Major Crimes

by Janie Crouch

“Yes, Your Honor.”

  Cain could tell Hayley was getting a little nervous.

  “Ah, well, if you can get past being married to a man with the same name as your arresting officer, then I guess that’s all that matters.” The judge’s smile said he knew exactly what was going on.

  “Yes, sir,” Hayley said softly. “I think I can manage.”

  “What I have in front of me is a petition for the complete repeal of your parole conditions. That, according to multiple agents in federal law enforcement, you have provided critical assistance in stopping terrorists from selling state secrets.”

  Both of whom would be spending their lives in prison if they didn’t end up getting the death penalty. Mara and Lawson had been more than willing to provide details about their upcoming “billions with a b” deal in order to get whatever leverage they could for themselves, which hadn’t been much.

  Hayley nodded. “Yes, Your Honor.”

  “I trust that any hacking you do in the future will be on behalf of the United States government, not for any nefarious purposes of your own?”

  “Your Honor, I am out of the hacking business altogether. I’d like to take the next few years and just concentrate on being a wife and mother.”

  Judge Nicolaides chuckled. “A job not without its own risks.”

  “And its own rewards.”

  The judge nodded. “I once assisted your husband because I told him I was there when he led the high school team to the state championships.” He smiled at Hayley. “I was also there long after the hoopla died down and there were very few people left in the stands. You were one of them, waiting for Agent Bennett, very much out of the limelight. He came up to you and wrapped his arms around you like you were his lifeline. I’ve never forgotten that.”

  Cain had never forgotten that, either. Everyone had been running around the locker room and school, celebrating, making plans for the victory party. All Cain wanted to do was get to Hayley, who had never been comfortable around crowds or as the center of attention. When he saw her in the stands waiting for him, he’d felt relief, more, course through his whole body.

  He had no idea how he’d let something as precious as Hayley get away from him, but he knew he’d never make that same mistake twice.

  Judge Nicolaides looked at Cain and then back at Hayley. “Hayley Green Bennett, you are hereby released from the previous conditions of your parole. According to the State of Georgia, all time for your previous crimes has been served and you are free to go with no restrictions.” The judge brought his gavel down on his desk. Everyone stood as the judge turned to exit.

  Brandon hugged Hayley. “That’s it, it’s all over.”

  Cain saw the judge hand something to the bailiff before finding himself wrapped in Hayley’s arms. He squeezed her to him in a way that left no room for either of them to doubt his joy in this outcome.

  “It’s time to move on to today’s important events, like getting some ice cream,” he whispered.

  Her smile was radiant. Breathtaking. “No kidding. Mason will have our heads if we don’t get him there soon.”

  The bailiff walked over and handed a small postcard to Hayley.

  “Judge Nicolaides asked me to give this to you and Agent Bennett.”

  Cain looked up at the judge’s bench, but he’d already retired to his chambers.

  Hayley turned the card over so they could read it. It was a quote from Zig Ziglar.

  We cannot start over, but we can begin now, and make a new ending.

  Cain wrapped his arm around Hayley as they walked out the door. Omega Sector would continue their search for the person behind the manifesto and threat of attack, and he would help. But Hayley, like she’d said, was just going to spend as much time as she wanted being a wife and mother. If that was forever, that was fine with him.

  They both were free to begin their new—and perfect—ending.

  * * * * *

  Look for the next book in USA TODAY bestselling author Janie Crouch’s OMEGA SECTOR: UNDER SIEGE miniseries, ARMED RESPONSE, available next month.

  And don’t miss the previous titles in the

  OMEGA SECTOR: UNDER SIEGE series:

  DADDY DEFENDER

  PROTECTOR’S INSTINCT

  CEASE FIRE

  Available now from Harlequin Intrigue!

  Keep reading for an excerpt from RANGER GUARDIAN by Angi Morgan.

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  Ranger Guardian

  by Angi Morgan

  Prologue

  Eight Months Ago

  Heath Murray rushed through the emergency room doors. Yes, he’d used the entrance for the ambulances. Yes, he’d parked his truck next to the building, practically on the sidewalk. And yes, he’d taken advantage of having the Texas Ranger badge he carried.

  What did anyone expect? His three-year-old daughter was there. It was the only thing he knew for sure. The message from his wife had stated only what hospital they were heading to.

  Life was good. Life was perfect. He couldn’t imagine life without his baby girl, Skylar Dawn, in it. He couldn’t imagine life without his wife, Kendall. Six years ago, if you’d asked him if his life would be full of anything except law enforcement, he would have answered no.

  Now?

  Life was full of pink frills and satin sun dresses. Along with brand new ponies—plastic and real. And all the disagreements about whether Skylar Dawn was old enough to own a pony. Yep, life was full, and he was blessed several times over.

