Moving quietly through the house Harper did one more pass making sure nothing was messed up. She didn't see anymore blood but she couldn't get it out of her head that it was there and it was going to get her in trouble. Stepping into the kitchen she eyed the spot she knew the blood puddle had been and seen no signs anymore of it. Mac had been right vinegar did work better.

Setting down at the table and taking a breath she looked around her the kitchen slowly. Eyes landing on the bottle of whiskey Mac had packed back from where he had went yesterday she felt her mouth water. Grabbing the bottle she took a tentative sip trying to suppress the cough and burn in her throat before taking another drink.

The soft clicking of tiny toenail alerted her to his presence and she turned towards the door. Mac and the dog she had yet to name were just stepping through. She fought against the smile that threatened to escape over the dog following him around but she knew he was going to see it anyways.

"Do something with this fuckin' mutt Harper." His voice was rough with sleep.

She took another drink and just nodded still not really sure what to say to him. She had said a lot yesterday and was surprised he hadn't killed her over some of it. She was aware that Mac might never love her or more to the point that he couldn't. She didn't think it was in him to love someone but she liked to believe that she was something to him. She was alive wasn't she?

She didn't regret saying shit though and she wouldn't. Mac would just have to be mad but it felt good to have that weight gone from her chest. It felt like she could fuckin' breath since the first time she had spoken to him.

A strong hand closed over her grip on the bottle pulling it away and eyeballing her. "You gonna be a drunk now?" He snapped.

Harper sighed and leaned back against the cabinet wincing with the movement. It didn't go unnoticed and a wolfish smile grossed Mac's face as his eyes ran the length of her body. His eyes were predatory and proud as they took her in. They swiftly focused on every part of her that she knew was marked and hurt even though the shirt hung around her concealing them. His eyes knew where they were without needing to be able to see them, he had memorized her entire body and ever mark on her.

"You have work today?"

"We'll call it that."

Harper raised an eyebrow but said no more she didn't need to ask one look in his eyes and she seen what was going on. She was treading that line again that would be easy to tip over. Mac was still worked up despite everything and she knew it was more her words than her actions.

The buzz of her phone distracted both of them and she growled at the name flashing across the screen. She hated Melissa and didn't know why she would be calling her at all the woman knew she didn't like her at all.

"Hello."

She seen Mac eyeballing her while getting his stuff together and she let her eyes slide over the plains of his back trying to distract herself from the annoying voice on the phone.

"Yeah I don't see that happening."

Shaking her head and growling the bitch droned on and on.

"What the fuck for?" Clenching her jaw.

Mac grabbed up the bottle of whiskey and turned it up his eyes darkening on her. She watched the movement of his throat as each pass of the burning amber liquid was swallowed. Mac set the bottle aside still watching her making her nerves kick up.

"Whatever Melissa I'll take care of it." She snapped as she hung up the phone.

Harper tossed it to the table with a flip of her wrist and turned her angry gaze back to him. She felt her anger spiking more and more at the thought of that woman and she swallowed remembering what it was like to get ahold of Jess. She wanted to beat that bitch just as bad, she wanted her to really understand the depths of hate Harper felt for her.

Refocusing her eyes she jumped suddenly when Mac was right in front of her. His knowing piercing gaze burning her skin as he looked down at her. Shaking his head he gripped her throat and tightened it holding her in place. Harper swallowed against his hand and jerked back from him to no avail.

Mac laughed, "Your gonna get caught."

Harper closed her eyes and nodded sharply remembering his words about how careless she had been. She knew he was right and took deep breaths to calm herself down. With each slowing pass of her heart beat against his grip she felt it loosen some allowing her more breath. Opening her eyes back up Mac was studying her.

She let her eyes do the same to him while she had a chance. Her eyes slid along his strong profile down the strong column of his throat her eyes landing on the scar from her bite a few weeks back. She smirked and let her eyes go to the now lighter bruise that set a little lower on him. At least the skank wont think she's something important to him when she sees my marks.

"I do love you Mac." Her voice came out in a whisper. She heard the growl rumbling through his chest and blinked before looking up at him. His face was a mask of anger as he glared at her and she brought her hand to his neck. "I don't want anything from you Mac. I'm not Walter...I'm not your mother. Just Harper."

"I'm gonna fuckin' kill you." His voice was a snarl.

Harper smiled licking her lips watching his eyes, "Then give me forever in my numbered days asshole."

Mac barked out a laugh but his eyes still held something in them that had her tensing. He released her suddenly and stepped back adjusting the front of his pants. His hands patted his pockets down quickly as his eyes searched around the room. He started walking for the door not looking at her but she heard him spitting venom under his breath talking to himself.

His eyes flashed to hers before stepping through the door, "Don't do something stupid while I'm gone and get locked the fuck up. I'd hate to kill Pratt today."

She didn't get a chance to respond as he thundered down the short steps and was to his truck. She watched him pull away without a backward glance. She would never get a confirmation of feelings besides his claim on her and hers on him. Him accepting her saying that he was hers was enough for her. It would have to be. If she pushed him any further she knew he would hold true to his threat to kill her.

Harper sighed walking through the house and straight to the shower. She needed to get cleaned up and see what the fuck Melissa and her dad wanted that couldn't wait till some other time. Stripping quickly she jumped in the shower making quick work of it.

