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

by Rachelle Ayala

She had a missed call from an unknown number with a voicemail tag. She listened to it.

  “Time to pay. It’s your fault Barb is missing. Show up at Sparks for the season opener. You know what to do.” It was an electronically disguised voice. “Don’t fail or Bret’s next.”

  The message was clear. Barb had been kidnapped and they were threatening Bret. She couldn’t go home and leave them to their fate. Not when she could do something about it.

  The first game of the season was this coming Sunday, and she could still go through with the sting. She had to. They’d threatened Bret, and they’d gone too far. Somehow, she had to give Cade the slip and get to Vegas.

  She ran back into the house and jogged up the spiral staircase to the room where she’d stayed at the beginning of the summer. Digging under the mattress, she found the prepaid phone the FBI gave her and put it on the charger.

  She steadied herself in front of the mirror and calmed her breathing. In. Out. In. Out. You can do it. You have to. As long as the secrets are out there, Barb was in danger. So was she and Bret and ultimately, Cade.

  “Andie?” Cade called from downstairs. “What did your parents say?”

  “I’m sorry. I have to leave right now.” She yanked her suitcase from the closet. “Dad had a setback.”

  “What type of setback?” He jogged up the spiral staircase. “Is it serious?”

  “I don’t know the details. I just have to go.”

  He hugged her and held her tight. “Let me go with you. I’ll buy tickets. I don’t have to be at the game this weekend since I’m still injured.”

  “No, it’s not necessary. You have to take care of Bret and look for your mom.” She couldn’t help squeezing him close. “I love you, no matter what. Don’t forget.”

  He kissed her forehead. “It’s not your fault your father suffered a setback. Was it another stroke?”

  “Not sure yet. Maybe. They’re doing some testing.” Andie’s tongue was heavy and thick. Ugh. She hated lying to him.

  “Why don’t I go with you? Bret and I can come back in a week. I just can’t see you traveling alone.” He feathered his fingers through her hair, his expression one of concern. “It’s the least I can do.”

  Andie’s pulse jittered with panic. “I need to do this alone, Cade. I need to know that I’m strong enough.”

  “We know you’re strong, sweetheart. Why can’t you accept that I want to be there? Remember how your father wanted to meet me?”

  “And he will. Just not this time.” Andie’s lips trembled. “Please, don’t think that way.”

  “Oh, gosh. I’m sorry. I didn’t know it was so bad. I’ll pay for the tickets. I want to go with you, and I have time. Once I start playing again, my time belongs to the team. It’s settled and I don’t want any arguments.”

  What was it about macho, protective men that wouldn’t let him give up? He would never, in a million years, let her go through with this plan. She had to get rid of him, despite wanting nothing more than to curl up in his arms and be sheltered.

  “Sure, let me know which flight you get, and I’ll call my mom.” She let him kiss her, but she couldn’t kiss him back, not with what she was about to do. “What’s the plan on looking for your mom?”

  “Actually you gave me a clue,” Cade said. “I haven’t checked her house down in Wilmington. What if she’s holed up there? Or Dick is with her? It’s a perfect hideaway since it’s a close-knit community and their friends and neighbors aren’t the type to blast everything on the internet.”

  “Wow, you’re right.”

  “Let’s go after I feed Bret,” Cade said. “I’m not calling in case she doesn’t want to see me. We’ll just show up.”

  “Sure.” Andie wiped her hand over her face and slumped onto the bed. “Except I’m not feeling well.”

  Cade put a hand on her forehead. “You’re a little warm and you’re sweating.”

  “I might be coming down with a cold.” She swallowed a few times. “My throat’s kind of raw.”

  How many times had she lied in the last fifteen minutes? Andie hated herself, especially when Cade fluffed the pillow and turned down the bed for her. “I’ll bring up a cup of chicken soup. You need to rest, especially if we’re flying across the country.”

  “I’m sorry. Everything’s tumbling down and I feel so useless with helping you find your mother.”

  “That’s not true. Having you around makes me get up each morning. You give me strength and hope.” His eyes held so much adoration, it made Andie sick to her bones. “Get some rest. Tonight we’ll have to catch the redeye.”

