Years of fearing that I would run into him at the grocery store, that he’d find me out with friends while I was drunk, always looking over my shoulder as I passed the townhouse I knew he lived in. I’ve kept tabs on him over the years, trying to make sure I never had a chance encounter with the man who ruined me.

“Maybe Alex can contact his mafia client and Mr. Barnes will just be gone,” Mac whispers and I chuckle through my tears. “I’m only half joking. I want that bastard to rot in jail for what he did to you.”

“Don’t tell the guys yet, okay?” I ask looking up at Mac. “I hadn’t told anyone about what happened until tonight, other than my parents.”

“That’s why you don’t talk to them?” Mac asks, putting the missing puzzle piece together.

I nod my head, and burrow into the crook of Mac’s neck. “Even after I told them, they still wanted me to go through with the marriage, because they didn’t believe me. They thought I was being an irrational teenage girl.”

Mac squeezes me against him. “I won’t let anything bad ever happen to you again, Teagan. You’re safe with us.”

For so long, I’ve been the one having to protect myself, the only one in my corner. I’ve had Kane and Kristen, but they didn’t know the secret that I kept from them. I think I should probably tell Kane though, so he understands. He was away at college when it happened. I should have called him instead of my parents, he would have come in an instant and found justice for me. Now, that’s probably not possible; Barnes can afford the best lawyers in Chicago, he’s got the money. He’s always had the money.

I let out a sigh. “I’m sorry I ruined our date weekend.”

“Kitten, no. Do not apologize,” he says, softly running a hand through my hair. “I’m just glad you felt comfortable telling me.”

“I think I should tell my brother,” I whisper. “I’m tired of him trying to convince me to make amends with my parents in order to survive financially. I just don’t want to ruin his relationship with them. I don’t want to be selfish.”

Mac chuckles. “You are far from selfish, Teagan. I think it would be good—cathartic even—if you told Kane. Don’t let the trauma and anger keep you from moving on with your life.”

I nod in agreement and let out a yawn.

“Let’s get you to bed,” Mac says. He stands up and carries me out of the bathroom. “We’re going to embrace all of tomorrow. Pancakes for breakfast followed by a fun daytime date.”

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