Chapter 6
CHAPTER 6
Pratt, Raso, and York knew without a shadow of a doubt they were going to be given a run for their money. They understood and didn’t blame them.
They were outsiders to these people. Their ancestors were the real savages.
The women of Alpha Squad understood how those of the opposite races felt. They dealt with it all the time.
Once the families, those who didn’t sell their kid, realized they truly did care, their whole attitude changed. They’ve all dealt with bruises from distraught parents who have hit them a time or two, assuming they were accusing them of harming their child.
“Hank! Thank you for coming! Highlander, it’s good to see you again. How are you?”
“Warcloud! I’m good. How are ye, old man?” Highlander shook hands with the man as he greeted him.
“Like I said last night, could be better. Have you found you a woman that swept you off your ass and made an honest man of you, yet?”
Highlander’s laugh boomed around the room. “Aye, I have. Ye actually spoke with my wife last night. Warcloud, this is my beautiful lass, Detective Laura Pratt. This is my sister-in-law, Lindsey Raso and one of their teammates, Renee York.”
“My redeemers. My ancestors are truly smiling down on me today. Thank you for coming in!”
“Anything for ye, Warcloud. What about ye? Have ye found a bonny lass and settled down? If I recall, ye had one that ye pined away for back in the day.” Highlander laughed as he moved to stand near his wife.
“No. It wasn’t meant to be. She married someone else and had children with him.” Warcloud sighed heavily before giving Highlander a weak smile.
“You chose a country that gave zero fucks where you were concerned over the woman you claim was your one.” A woman scoffed towards Warcloud.
“No, Catori. You chose the reservation over me. I wanted to marry you. Travel the world with you. But you didn’t want to leave the reservation. It’s the past. It’s no longer an issue. I have moved on.”
Highlander and Pratt looked at each other for several moments before looking back at the couple who clearly still had feelings for one another. They both gave thanks that this was not their future.
Several months ago, could have been a different story for them. Life has a funny way of forcing someone to face all the trauma they refused to deal with properly.
Pratt had been kidnapped and left for dead. Due to her injuries and mental state once she’d been rescued, she’d done everything to push her husband and teammates away.
Tough love was the name of the game, thanks to her brother and long-lost grandmother. They, along with her husband and her teammates pushed her to her breaking point with her actions, which forced her to deal with her demons.
Now, she and Highlander were closer than ever. Their marriage was even stronger than it’s ever been.
Both Highlander and Pratt couldn’t help the smiles they gave each other. Pratt couldn’t help the blush she had on her face when Highlander winked her way.
Five years of marriage, three kids together, and the man still made her giggle like a schoolgirl with her first crush. The man stole her breath when he walked into a room, spoke to her or touched her.
She wouldn’t trade her husband for anything in the galaxy. Their brief time apart nearly killed her. Literally!
Now they were in Montana for a friend’s wedding, only to get drawn into a case. Highlander stood by her side, cheering her on like always.
“Alrighty then. Warcloud, can you take us to a conference room we can use? Raso, York and I would like to get started if possible.”
“Right this way. Can I get you guys anything?”
“Typical Hosa. Always being the white man’s bitch!”
The three women turned at the sneered man’s voice, ready to go to battle. When they smelled the alcohol, their stance turned even more lethal.
“Iyei…” Catori softly said as she reached out towards the drunk man.
Before anything else could be said or done, the man whirled on the woman and punched her in the face, knocking her to the ground. The room erupted into a whirl of motions.
Raso, Pratt, and York beat the men in taking down the attacker. Once they had the screaming man on the ground, they let the tribal police officers place cuffs on him and escort him away.
“Fucking whore has no business speaking without permission!” The man yelled out as he was dragged away from the lobby.
“Ma’am, are you ok?” The three women asked at the same time.
The three women exchanged looks with Hank and Highlander when they noticed Warcloud gently helping the woman up from the floor with another officer. An officer that had Pratt and York doing a double take before looking at each other in shock.
“Warcloud, let’s get her into the conference room.” Hank suggested when he caught Pratt and York’s look toward each other.
The small group followed Warcloud and the officer as they led the woman into a room that was used as a conference room. The women looked at each other for a few seconds, there was something they were sure anyone else had caught.
“Here you go, mom. Are you okay?” The officer asked as he got down on one knee to make himself the same level as the woman.
“Yes, Jace. I’m okay. He’s just having a hard time over your sisters’ disappearances. That’s all.”
“He’s always been a damn drunk, Catori.” Warcloud seethed through clenched teeth.
“That’s my father, captain!” Jace warned Warcloud, staring up at him angrily.
“Doesn’t excuse him for hitting your mother,” York warned the officer, stepping up to him.
“Is that guy your stepdad?” Pratt asked, looking between the three people.
The women both knew there was a secret being held when Catori’s eyes got wide at the question. One that was about to change everyone’s lives.