Boxed Set: Intercepted by Love (The Complete Collection): Books One - Book Six

by Rachelle Ayala

  The cloth covering her body was rough and homespun, and she wore a pair of leather sandals. She hiked onward, following the swooshing sound. Was there a river close by? A waterfall?

  The clang of clashing metal and heavy thuds were offset by the guttural howls of men—rough voices, shouting commands mixed with grunts of pain.

  Andie felt the marching feet between the pounding of her heartbeat before she spied them. Warriors armed with iron shields and swords chopped and hacked at each other.

  A man with bright red hair led the charge, shouting orders. He was nimble and quick, fending off the enemy from all sides with his sword. He looked familiar, like she should have known him.

  He put the enemy soldiers to flight and raised his sword, commanding his followers to give chase and not let anyone get away. He was the hero, the conqueror, the victor. A man who made her heart leap with joy and her knees weak with desire.

  David?

  A harsh, dry wind wrapped the cloth around Andie, covering her nose and mouth like a veil. The men disappeared. She was lying in a cave listening to a trickling of water and muted conversation in a language she did not understand.

  The ground was hard beneath her, and there was no pillow to rest her head. She struggled to sit, but nothing moved. Time stayed still, and the only sound was that of the neverending whoosh and the puff interrupted by an electronic alert.

  Darkness overshadowed her except for a single pinpoint of light. Something she should have remembered. Someone. Somewhere. But it was always out of reach, like feathers in the wind, gone before she could catch it.

  Who?

  # # #

  Cade glared at Dick Davis, the owner of the Los Angeles Flash. “Let me understand this again. You’re blackmailing me to pretend your baby is mine? Is that correct?”

  The older man’s gaze remained steady and firm. “Come now, aren’t we overreacting? I prefer to see this as a joint favor. You have what I need, and I have what you want.”

  “I don’t see it that way.” The hairs on the back of Cade’s neck bristled. “Not when you’re accusing me of throwing the Super Bowl away on purpose. Not when you put it that way.”

  “Then how shall I rephrase it? We can either play nice, and you take the starting position with a generous contract, or I destroy you and everyone you love.”

  “Why me?”

  “Why not you?” Dick wiped his mouth with a napkin. “Now, go. Pick up your baby from the hospital and enjoy the rest of your evening. Please give Roxanne my best regards.”

  Roxanne. The bitch. She had to have been in on this. We chose you. And Rob? The son-of-a-bitch. Was that how he got contracts for all of his clients? Dirty deals under the table with the owners?

  There was no sense arguing or prolonging the interview. Cade was screwed. Plain and simple. He’d already assumed Bret was his son, bragged about him everywhere, paid for Roxanne’s hospital bills and doctor’s visits, and dragged his feet on the postnatal paternity test. Heck, for all he knew, Roxanne’s doctor was in on this and had faked the prenatal test saying the baby was his.

  Cade squared his body off against the owner, showing him he wasn’t afraid. “A warning to you. Since the baby is legally mine, don’t ever think of taking him back. Don’t ever come into his life and mess with him. Don’t ever play with his mind. Ever.”

  Mr. Davis grunted assent and turned to his steak, sawing at it with fierce concentration.

  Cade let himself out of the stadium as fast as his feet could take him. He had a few scores to settle, mainly with everyone who’d lied to him. Roxanne to start with and Rob, her brother, who was also his agent. Bunch of scheming, conniving vipers.

  He called Rob first. This time, his agent picked up.

  “Hey, Cade, taking the baby home tonight?” he chortled in an overly jovial manner.

  “I’m on my way, but had a little detour. Dick Davis sound familiar?”

  Rob took a few seconds before answering, “What did he want?”

  “You know the deal. Roxanne chose me to be the designated father.”

  “Uh, I don’t know what you’re talking about.”

  “Stop denying it, Rob. He offered me a generous contract. You have the deets?”

  “Of course, the team’s taking quite a cap hit on you. Five years, twenty million. Sweet.”

  “Starting quarterback?”