  He rushed to his mother-in-law, who stood up from a waiting room chair. Her eyes were red but not swollen. Her old-fashioned handkerchief was twisted and streaked from her mascara. She looked like she’d been pulled straight out of a church service, but Naomi Barlow looked like that every day. And she didn’t go to church.

  “Where is she?”

  “Kendall is with her. She’s going to be fine. It’s not a break that will require surgery.”

  “What kind of an accident were they in?”

  “Accident? Did you think they were in a car accident?” Kendall’s mom asked, then laughed.

  What the hell? Why was she laughing?

  “Where are they?”

  “Oh, honey, you poor thing. Skylar Dawn just fell on the playground at day care. That’s all. She’ll be fine.” Naomi’s eyes darted toward a set of double doors. “Only one person can be in the room with her.”

  He didn’t need her response
. What he did need was for the attendant to open the doors from the other side.

  “Excuse me.” He headed straight to the front desk and flipped his badge so the person at the window could see it. “I need to get through.”

  “May I see your credentials?”

  Heath shot his ID through the slot and managed to keep his toes from tapping the linoleum while he waited. “Thanks,” he added politely to the man whose turn he’d interrupted, then paced back to his mother-in-law and handed her his keys. “Give these to the green-faced Texas Ranger who comes inside in a minute. My partner, Slate Thompson will take my truck home.”

  “Here you go, sir. I can buzz you through now.”

  He heard the door lock open and hurried to pull on the handle, but it opened at a snail’s pace on its own. He rushed down the hall, glancing through the small windows. Then he heard her.

  A quiet, polite cry for a child of three.

  He rounded a corner and took a deep breath. Okay, they really are all right. He hadn’t processed that information when Naomi had told him. He couldn’t believe it until he’d seen with his own eyes.

  So he took a second. They’d be upset as it was. He didn’t need to add to the situation by not appearing calm. He shook his shoulders, slowed his racing pulse, became the dad instead of the Ranger who’d driven ninety across Dallas to get here.

  “There they are.” He thought his voice sounded excited to see them, instead of like the frightened-to-death man who’d just had his heart ripped from his chest.

  “See, I told you Daddy was on his way.”

  “Daddy!” Skylar Dawn tried to lift her free arm to him. “I want Daddy.”

  “It’s better if you stay where you are, baby. Mommy’s got you.” He honestly didn’t think his shaking arms could hold her steadily.

  Kendall tilted her cheek up for a kiss. He rubbed Skylar Dawn’s strawberry blond hair. One day it would be as thick as her mother’s and out of the small pigtails.

  “How ’bout I sit down here so you can see me?” He sat on the floor, pulling himself close to his wife and daughter, just about ready to cry from the gratitude he felt at them both being alive and safe.

  There was no tension in Kendall. She seemed far calmer than her message had implied. She mouthed, “Sorry.”

  His wife could probably tell how frantic he was. She’d always been good at picking up on the nuances that gave away his emotions. In fact, she was practically the only person who had ever been able to see through the wall he’d built.

  A wall that had been breached several times over by Skylar Dawn.

  “Let me see.” He leaned closer and puckered his lips for a loud smack without ever touching the skin of her arm. “Does that feel better?”

  Skylar Dawn shook her head. “I broke it, Daddy. Does that mean we have to throw it away?”

  He refrained from chuckling. “No, baby girl. The doctors can fix this all up. And you’ll be as good as new.”

  “Oh, that’s a relief.” She perfectly imitated her mother.

  “I’ve been explaining that her arm isn’t a toy.” Kendall smiled.

  “No throwaway arms,” he said.

  Skylar Dawn dropped her head to Kendall’s chest. “Just close your eyes for a minute, sweetheart,” said Kendall. “I’ll wake you up when the doctor comes back.”

  He placed a hand on Skylar Dawn’s back and could feel when her body relaxed into sleep. Nice to be a kid.

  “What took you so long?” Kendall whispered.

  He followed suit, whispering back his answer. “We were in west Fort Worth. I did ninety most of the way. Slate thought he was going to puke.”

  “I just... I’m sorry about the wild message. The day care called without a lot of details. Then they told me I couldn’t use my cell phone back here. I should have had Mother call with an update. I know it scared you.”

  “I’m good. All’s good.”

  He listened to the details of Skylar Dawn climbing the section of the playground her age group wasn’t allowed on. One of the older girls—probably about five—had helped her. Skylar Dawn had fallen.

  They whispered about the X-ray and doctor’s analysis. Just a hairline fracture, but they could go to the pediatrician for a cast in a couple of days.

  The love Kendall had for their daughter radiated like sunshine. How awesome would it be to have another little girl as precious as this one?

  The doctor came and went. Heath took Skylar Dawn from Kendall’s arms and cuddled her against his chest. Her head had a special baby smell that he especially noticed when she first fell asleep. It was something he already knew he’d miss whenever she got too big to be rocked.

