Page 18

Six months later…

“Will the defendant and counsel please rise?”

Kerrigan watched from the courtroom’s gallery as the man who’d tried to kill her stood beside his attorney. The entire room fell silent as everyone in attendance awaited the judge’s decision on sentencing.

She reached over and took her husband’s hand. Without hesitation, Cade laced his fingers with hers before giving her a soft, gentle squeeze.

My husband.

Early on in their relationship, she’d called their budding romance a whirlwind. But really, it was more like a forceful typhoon.

There had been moments in the beginning, precious moments that were so peaceful and sweet. The calm before a storm neither of them ever could have predicted.

The aftermath had been brutal, filled with physical and emotional pain. But as it often happened with storms so ferocious in nature, when the wind and the clouds finally blew past, they were left with a renewed sense of hope and the ability to begin anew.

In those first few weeks that followed Morales’s capture and subsequent arrest, however, Kerrigan’s world became inundated with pushy reporters looking to use her to further their own careers. Every one of them seemed to ask the same million questions, none of which she wanted to answer.

In the end, she decided to take control of the maddening chaos. And with the help of both Sergeant Bowen and Detective Hansen, she arranged for her very own press conference.

She didn’t go into graphic detail, because that would have just been more fodder for both Morales and others like him. Instead Kerrigan used her purposeful time in the spotlight to focus on the victims, and honoring their memories.

She shared their names and where they were from, including those who’d been killed in Atlanta and Memphis. Kerrigan ended the conference, not by answering a slew of questions, but by encouraging victims of all kinds to never give up. To keep fighting, even when all hope seemed lost.

Because miracles did happen—he was living, breathing proof—and heroes did exist. And somehow, by the grace of God and all His glory, she was lucky enough to have married hers.

“In the matter of the United States versus Vincent Antonio Morales, the Defendant has entered a plea of guilty on all charges. Is that correct?”

“Yes, Your Honor,” Morales’s attorney answered for his client.

The disgraced former police detective stood next to him, his spine as stiff as a board, as he waited for the judge to announce his fate.

“It is my understanding the prosecution is not seeking the death penalty.” He looked at the district attorney who’d tried the case like the pro that she was.

“Correct, your honor.”

“Very well. It is the judgement of this court that you, Vincent Antonio Morales, be immediately held in the Stateville Correctional Center while you await transfer to the United States Penitentiary, commonly referred to as ADX, located in Florence, Colorado, where you will remain for the rest of your God-given days.” The judge brought his stoic gaze to Morales as he drew in a deep breath and gave a slight cock of his head. “Life as you once knew it is officially over, Mr. Morales. But unlike the innocent people you so viciously murdered, you’re still here.”

He paused, and for a minute, Kerrigan thought the sentencing hearing had ended. But then?—

“The court would like to take a moment to personally thank Dr. Kerrigan Rawlins.” His eyes met hers from behind the bench. “I want to thank you for your time, your bravery, and your willingness to share your impressively detailed memories of your time spent as Mr. Morales’s captive. What you willingly endured in the name of justice will not be forgotten. And thanks to your willingness to share your medical documentation proving your memory to be virtually infallible, the defendant will never be able to hurt anyone else, ever again.”

Cade lifted the hand he was holding and brought the back of it to his lips. Her heart swelled even as her eyes became filled with a well of unshed tears.

“Justice has been served here today, ladies and gentlemen.” The judge looked out at all in attendance. “This hearing is adjourned.”

His Honor slammed the gavel down onto its wooden pad, the echoing sound making Kerrigan jump. But then Cade looked over at her with those incredible eyes, and she immediately felt nothing but love.

“You did it.” He leaned in and gave her a soft, sweet kiss. “You got the son of a bitch.”

“We got him.” Kerrigan lifted a palm to one of his cheeks. “I would have died in that basement if it hadn’t been for you and your team.”

Her husband’s hand covered the back of hers as he leaned into her touch. The pad of his thumb toyed with the diamond wedding set she was still getting used to wearing.

“I guess we still make a helluva team,” he rumbled low.

She smiled wide, pulling him in for a lingering hug, knowing they were no longer just a team. They were family.

Him. Her. His teammates and their wives. All of whom were sitting in the benches behind them, supporting her as if she were one of their own.

Gemma was here with her in spirit but hadn’t been able to get the time off of work to come. But like her, she already seemed to fit right in with the Delta Team clan.

“I love you.” Kerrigan pulled back so she could look her future in the eyes. “I don’t ever want you to go a single day without hearing me say that. Not ever again.”

Cade smile lit up his handsome face as he leaned in and kissed the tip of her nose. “I love you, too, Doc. Today and every day. Forever.”

Ah, yes.

Forever sounded just about right to her.

Liam Cutler rode the elevator down to the main lobby of the building where his team’s office was located. It was his week to shut the place down, and thanks to a last-minute phone call, he’d closed things up a few minutes later than he’d originally planned.