  “Yes, unless you screw it up. Frankly, I’m surprised he didn’t let you go after you lost the Super Bowl.”

  Obviously, Rob was pretending he had no clue about the deal he had with Davis, and it probably wasn’t wise to talk about it on the phone.

  “I’m going to pick Roxanne up from the hospital. Why don’t you meet us there?”

  “Can’t. I’m in Phoenix right now chatting up a potential client. I’ll see you and the baby when I return. We’ll have the contract prepared, and all you need to do is sign on the dotted line. You’ll be safe for another four years.”

  Safe from what? Certainly not Dick Davis’s threat of putting him and his mother in jail.

  “Sure, Rob. I’ll see you when you get back. Gotta run.”

  A text message chimed on his phone. It was from Joey. We’re on our way to your house. Baby’s doing great.

  Twenty minutes later, Cade pulled into his garage. Andie’s parking spot was empty, and there was no sign of the car he’d lent her. She was usually good about returning his text messages, but then again, she could be on the set or in the middle of a script review. He ground his teeth. How could she have taken an acting role with Declan without telling him? But then again, if she was truly going to be a movie star, she would have to kiss other men on a regular basis—leaving her no different than the women he used to party with.

  His lips pressed together, and a weight hung heavily over his shoulders. Andie was too innocent to realize the dangerous allure of Hollywood and fame. She’d been protected by her parents and grew up in a small town. How could she even stand the thought of kissing someone as part of a job? It felt like selling part of her body, and he didn’t like it one bit. He wasn’t one of those men who’d sit back and let her “decide” what she wanted to do if it made him uncomfortable. After all, shouldn’t their relationship be more important than a job?

  He had to talk to her and convince her that backstage research was better. She had no acting experience, and this entire deal stunk of Declan’s manipulation.

  Cade texted Andie, I’m home with the baby and Rox. See you soon. Gotta talk.

  Red and Gollie greeted him, their paws scrabbling on the floor as they ran circles around him. Behind them stood his mother with Bret bundled in a baby blue blanket.

  “Isn’t he precious?” his mother cooed. “Roxanne says he’s gained weight. He’s nursing really well. I got to feed him in the car.”

  “That’s great.” Cade hung up his keys without glancing at the baby. “I need a word with Roxanne. Where is she?”

  “Oh, she and Joey took off to get her things from Rob’s house.”

  “How long ago?”

  “Five minutes before you got here. Why? What’s wrong?” Cade’s mother stopped rocking the baby and tapped his arm. “Don’t you want to hold your baby?”

  “Sure, of course.” He held out his hands for “his son.”

  The little guy was quite heavy, solid and strong—alert. Cade raised him to his face and stared at him. The baby’s head did not flop around. In fact, he held it firm and stared back at Cade, blue eyes locked and focused.

  “Careful, careful. You have to support his head.” His mother put her hand on the back of the baby’s head.

  “He seems to have a strong neck,” Cade said. “Look at him, holding it steady as a rock.”

  “He’s premature.” Cade’s mother sounded panicked. “Be careful with him.”

  Cade handed the baby back to his mother. “What did they say at the hospital about caring for him? Anything special? Feeding tube? Sleep monitor?”

  “Nothing. He’s feeding w
ell and sleeping well. Roxanne didn’t have him circumcised because of his prematurity.”

  “Sounds reasonable.” Cade rubbed the baby’s head. “Anyway, I have to go help Roxanne. Be back soon.”

  The more Cade thought about this, the more wrong it was. He couldn’t take the contract, no matter how lucrative it was. He also couldn’t take the starting job unless he’d earned it—which he had at the moment, since he was outscoring Todd Irvin in completions and yards.

  But his career would always be tainted if he took the dirty deal.

  As for Bret, was it fair to him to live a lie? He’d told Dick to stay away from the boy because Dick wasn’t fit to be his father, but at the same time, if he joined in this conspiracy, would he also be unfit to be Bret’s father?

  Things like this had a way of coming out. There was always a weak link in the chain of secrets. Nothing ever stayed hidden.

