Avenging Laura (Special Forces: Operation Alpha)

Chapter 11

CHAPTER ELEVEN

Highlander leaned his head on his forearms and groaned. His back was aching fiercely. He knew it was because he was tense and holding his anger in.

“Come with me.”

Looking up, he knew he shouldn’t have been surprised to see his father and see at least six of his brothers standing in the room with him. Mike had been in town when Laura was kidnapped and was just as invested in finding her as he was.

He had known either he or Marcus would call his parents and tell them what was going on. He should have known that they would have rallied the troops, and everyone would have dropped everything to be here for him and the kids.

Fuck! The kids. He needed to see the kids. He hadn’t seen them in four days. Not since the morning their mother had taken them to daycare before they left for work that morning. He was a horrible father!

“Stop that thought right there, son!” William MacLeod Sr advised his son, staring him in the eyes.

“My wee ones. I know Aurora is too young to understand…” Highlander started but stopped as his voice broke.

“Ye bairns are with ye mum. She has it under control as always. They know what is going on and know their da is doing everything in his power to bring their mum home to them. Ye can give them a call later. Right now, ye need to get that tension out of ye body so that when we do have word of ye lass being found, ye can focus on her without being taken out of the action.”

“We will find her, brother. Come hell or high water. She will be found,” Marcus “Pats” MacLeod said firmly, his eyes cold like his right now.

Highlander looked around the room. Besides his father, his brothers Mike, Marcus, Tommy, Willie, Jack, and Ash were in the room standing side by side in a united front. This is what family was. When he married Laura, he was able to give her and Dominick a true family.

While Laura and Dominick had each other, she’d also had her teammates. She’d made a family for herself and for Cody. Now, she had more than she’d ever thought possible to call family.

Besides him and his family, she had his team, Marcus’s team, Wolf and his team, Ghost and his team, Mike’s team, and Tex. His wife had everyone on the planet looking for her right now. Why the hell hasn’t she been found? This fucker couldn’t be that damn good.

“I need to contact General McCoy and advise him that he has a daughter and that she’s now missing.” Highlander sighed as he advised his father and brothers of the events that have transpired in the last couple of days.

“I can get him on the phone. I’m just not sure this is something ye tell someone over the phone.” Mike rubbed his face with his hands as he shook his head.

“Right now, that’s all I can do. I am not leaving this area unless I get the call my lass has been found and where I need to haul my arse to get her.”

“Actually, gentlemen, the general is already on his way here. He’s been informed that he needs to come to California and that it’s very important,” Captain Irby advised the large group of men as she walked into the room with Raso, Diesel, York, Wolf, and Ghost behind her.

“The captain had me contact him while Wolf contacted Commander Hurt. With both of us calling him, he knows something is up and is on his way here,” Ghost explained to Highlander.

“When Commander Hurt brings him in, I’m making that bitch tell him that he’s a daddy and that because she failed to protect his daughter she’s now missing and what she’s allowed that waste of space to do to his daughter for the last thirty plus years. If he sees fit to end her life, I saw nothing, I heard nothing, I know fucking nothing!” Captain Irby announced as she stared each man down, daring them to contradict her.

“Now that I want front row seats to,” Jeannette said as she walked into the already crowded room with Dominick beside her.

“Shit! I still can’t wrap my head around the fact that my sister is the daughter of one of the most decorated Army men on the planet. Well, besides the man who created Delta Force, that is,” Dominick commented in awe at what he’d learned.

“He’s going to go nuclear. The man cherishes family. He’s been married to the same woman for the last twenty-five years with five children. While Delta was his life, his family comes first.” Ghost shook his head as he joined Dominick on the side of the room.

“Mrs. O’Reiley, I know that Kathy is ye daughter…”

“Knock it off with the Mrs. O shit. We’re family. Your son makes my granddaughter happy. You accepted my grandson without a second thought. You can call me Jean or Jeannette. Whichever floats your Scottish boat.”

Highlander and Dominick both had to hide their laughter behind coughs at Jeannette’s dismissal of her married name. She was definitely a spry old woman.

“Aye, very well, Jean. I know Kathy is ye daughter, but…”

“William, is it?” Jeannette asked as she moved to stand in front of Highlander’s father.

“Aye.”

“She stopped being my daughter a long time ago. I blame myself for not having stepped in when I should have to protect my grandchildren. That’s on me and if this McCoy fella wants to be mad at me, then I’ll accept it. Whatever he lobs at my daughter, well, it’s deserved. She allowed Laura to be harmed and stood by. That’s not a mother, that’s someone who needs their ass kicked! She’s been disowned by me and her siblings. Dominick and Laura disowned her years ago. While she thinks she’s still in the will, she’s been officially removed and will not get shit except for the measly dollar the state of California says I have to leave her so she can’t contest the will.”

“Um, Captain Irby, there’s a Commander Hurt and a General McCoy in the lobby requesting to see you. Where do you want me to take them?” Gavin Brody came into the room, his usual teasing banter gone as he informed every one of their guests.

“Take them to the conference room. Dominick, I will leave Kathy to you and Mrs. Jeannette. Let’s get this war started.”

“Forget Hiroshima, the nuclear explosion that’s about to happen in that conference room is going to be way more devastating and I know that sounds insensitive but have y’all seen the size of that man? Lord have mercy,” Brody looked at Highlander, wondering if should be running for the hills.

“There’s going to be casualties today, lad. That’s for sure,” William remarked as everyone walked out of the room heading toward the large conference room where everything was being set up.