  “Cade, you’re too good to me.”

  “Never. You deserve the best.” He held her tight and finally released her. “I’m the luckiest guy in the world all because of you.”

  Chapter 8

  “Babe, since you’re staying here, can you watch Bret?” Cade brought up a bowl of chicken soup and set it on the table. “I’ve fed him, and he’s ready to go down for his afternoon nap. How are you feeling?”

  Andie’s stomach twisted and she swallowed, her heart teetering between another lie or the truth. What was she going to do with Bret? She couldn’t leave him alone now that her mother was gone.

  Cade put his hand on her forehead then leaned over and kissed her. “You’re not as warm as before, but if you’re really not feeling well, then I’ll go another time. We have to pack for our trip anyway. I got us the redeye so we have to be at the airport by ten tonight.”

  “No, it’s fine. I can take care of Bret and pack. I’m sure I’ll feel better after some of this soup.” She rubbed her tummy to dispel the queasiness. What was she going to do now? Hopefully the FBI handler had ideas. Or maybe Owen could find a babysitter.

  “That’s my girl. And thanks for watching Bret.”

  “He’s no trouble at all. You go ahead and tell Barb I said ‘hi.’”

  His lips pressed together and he nodded, his Adam’s apple bobbing tightly. “If I find her.”

  She clapped a hand over her mouth and clutched her chest. “You don’t think she’s …”

  “Hopefully not. But if she’s using again, she might go back to familiar surroundings.”

  “Sure.” Andie clamped her mouth shut. She had a horrid vision of Barbara lying dead with a needle in her arm, and she hoped to God Cade wouldn’t be greeted by that scene. “Maybe you should take a friend. I don’t know, Ronaldo, maybe or Joey.”

  “They’re probably busy on such short notice. I’ll call you as soon as I get there and let you know what I find.” He glanced at his watch. “Gotta run before the traffic gets too heavy.”

  As soon as she heard the garage door close, Andie dug the phone from the charger and called her contact, George.

  “I’m ready to go to Vegas. I got a message saying it’s time to pay, that’s why Barb is missing and that Bret is next.”

  “I’ll be there in thirty minutes. Don’t bother packing. We’ll have everything you need,” George said.

  “A slight problem.” Andie scurried down the spiral stairs and peeked into the kitchen. Sure enough, Bret was sleeping in his battery-powered baby swing. “Cade left the baby with me. There are the dogs, too.”

  “We’ll call the dog walker, not a problem. As for the babysitter, try to find someone who won’t make him suspicious. Someone who’s watched the baby before.”

  “I didn’t know he was going to leave the baby with me. I don’t know what to do.”

  “Don’t panic. I’ll be over as soon as I can.” George signed off.

  Andie’s heart sped as she paced around the kitchen. What was she going to do? Who could she call and what story would she tell them? Who’d watched the baby before except she, Barb, her mother and Roxanne?

  It had to be Roxanne. She was the baby’s mother, after all, and she lived in a secure building with Declan.

  She punched Roxanne’s number into the phone and waited. Pleasepleaseplease answer and don’t ask questions.

  “And
ie? You’re calling me?” Roxanne picked up right before it rolled to voicemail.

  “Oh, good. I got you. I need—”

  “Is Bret okay?” For once she sounded worried.

  “He’s fine. I have to make an emergency trip to Itasca. My dad’s ill and I have a plane to catch. Cade left the baby with me.”

  “Oh, okay. Why’d he do that?”

  “He’s looking for Barb and there was a mix-up. He thinks we’re all flying out tonight at ten, but really, Rox, I don’t want him coming with me. It’s a private family matter.”

  “So you want to sneak away.” Her voice carried a note of amusement. “Sure, and you want me to watch Bret.”

  “Can you? I mean, you’re not busy are you?”

  “Of course I’m busy, but I can drop everything for my son. I’m not that bad of a mother.” She huffed. “I’ll be over.”

  While she waited, Andie packed her luggage. She wrote and rewrote notes to Cade, tearing each one up as she crossed out the lies. Finally, she settled on the simple truth.