  What should he do? Who could he talk to? Who could he trust?

  Andie, of course. Problem was she was working late, and she had secrets of her own. Perhaps she was avoiding him.

  A spire of adrenaline increased his heart rate. Was Andie thinking of moving out? After all, he hadn’t discussed the living arrangements with her. He’d only informed her where Roxanne and Bret would live. He was just as guilty as she for not discussing things that would affect both of them.

  Sometimes, being in a relationship sucked.

  Cade hit his garage door opener and got in his Porsche. He’d swing by Andie’s work and have a chat with her before doing anything rash, like throwing Roxanne out or announcing to the world that Bret was not his.

  On the way, he’d stop by the hospital and order the paternity test. One way or the other, he had to know.

  His cell phone rang as he backed the car down the driveway.

  It was an unknown number.

  “Cade Prescott? This is Officer Gomez, the one you spoke to earlier about the hit and run?”

  “Yes, what can I do for you?” Cade pulled the car onto the street. What if they’d arrested Andie for reckless driving and destruction of property?

  “We found your car, the Chrysler 200.”

  “You did? Where?”

  “It was involved in a multi-vehicle accident. The woman who was driving it has been taken to the hospital.”

  Cade’s chest caved in, and he slumped over the steering wheel. He tried to speak, but his voice came out as a rasp.

  “Hello? Mr. Prescott? You still there?” the officer said.

  “Y-yes. The woman. Was it Andie Wales? How hurt is she?”

  “I don’t have the details, but we’re contacting next of kin. I just thought I would let you know that your car has been found. You should contact your insurance company.”

  “Which hospital did they take her too?”

  “County USC. Listen, I just called about the car. I don’t know anything else.”

  “I don’t give a shit about the car.” Cade threw the phone on the passenger seat and gunned the engine.

  Chapter 2

  Cade double-parked his car and barreled into the County USC Emergency Room. His heart was thudding triple time, and he couldn’t catch his breath. He couldn’t stand another minute of not knowing how Andie was doing. He tried to calm himself—that she was alive enough to be brought to the hospital, but in what state?

  “Where’s Andie Wales?” he demanded at the counter. “Car accident victim?”

  “Your relationship to the patient?” The receptionist gave him a hard stare.

  “I’m her fiancé, Cade Prescott.” He embellished his relationship to her. “Officer Gomez called and told me to come here.”

  The receptionist stared at the computer screen and shook her head. “Sorry, you’re not listed as next of kin. I can’t give out any information.”

  “But the policeman called me.” Cade slapped the counter and glared at her.

  “Where is he? Can he vouch for you?” The receptionist seemed bored or plain old didn’t care.

  “Fuck this shit.” Cade ran for the double doors leading to the ER.

  Two armed security guards stepped forward. “Sir, you can’t go in there. Stay back.”

  He shoved them aside easily and barged through. The hallways were pandemonium, with patients lying in gurneys lined up against the walls. Thin curtains wrapped around other sections of the ER, and doctors and nurses weaved in and out of the rooms.

  “Get back here, sir. You can’t go in there,” the guards yelled, following him.

  Several policemen gathered around the end of the hallway were immediately alerted by the commotion.

  Instead of running the other way, Cade approached them full on. “Officer Gomez, LAPD, called me about my wife, Andie Wales. She was brought here after a multi-vehicle crash. I need you to help me find her.”

  “We’re guarding the escaped convict who caused the crash, but I believe she’s across the hallway,” one of the officers said. He tapped a nurse going by. “The woman from the accident, can you help her husband find her?”

  The guards muttered between themselves and waddled back to the waiting room when they saw Cade being helped by the policemen.

  “Mr. Reed?” a nurse said, scanning the entries on her tablet. “Your wife is being taken in for surgery.”

  “Can I see her? Is it serious?” Cade’s stomach crashed to the floor along with his heart. Surgery? “How badly injured is she?”

  “It’s pretty serious. Head trauma, maybe other internal injuries. Have a seat in the waiting room and as soon as the doctor who saw her is free, we’ll call you back.”