  “Hey, for a couple who never wanted children, I think we’re handling this pretty well.” Kendall smoothed Skylar Dawn’s hair while they waited on their release paperwork.

  “Want to have a couple more?” he said, then gulped.

  “What?” Kendall’s eyes grew big. “Where does this come from?”

  “It was just a thought. I mean...I love you guys. I love our family. And you’re right. I think we’re pretty good at this.”

  “I do, too.”

  Were those tears?

  “Honey, what’s wrong?” He opened his free arm and pulled her in for a hug.

  Special Agent Kendall Barlow was full-blown crying, silent tears running down her face. And it took a lot—like the birth of their daughter—to bring them on. Heath never expected his spontaneous suggestion to affect her this way.

  “I was... I was...” she tried.

  “It’s okay, babe. Everything’s perfect the way it is. Nothing’s wrong with our family.”

  “But I was just thinking the same thing, Heath. I’d love another baby.”

  He kissed her. As much as he was able to with his arms full of their daughter.

  “I am definitely looking forward to getting you home and getting this one in bed.” He waggled his eyebrows at her.

  Kendall dabbed at her eyes. “We can’t start this afternoon, silly. I’m helping Jerry with his cyber-fraud case. It’s going to take weeks. Maybe months.”

  “You want to wait?” He was surprised. Seriously surprised. And then an ugly voice shouted in his ear, How many cases will be more important?

  “Whisper, please?”

  “Sure.” He lowered his voice to match hers. “Why would finishing cases be more important? It’s not like you’ll still be trying to move up the FBI ladder.”

  “I beg your pardon?”

  “Well, if you have another baby, aren’t you quitting?”

  The words were there before he could mentally slap himself and stop them from forming. Mistake. It was the wrong thought to let out of his mouth.

  “You want me to quit my job and stay home? What? Do you want me barefoot and pregnant in the kitchen, too?”

  He tucked his bottom lip between his teeth. He wasn’t going to say a word. Not a dad-blasted word. It wasn’t the time. It wasn’t the place.

  Then she stiffened and pulled away from his arm.

  Dammit.

  “Kendall, we thought having any kids in day care whose parents are both in the line of fire wasn’t a good idea. It’s still not a good idea. But two? If you’re pregnant, they’ll call you out of the field anyway. Right?”

  “For a few months. Just like last time. But I’m not going to give up my career. You stay home with the kids.”

  “I worked hard to be a Texas Ranger.”

  “And I worked hard to become an FBI agent.”

  It was the loudest whispered arguing they’d ever done. It gave him a bad feeling, like something ominous was about to happen.

  “Maybe we should talk about this at home.” He kissed his daughter’s forehead. “When the munchkin is in bed, we can list the pros and cons.”

  “Or we could
be honest with each other.”

  “I think I’ve been honest enough.”

  “Oh, that’s a relief.” She crossed her arms in typical Barlow fashion, after her sarcasm had a chance to sink in.

  “It’s going to be a long night, isn’t it,” he said. Fact, not a question. Just like he knew they were stepping outside into the backyard to have an extended argument once they got home.

  “We both need to really think about your expectations for me. This is serious, Heath. I... It’s not something I can take lightly and just forget that it happened.”

  “I’m sorry for jumping the gun.” Apologizing was the easy part. Understanding what he did wrong would take a little longer.

  * * *

  SIX WEEKS OF continuous arguing began to take its toll on her family. Kendall sat at her office desk staring at the picture of Heath carrying Skylar Dawn on his shoulders. She missed him. Ached for him. Longed for someone to invent a time machine so she could take back the words she didn’t even know if she meant any more.

  Just when Kendall thought things were getting better, her mother overheard Heath say he didn’t understand why her work was more important than a family.

  She didn’t know which hurt worse—what he’d said or the fact he had talked to someone else and not her. He’d always been the strong silent type. Definitely a man of action and few words.

  When Skylar Dawn complained of tummy aches, Kendall suggested counseling. If they couldn’t communicate on their own, maybe a third party could help.

  She’d never forget the stabbing pain she’d experienced when he said, “My world has pretty much crashed down around my ears by not keeping my mouth shut.” To keep from hurting their daughter, Heath packed a bag. He made a drastic, solitary decision.

  If he was gone...they couldn’t argue. So to solve the problem he moved into the spare room of Slate Thompson’s house on a small ranch just east of Dallas. He worked in the barn and helped with riding lessons to pay his rent.

  Or at least that’s what she thought. They hadn’t really spoken since.

  They seemed to avoid each other by staying busy with their jobs. But he never failed to call Skylar Dawn at six each evening. When her caseload picked up, he stayed at the house two nights a week.