Page 11 of Avenging Laura

“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.

CHAPTER TWELVE

Highlander sat back in his seat. He purposely chose, along with everyone else, to sit on the same side as General McCoy. They didn’t want to be anywhere near Kathy when the shit hit the fan.

“What the hell is going on? Instead of Coronado, I was brought here,” General Travis McCoy demanded as he looked around the room.

“Sir…” Mike started to say until the door opened.

Everyone turned when the conference room door opened and in walked Kathy with Toi O’Roark and Angel Moretti standing behind her, both with their hands gripping their vests and a dark look on their faces. Yep, Kathy showed her ass.

“Donna?” General McCoy looked at the doorway shock obvious in his expression.

“Who the hell is Donna?” Jeannette asked, looking between the two. “Her name is Kathy. You gave this man a false name?”

“Well, yeah. I was a married woman.” Kathy sneered at her mother when she outed her on the name thing.

“Wait, when we were together all those years ago, you were married?”

“Y-yes. Your unit was doing cross drills with my now ex-husband at the time. When you left to go back to your originalbase, I had my number changed so you couldn’t find me,” Kathy admitted, looking at everything but the people in the room.

“Ok. What the hell is going on here? Why are you all so damn adamant that I be here and have her admit she fucked around on her husband, and I was a fucking idiot back then?” General McCoy demanded as he looked around the room.

“Kathy, if you don’t tell this man, I will and when I tell him, it’s not going to be pretty,” Jeannette warned her daughter as she tapped her cane on the floor for emphasis.

“Tell me what?” General McCoy looked between Jeannette and Kathy in confusion.

“I-I got pregnant from our time together. Y-you have a daughter. Laura,” Kathy stammered as she fidgeted with her fingers refusing to look at the man.

“My wife.” Highlander stood up as he spoke to the General. “Laura Renee Pratt MacLeod. She is a detective with the Human Trafficking Task Force here in San Diego. She is also the sister-in-law of Mike MacLeod who serves under ye.”

“Where is she? Why isn’t she in here?” General McCoy questioned as he looked around the room at the women of Alpha Squad one by one.

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