  “Is she going to make it? Is she going to be okay?” Cade’s voice trembled. “Tell me she’ll be fine.”

  “We’re doing all we can, Mr. Reed.”

  Ugh, so they thought he was Declan. Lucky for him the nurse was neither a football fan or frequented B-movies.

  “I’ll let you get on with your job. Don’t forget to ask the doctor to call me.”

  Please, please, please, dear God, let her be okay.

  Cade wasn’t a praying type of man, but he’d beg any deity who’d listen to help Andie. At this moment, he’d give anything to be Andie’s legal husband. His pulse galloped and his hands sweat while his head spun, and he swallowed the acrid taste of anxiety. Andie has to be okay. She has to come out of this. I can’t lose her now—not when I’ve only just found her.

  Cade dragged his feet back to the waiting room and parked himself right outside the door. Andie, you have to pull through. Please, please, don’t be hurt too badly. Please, dear God. Bring her back to me. She’s everything to me, the meaning to my life. I love her so much. So, so much, and I need her.

  An hour passed, and then another. Cade’s bladder was full to bursting, but he didn’t want to leave sight of the double doors in case the doctor should call for him and miss him.

  His mother called around midnight. “Where are you? Rox and Joey returned. Andie’s still not home.”

  “Andie’s in the hospital. She was in a car accident.”

  “Oh, no. Is she okay?”

  “I don’t know.” Cade rubbed his face. “They took her into surgery a while ago.”

  “I don’t know what to say. I’ll pray for her. Which hospital are you in? Want me to come sit with you?”

  “No, I’ll be fine. Just take care of the baby and let me know if anyone calls or you hear anything.”

  “Have you called her parents?”

  “Not yet. Not until I know something definite. Besides, it’s the wee hours in the morning over there.” Cade gripped his phone tightly. The last thing he wanted to do was speak to Andie’s mother, but eventually, it was his duty to let them know. “Talk to you soon.”

  He hung up and snagged a nurse walking by. “Is there any update on Andie Wales, the woman brought in from the car accident?”

  “I’m sorry, you’ll have to inquire at the front desk. We have many people suffering from car accidents every day.” The nurse walked away.
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  Cade was forced to get in line again in front of the irate receptionist who’d denied him entrance before.

  “Miss, I need to know whether Andie Wales has come out of surgery. May I speak to her doctor?”

  The blotchy faced woman shrugged and shook her head. “Do you want me to call security? You’re not family. Sorry.”

  “Her family’s in New York, and I’m their representative.”

  “Yeah, and I play football for the LA Flash,” the woman said, then peeked around him. “Next?”

  Every blood vessel in his body felt like bursting. No one at the county hospital seemed to give a damn. He’d get Andie transferred to Celebrity Highland as soon as she was able to move.

  Cade blocked the next person in line with his large body and leaned over the counter. “I want to speak to your supervisor. Miss Wales’s parents need to know how she’s doing, and you’re not helping.”

  “I don’t have time for this.” The receptionist signaled to the two guards who approached, brandishing their stun guns.

  “I don’t have time for this runaround.” Cade turned toward the guards. “I need to know what’s going on with my wife. You’re going to help me or what?”

  “Except, she’s not your wife,” a voice jeered from behind the guards. “She’s mine.”

  Declan Reed. Son-of-a-bitch.

  “How is she? Do you know?” Cade addressed Declan, unable to keep from pleading. “Can you take me in there to see her?”

  “You? You’re the reason she got hurt.” Declan puffed his chest and lifted his chin. “You, moron, you texted her right before the crash.”

  “How? I … didn’t know. Tell me, is she okay? Take me back there to see Andie, or else …”

  “Or else what? She’s in a freaking coma, dude, and you’re the last person I’m allowing to see her.” Declan turned toward the exit, flanked by the guards.

  “You little rat.” Cade ran after him. “You let me in there. She needs me. I have to be there for her when she wakes up.”

  “Good luck, I have to go back to sleep.” Declan yawned as he stepped out the automatic door. “Hospitals give me the creeps.”