  Cade, I should have been stronger to tell you what I want, but every time you’re near me, my heart gives out and I get tongue-tied and I go along with your agenda. I really need to go alone this time. It’s not that I don’t love you or trust you, but there are things I have to do on my own. I will be back, so don’t worry, and I should have said something, but now it’s too late. Roxanne will take good care of Bret, so call her when you get this note. I’ll also text you once I’m at the airport. Bye, for now, my love. Yours always, Andie.

  She taped the note to the refrigerator and checked on Bret. He was still in snooze city. She put out fresh water and food for Red and Gollie and let them outside for a bit. She’d call them in right before leaving with George.

  Her heart was racing a mile a minute, so she went to Cade’s bed and hugged his pillow. This sting had to work. The danger would never stop as long as the mastermind was out there.

  She couldn’t just lie here like an idiot awaiting her doom. Her nerves were so high strung it was like she’d had a pure caffeine drip straight into her veins. Leaping from the bed, she threw the pillow and screamed. A flurry of folded pink notes dropped from the pillow case.

  Andie picked up the first one and unfolded it.

  Darling, tell the truth about the Super Bowl.

  It was written in a decorative, feminine handwriting. She opened another one:

  Your career is over, why not admit it?

  The next one:

  You fucked up. Own it. Or else …

  Andie tore through the pile, her fingers trembling.

  Where’s your mom? Hope you find her.

  And another:

  You owe us. Own it or pay. Or else …

  And another that yanked Andie’s heart from her throat.

  What cute baby blues you have.

  That did it. She had to save Bret. Someone hated Cade and was a threat to his family. He never meant to throw away the Super Bowl, but someone out there needed him to take the fall badly and Cade wasn’t complying. That much was clear. The only place they could hit Cade was with the people he loved: Barbara and Bret. His family.

  The doorbell rang. Andie stuffed the notes into the pillowcase and ran for the front door. She tripped on a rug and flew face first into a shelf full of Hollywood memorabilia. Blood spurted from her nose, but she cupped it and hit the intercom. Roxanne stood outside with Declan.

  Andie yanked the door open. “Oh, good, you’re here.”

  “What happened to you?” Declan raised his eyebrow, giving her his trademark smart guy look.

  “Nothing. I’m in a hurry. No time. The diaper bag’s packed and Bret’s asleep. If you can take him without waking him.”

  “Oh, I thought we were staying here,” Roxanne said. “I’m sure Cade won’t mind.”

  “Actually, I need you two to leave. I left him a note. The house is a mess.”

  “We can help you straighten it,” Declan said. His teeth were still clenched, thanks to six weeks wired shut.

  Roxanne opened the kitchen door. “Yeah, look at Bret. He’s sleeping so soundly. No need to wake him.”

  “I really need you guys to leave. Sorry to be rude.” Andie ran to the sink and splashed water over her bloody nose, then dabbed it with a paper towel. She wasn’t about to let Roxanne and Declan see her leave with George. She stopped the swing and unbuckled the baby, who whined and squirmed, taking a deep breath, about to cry.

  “Oh, now look what you did.” Roxanne crossed her arms and stomped her foot. She didn’t even move to pick up the baby.

  Andie took Bret out of the swing and handed him to Roxanne. “His carseat’s in the garage.”

  The baby yowled and screamed, angry at being disturbed.

  “Looks hungry to me,” Roxanne said. “What’s the rush?”

  Andie grabbed a clean bottle from the dishwasher and took the formula powder from the pantry. She popped the lid of the container and scrambled through the kitchen drawer for a measuring spoon.

  The doorbell chimed. Crap. She turned toward it and knocked the can of powder off the counter. Poof! It exploded on the floor and dusted her feet.

  “Don’t get that door,” she yelled, running out of the kitchen.

  “Don’t get it? What do you mean?” Declan already had the door open.

  George stood there taking off his driving gloves. “Andie, are you ready?”

  “I, uh, my suitcase.” She dashed for the spiral staircase.

  “I thought I told you not to pack.” George followed her.

  “I have to make Cade think I went to New York.”

  “Oh, well, then, let’s take your cell phone. I’ll send it with an agent who’s enroute to New York and she can text him.”