Pulling into the house she hadn't been back to since she moved out she stepped out the vehicle and winced feeling a twinge of pain. Mac hadn't held back in the slightest on her last night. He made her pay for every word she had uttered. She knew she was gonna get the same tonight when he showed back up at the house. Though maybe it would be tempered by whatever whore he had butchered.

Melissa stepped out on the porch beaming her eyes immediately swept to the vehicle and she frowned. "We wanted you to bring Mac."

"Had shit to do." Harper huffed.

Melissa gave her a disbelieving look, "Is that so?"

With a sneer and a nod she moved to the porch relishing the feel of the shade on her pale skin. "Yeah that's fuckin' so."

"Your father seen him in town just a minute ago."

Harper growled and looked at her, "Why do you want him here again? So you can make an ass of yourself in front of him and my father? Does he know you were pretty much flashing him your pussy when he was here last time?"

Melissa stepped closer to her, "I was being friendly."

"Yeah friendly."

"Not the kind of friendly I heard in your room that day with him here." Melissa hissed.

Harper snorted at the thought and walked past her into the house straight to her father's study. He had taken to secluding himself in it most of the time he was home when she had lived here. Stepping in without knocking he looked up and his eyes roamed over her.

"Haven't seen you in a while."

Harper shrugged dropping down in the wing back chair. "Been around."

Her father shut his book and adjusted his glasses looking at her, "Your mad at me."

Harper leaned her head back not wanting to look at him and sighed. "This is what you called me here for? You had years to figure that shit out."

"Look at me when I'm talking to you!" He snapped.

Harper felt her blood boil at him thinking he could talk to her like that. She let her mind drift to the thought that when Mac done it she was more than alright with it. But this son of a bitch wasn't Mac, he was a piece of shit that got her mother killed.

Harper's eyes snapped to his blazing, "Say what you need to."

"I wanted you to bring Walter's son with you." He set back leveling her with a disapproving look.

Harper smiled, "If you think looking at me like that is going to get you whatever the fuck it is you want your sadly mistaken. I'm not your little girl anymore."

Harper watched something flash in his eyes at her words as he struggled to get his anger under control. He didn't like that one bit and she was sure he was going to hate Mac.

"Are you still staying with Jessica?"

"Nope."

Her father's eyes landed on her again and she could see some of his anger spilling on to his features, "When did the living situation change?"

"Few weeks back."

"Mac's then."

Harper nodded. He sighed and looked off, "Are you seeing him?"

"Why the fuck would you care?"

He stood up slapping his hands down on the desk, "I'm still your father Harper!"

"That's funny considering you waited till I moved out to try to act like one." Harper stood up glaring at him, "Correction attempt to act like one."

"I want to meet him."

Harper turned and looked at him her eyes burning. She would like nothing more than to lock her father in a room with Mac and see what happened. Mac on the other hand hadn't like coming here to help her let alone if she said her father wanted to meet him. Shaking her head she sighed, "He'll not go for that."

Clenching his jaw, "Melissa said he seemed nice."

Harper snorted and raised her eyebrow, "She would think that."

Her father shot her a quizzical look his eyes going to her neck now that her hair had fallen over her shoulder. She watched his eyes blaze and the struggle warring inside them. Her father was always one for control and he had no such thing over her and never would. Never had. She was Macs.

He looked away, "I'm serious about wanting to meet him."

Harper snorted, "Noted."

Walking out of the room she seen Melissa setting waiting in the living room smiling at her, "Have something for you."

A sealed dish was thrust into her hands as she walked for the door, "Harper give him a break." Melissa trailed her outside still speaking. "He's not use to seeing you around other men."

Harper set the dish in her jeep, "He's not seen me around other men. "

"Honey he's used to seeing boys from school having little crushes on you. That's not Mac...he's a man."

Harper licked her lips her mind quickly comparing Mac to all the young boys her father had seen flirt with her. There was a huge difference between them and Mac. Hell there was a huge difference between Mac and men his age an older. She had never found one of them attractive or the least bit interesting, had never been able to stand even talking to them. Mac though from the moment she had first seen him she had felt such a strong pull to him that it was hard for her to breathe at times.

"He seen you at Luna Mesa." Melissa added.

Harper raised an eyebrow, "And?"

"He said you threw yourself at Mac. Or who he was assuming Mac was."

Harper smiled knowing exactly what night he was talking about and nodded, "Yeah that was Mac."

Melissa shrugged, "He just worries."

Harper growled, "Odd time for him to decide to be paternal."

Melissa gave her a sly smile, "Think he's slightly jealous."

Harper sighed and climbed in her jeep, "I got shit to do Melissa."

The woman nodded and stepped back, "If you don't talk to him your father is dead set on seeking him out."

Harper gave her a vindictive smile at the thought and started her jeep. "I'd warn him against that."

Without waiting on a reply she was gone from the strong questioning looks that Melissa was shooting her. With those looks was a hunger that she didn't appreciate and had her blood boiling. She was proud of herself though for not snapping and hurting one of them. Mac would be proud. But goddamn she had wanted to knock the fuck out of both of them. Dumb cunts the pair of them.