Not that it made much difference where he was concerned. It wasn’t like he had anything planned. Unless, of course, you counted picking up drive-thru Chinese food for dinner on his way to the apartment where no one was waiting.

For the umpteenth time since Cade and Kerrigan’s courtroom wedding a few months back, Liam found himself wondering if maybe he should attempt to settle down.

And just like all the other times before this one, the idea made him snort and shake his head. Christian, Brody, Rocky, and now Cade…those guys were the marrying type. But Liam?

Nah. That wasn’t his thing. Women like the ones his friends had been lucky enough to find…those kinds of women never looked his way.

Short-term. No strings. All fun and no regrets. Those were the types of women Liam attracted. And there was a reason.

The Cutler men, they didn’t get to have true love or a happily ever after. It wasn’t in their DNA. All anyone had to do was look at his deadbeat dad and asshole brother, and they’d know…

I’m not good for them.

The elevator came to a stop, its soft ding alerting him that he’d reached his destination. The metal doors slid open, and Liam started to step out into the lobby at the same time a woman with long, curly blonde hair tried to step inside.

With her eyes focused on the phone in her hand rather than where she was walking, she ran right into Liam’s chest. On reflex, he reached up and put his hands on both her shoulders, his intention to help keep her from falling.

But the woman yelped and jumped back, jerking herself back out of the elevator so quickly, she lost control of her phone. The device went flying, tumbling end over end in through the air.

Liam’s hand snaked out, catching it just in the nick of time and probably saving the screen from a sudden and tragic death.

“Phew. That was close.” He chuckled, straightening himself back up. “You okay?”

He held the phone out for her to take. But she stood just outside the elevator doors, her gaze avoiding his at all cost.

Damn. He hadn’t meant to scare the poor woman. All he’d been trying to do was help.

“I’m sorry,” Liam offered softly. “I didn’t mean to scare you.”

She finally spoke to him for the very first time a few seconds later.

“You didn’t.” Her voice was low and sweet, with a rasp he could listen to for hours. “I’m the one who should apologize. I guess I’m just a little jumpy.”

The blonde looked up. Their eyes met. His heart did a weird sort of skipping thing, and then…the elevator doors started to close.

Liam jumped into action, his free hand slapping against its hollowed edge. In the process, he came close to dropping the phone he’d just worked so hard to save.

“You should probably take this before my good intentions end up destroyin’ the damn thing.”

He was rewarded with a ghost of a smile. All of a sudden, Liam found himself wishing he could see what it was like when her smile reached all the way up to her eyes.

Big. Round. Beautiful, baby blue eyes that were stunning and filled with a lifetime of pain.

“Thank you.” The intriguing blonde took the phone from his hand, their fingers inadvertently brushing in the process.

He pulled back as if he’d been burned by her touch, and it took everything he had not to check to make sure that wasn’t the case.

What in the ever lovin’ holy hell was that?

Electric. Jolting. Confusing as fuck, that’s what. And from the look on her gorgeous face, the pretty blonde had felt it, too.

The doors to the elevator started to close again, but this time Liam was ready. He slid to the side to make room for her to enter, and though he’d been on his way out, he remained in place.

“Where to?” His hand hovered over the cart’s panel.

“Um…I-I’m not exactly sure, actually.” She joined him inside. “I was told the office for a company called Delta Team was in this building. Have you heard of it?”

His gaze swung back to hers in surprise. This woman had come here looking for his team? The possible reasons why began filling his mind.

Rather than entertain every thought inside his constantly active brain, Liam gave her a confirming nod. “As a matter of fact, I have,” he told her. Then he held out his hand and smiled. “I’m Liam Cutler. I work for Delta Team. And you are…”

A look of hope and desperation mixed with trepidation as she slowly slid her palm against his. “My name is Allison. Allison Gallo. A…friend suggested I come here. She said your team might be able to help.”

“Help with what, Allison?” He studied her closely and waited. “Are you in some kind of trouble?”

When she nodded, the fear flashing in her eyes made his chest tight and his stomach churn.

“It’s my husband. H-He’s not a good man. I’ve tried running.” Her gaze became watery behind a wall of unshed tears. “My daughter and I have been running for so long. After Seattle, I thought maybe…but he found us. He sent his men after me and Maddie, and now…” She blinked, sending a single tear streaking down her face. “Please, Mr. Cutler. I have nowhere else to turn. If I don’t find a way to stop him for good, he’s going to…”

“What?” Liam hung on her every raspy word. “What will your husband do if he finds you?”

Those eyes he couldn’t seem to get enough of stared back into his, and with a hitch in her breath, Allison Gallo whispered back, “He’ll kill me.”

Want to see Liam and the rest of Delta Team jump into action to protect Allison and her little girl?