  “Why my cell?” Andie grabbed her carry-on and stuffed her cell phone charger, the prepaid phone and her purse into it.

  “He might have a tracker on it. Anyway, you’re going to have another prepaid to use to contact us.” He took the overstuffed suitcase. “Let’s go. Owen’s in the car.”

  “He’s coming along?” Andie wished she had seriously studied the logistics beforehand, but after Cade returned from jail and the charges were dropped, she’d gotten complacent.

  “Yes, he’ll go over everything with you on the way. Not to worry.”

  Andie gulped and followed George down the spiral staircase. She rushed past Declan without looking at him and was almost out the door when Roxanne jumped at her from the porch, blocking her.

  “Well, well, well, running off with your boyfriend. I read your heartfelt note on the refrigerator.”

  “It’s not what it looks like, this is a—”

  George looped his arm around her and caught her head, landing a voice-stopping kiss.

  “Darling, it’s exactly what it looks like,” he called back to Roxanne. “Take good care of the baby.”

  “I will, yoohoo, bon voyage.” Roxanne waved with a satisfied cat got the cream grin on her face.

  As soon as Andie stepped into the car, she snapped, “Why’d you do that? Now Cade’s going to hate me.”

  George reached across and buckled her shoulder belt. “That’s good. It’ll stop him from looking for you. You almost blew it. You should have texted me to hold off while they were there.”

  “I thought they’d take the baby and leave.” Andie sighed and rubbed her eyes.

  “Hey, guys, we just have to deal with it.” Owen didn’t lift his head from the backseat until they were safely away from the house. “It might have worked out better since those bozos clearly think Andie ran off with a lover. Yes, we can’t clue Cade in, but once we catch the perps, he’ll be grateful, especially if we find his mother.”

  “I hope you’re right.” Andie slumped in her seat. “I can’t wipe their smug expressions from my brain. I can only imagine what they’ll say to Cade.”

  “Can’t worry about it now,” George said. “An agent has to do whatever it takes. In a lot of ways, we’re act
ors, only we’re in real danger when we flub our lines.”

  “Oh, yeah, but when we get it right? The thrill is higher than sex, drugs, or rock and roll.” Owen chuckled and rubbed Andie’s shoulder. “Try and relax.”

  Relax? How could she when the adrenaline and stress hormones racing through her veins had her higher than a hippy in a hot air balloon?

  Chapter 9

  Cade parked his car, a replacement to the one Andie totaled, a few blocks from his mother’s modest house in Wilmington.

  He wandered past the junior high school with its new mascot, the Jaguars, replacing the politically incorrect Warriors of the past. They’d also painted a giant head of a jaguar over the teal blue letters spelling Wilmington. Even though his mother grew up on the east side, he’d found her a nice pad on the west side, off Neptune Avenue. It shouldn’t matter. It wasn’t as if she was a kid wearing gang colors anymore.

  Cade unlatched the gate of the chain link fence festooned with pink, red, and yellow hibiscus blossoms and scanned the front porch. Someone was here. The usual flyers and circulars that lay tossed around were missing. He overturned the pot of geraniums and found the spare key.

  He patted the Narcan or naloxone kit in his pocket, a nasal spray and two syringes used to reverse an overdose, before turning the lock.

  A click warned him right before he looked into the barrel of a shotgun.

  “Stay back,” Dick said. “What the hell are you doing here?”

  “Put the gun down.” Cade growled at the old man. “Where’s Barb?”

  “She ain’t here.” Dick lowered the gun.

  “Then where is she? And what are you doing here?” Cade shut the door and flicked on the light. A grimy, tar-like smell seeped from the stuffy house whose shades were drawn without ventilation.

  “Someone’s using in here.” Cade swept his hand over the tar prints around the door knobs and over the light switch plates. “Where is she?”

  “Told you, she’s not here.”

  “Dammit, you’re lying.” Cade moved a pile of postage stamp-sized packets from the bookshelf. He upended a sitting Buddha and found it filled with colorful rubber tube balloons, the kind used for balloon animals, each segment tied into knots as tiny as his thumbnail—ready to be popped for hit after hit.