“Her disabilities?” Carter asked, confused, sharing a glance with Ian before looking between Highlander, Larry and Gene for an explanation.
Larry and Gene shared a look for a beat before looking over at Highlander.
“When Laura was a baby, she got really sick. It caused her to lose most of her hearing. She wears two hearing aids to help her function like she’s almost fully hearing.” Larry started letting the others know.
“Please tell me that’s not why her parents treat her the way they do,” Alvarez requested, voice low and angry.
“Aye it is.”
“I’m afraid so. Dominick was favored as the only son, but because he and Laura were close, they started treating him like he was a traitor when he refused to leave her out of things or ignore her like they did.” Gene watched the women standing around the SUV talking.
“Dom left the Army when he found out Laura had divorced her husband.” Highlander finished.
“How is she with the lifestyle? She seemed to know a lot about it when we were in that hidden room.” Alvarez wanted to know.
Highlander smiled slightly. “It’s been a work in progress. She knows the difference between what we do and what the ex-husband tried to push her into. The hard limits, as you already guessed, bondage, whips, blindfolds, public scenes, and dark play. Her absolute hard limit is a third, which is fine with me since I don’t like to share her.”
“What’s the plan now?” Cortez asked, sauntering onto the balcony.
“Laura okay?” Highlander asked, not seeing her by the SUV anymore.
Cortez smiled at everyone, nodding her head. “Yeah, she’s just embarrassed for freaking out like she did in the hidden room. She’s walking with York right now, Cody called to talk to her about something with school.”
“Alright, so we need to really look at those DVDs to see what’s on them. I’m going to get my two resident geeks on them since they can do the facial recs at the same time.”
“Good, Sarge is sending Pratt and Diesel back in with Candy when we get back to the station.”
“Why?” Highlander wasn’t very happy.
“It was actually her idea. They were also going to see if they can get clearance for either Ian or Carter to go in with them.”
“Okay, I’m curious, what are they were thinking?” Ian stood straighter, looking over towards Carter.
“Makes two of us,” Carter agreed with Ian.
“I’m thinking that with Candy feels she can overthrow a man, control one even. If one of you alpha as hell men come in, it would trip her up. Neither one of you can be controlled or dominated. That will piss her off and she’ll trip up. Hell, you two even scare the fuck out of me when you get that gleam in your eyes when you’re fighting that control.” Both men looked at Pratt, studying her.
“She knows Highlander and her team, so she knows Highlander is the alpha in our marriage. She’ll be on her guard with him since she knows she can’t entice him away from me. Larry goes in, knowing he’s FBI, she’ll be too focused on cutting a deal with him. Gene, well, with Uncle Gene, being as he lets his grey shine through, she’ll see him as a father figure and refuse to speak or do anything because of her daddy issues.”
“Keon has grey too…” Ian pointed out.
“True, but he’s FBI, and the top dog. Her attorney will find that information out, then she will too. He needs to stay in the background. Gene won’t tell her who he is, so she’ll assume authority figure and her daddy issues will come out. She’ll either go coocoo for cocoa puffs or try to fuck him in front of everyone.”
“And she won’t with Ian or Carter, lass?”
“Oh, she’ll go coocoo for cocoa puffs for them. They ooze alphaness like you do. The difference is she doesn’t know them. They will be a challenge for her. She doesn’t know their spouses. Me, she knows, I’ll lay the badge on the table and stab her fucking ass where you’re concerned. I haven’t met Ian’s wife, but I already know that Alvarez will slit her throat without thought.”
“Damn right!” Alvarez agreed. “Angie would too, where Ian is concerned. I’d give her the knife.”
“My kinda gal.” Pratt laughed.
“Okay Harley Quinns…” York cut in, “Why don’t we just have Pratt go in with both men? Pratt can lose her cool, one of them suggest in their ‘Dom voice’ for her to cool off, she leaves the room then Ian and Carter tag team her together…not like that dipshit!” York quickly added when Pratt started to hold Alvarez back. “I meant with the way their own special way of interrogation that makes Candy fuck up and spill without realizing it.”
“She’s right.” Pratt stared at Ian and Carter for a minute. “How about me not even going in, they go in, just the two of them?”
“Do we get a say in this?” Ian questioningly mocked.
“Please?” Pratt begged. “I hate to admit it, but we are desperate. Until Brody and Nathan look at those DVDs or find out who or what this Ares is, we have nothing. Dakota needs any and all help, even if it means going out of our comfort zone and begging for help.”
