Avenging Laura (Special Forces: Operation Alpha)

Chapter 32

CHAPTER THIRTY-TWO

The next couple of weeks were a nightmare for Laura. She was finally released to go back to work, and she had a lot to catch up on case wise. She was starting to fall back into a rhythm of things with the team.

She went to work. Laughed, joked with her team, and then went home to an empty house. Some evenings she went to the gym and worked out. One night a week she had a date night with Highlander and the kids and then Saturday nights, the nights she tended to look forward to the most, were date nights just for her and Highlander.

She wondered if she should be upset with herself because she looked forward to that night more than Wednesday night when she had the family date night.She loved her kids, but the time alone with her husband had always been her favorite.

While nothing sexual had happened, much to her disappointment, they went to dinner. The movies. The beach for the day. Riding on the motorcycle. He held her hands, curled up with her while watching a movie in the theater. There were plenty of kisses.

There were always plenty of kisses. He always suggested they go out somewhere. It was like he was afraid to truly be alone with her in the house. She understood it. She knew if they were alone in the house, no distractions, then they would wind up in bed.

The one good thing about their date nights with just the two of them was that they were able to talk. They talked about their day, their jobs, family, and funny things that have gone on between all of it. They talked, they laughed, and they laughed until they cried.

“You’ll probably say I told you so, but since you left and took the kids with you, the photos have stopped,” Laura shyly admitted to Highlander.

“Completely?”

“Yeah. Nothing in the mailbox, doorstep, or at work. Diesel was convinced that once their spy reported that you were around again that the photos would start. But nothing yet, that we’ve found.”

“Ye think someone has been watching ye?’ Highlander leaned forward in his seat.

“Captain Irby thinks so. I didn’t know it, but after you left, she had someone from Delta Squad watching the house. Brody managed to get into the camera feeds you have to check around outside, and we can’t find anything. The captain wanted to suggest that you stay a night or two, with or without the kids, to see if something changes but I told her that at this time it wasn’t an option.” Laura quickly added, afraid he would think it was a ploy to get him back in the house.

“The Peterman’s house is for sale across the street. Let me talk to Tex and see what can be done about using that house for a few days. Have Gumby’s team do some recon if need be.”

“Joe, you don’t need to. They haven’t cared since you left. I thought it was interesting and also had to admit you were right. I can admit that now.”

“Lass, ye are still my wife. Will always be my wife. Just because I am not in our home at the moment, doesn’t mean I don’t worry about ye. I check those cameras multiple times a day to make sure ye are coming home to a safe home. That ye are sleeping ok. I will always do that, probably even when we are old and gray. Ye are my world.”

“You are mine too. I will be happy when we can be a family again. I miss you and the kids very much,” Laura admitted, fighting the tears that were threatening to come.

Highlander reached across the table, placing his hands on hers. “We miss ye too, lass. We will be together again. Only a matter of time before we are a family again. I need ye healed, lass. Our kids need ye healed. I know ye need, want to be healed too.”

“I do. More than you realize. I honestly didn’t realize until I was forced into the counseling how much I truly held onto from my past. How much anger I had in me with it all. All I can say is thank you for loving me unconditionally through it all.”

“That will never change, lass. Never!” Highlander smiled over at her.

“Ok. Well, you need to get back to Grams. If I know her, she’ll have the kids sugared up and you’ll be up all night with them.” Laura laughed nervously as she threw her napkin on the table and started to get out of the booth they were sitting at.

“Actually, Dom has them tonight. He was supposed to have had a date tonight, but someone took the kids on the last date he had and had Ryleigh and Aurora go up to him and call him daddy and ask when he was coming home, they missed him and some shite. Now the girl has broken up with him.”

Laura burst into laughter at what Highlander had just informed her. She knew exactly what had happened because her brother had called her and told her ranting and raving.

“That explains his phone call the other day. He didn’t say what happened or anything. Just that he was disowning our children. My grandmother loves Angel and thinks Dominick is an ass for not chasing her. What she doesn’t understand is that Angel thinks Dom is a dumbass.” Laura laughed as she wiped the tears from her eyes.

“Aye. She bribed Ryleigh with a promise of twenty bucks and a new laptop.” Highlander laughed as he leaned back in his seat to stare at Laura.

“Ah, that daughter of yours is dangerous.” Laura chuckled as she leaned forward with her elbows on the table.

“Aye, that she is. She takes after her mum with that brain of hers.”

“I think that’s more your brains, babe. World domination falls under your family’s purview.”