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

by Rachelle Ayala

  Cade hit his forehead with his palm. Dammit. He had to get Andie to safety. She couldn’t be stuck in that hospital, vulnerable to an assassin. Even though Rob and Devon couldn’t have arrived in Itasca that quickly, assuming they were unable to catch a plane, they could have hired someone to do the hit.

  “Whatever we have to do, we have to do quickly,” Cade said. “Is everything prepared? Are Andie’s parents in danger?”

  “I’m assuming so,” Tyson replied. “It’s vengeance they’re after, so extracting maximum pain and suffering is the way to do it. Torturing family members is very effective.”

  “Round up her parents and Bret. Explain the situation,” Cade ordered. “I’m going to have a chat with the hospital.”

  Chapter 17

  Andie hated that they took her baby away. How was she supposed to sleep when her breasts leaked and her arms yearned to cuddle little Bonnie? Was everything okay with her? Andie had checked her fingers and toes, felt her little beating heart and assured herself she was breathing normally.

  She stared at the clock on the wall. Cade hadn’t returned, and it was getting late, close to midnight. Maybe he wasn’t allowed to visit. Her room was dark but the door remained open. Every time she drifted to sleep, a nurse would wake her to check her blood pressure. It was the same for her roommate who said they would do this throughout the first twenty-four hours, and then it was time to go home, exhausted with a demanding newborn.

  “Where’s my baby?” she asked the latest nurse to rouse her. Heck they’d already had a shift change, but she couldn’t get a break from the blood pressure machine.

  “In the nursery,” the nurse replied. “We’ll bring her in the morning after the pediatricians examine her.”

  “You mean she hasn’t been seen? What if something’s wrong with her?”

  “As I said, the pediatrician does rounds in the morning. After that, we’ll bring her to you.”

  “I wish I had my cell phone. I feel so disconnected,” Andie said, trying to relax as the blood pressure cuff tightened relentlessly around her upper arm. At this rate, she’d have no life left in that arm by the time she was discharged from the hospital.

  “You’re supposed to rest. You just had a baby,” the nurse said. “Now’s the time, while we’re taking care of you and your baby. Once you go home, you’re on twenty-four seven.”

  Yeah, right, except how was she going to rest not knowing if her baby was okay?

  “If something was wrong with my baby, would the doctor be called in?”

  “Yes, of course. But your baby’s in the regular nursery and she’s sleeping just fine.”

  “She might get hungry.”

  “A newborn eats very little their first night. Didn’t you say she already had a snack coming in? Try not to worry.” The nurse read the numbers off the machine and removed the cuff. “Good, your blood pressure is normal.”

  After she left, Andie’s roommate snickered. “It’s going to be a long night.”

  “No kidding. One nurse woke me because the previous one forgot to weigh me.”

  “Typical. Or they forgot to ask you questions to fill out your chart. That happened to me.”

  “I hope I can get some sleep.” Andie sighed. “It’s hard not having your baby around when you’ve been with her so long.”

  “Yeah, but morning will come soon enough, in between blood pressure checks.”

  “You got that right.” Andie leaned back onto the pillow and closed her eyes. As soon as she could, she was leaving the hospital. Women had been giving birth for thousands of years without the benefit of a blood pressure machine. She’d just as soon take the baby and run.

  Andie turned in her sleep, groaning. She’d been dreaming about Cade slapping on the blood pressure cuff. How awful that he’d turned into a strict night nurse.

  “Andie, pssst,” Cade said.

  Pssst? Is that the sound of a blood pressure cuff?

  Andie rubbed her eyes groggily and opened them.

  Cade was kneeling at her bedside.

  “Where’s the nurse?” Andie asked.

  Cade put a finger on her lips. “Shhh … Don’t wake up your roommate. We’re leaving.”

  “Leaving? In the middle of the night?” Andie took the blouse and jumper he brought. “Why?”

  “We have to.” He waited for her to dress, but didn’t explain.

  “What are you not telling me?” she whispered, taking a look at her roommate who’d finally fallen asleep.

  “We have to go into hiding. You’re in danger.”

  “What?”

  Cade clapped a hand over her mouth and hissed, “Quiet. There could be hired assassins after you.”

  Andie’s eyes grew big and wide, and she started to tremble. Her legs were still weak from all the pushing and giving birth, but she wobbled beside Cade, holding onto him for balance.

  The halls were empty as they exited the maternity ward.

  “I don’t know if we can get the baby,” Cade said. “The newborn area is locked at all times.”

  “We can’t leave Bonnie here. I won’t go.” Andie turned around to head back to the maternity ward.

  Without warning, Cade had her over his shoulders. He jogged toward the lobby and raced toward the exit.

  Andie opened her mouth to scream, but shut it again. This was her husband. She had to trust him. Besides, the last thing she wanted was the police to shoot him.

  “Hey, mister. What’s going on?” An overweight guard took his feet off the desk and stood to block their progress.

  Cade dodged the guard and sprinted through the doorway. A black car with darkened windows waited at the parking circle.

  Andie was thrown into the back seat onto the lap of a strange man.

  “Cade,” she screamed as he shut the door and the car sped away.

  “Mrs. Prescott,” the man in the back seat said. “Please fasten your seatbelt.”

  “Where are you taking me? What’s going on? Who are you?” Andie gawked at the man who wore dark glasses, despite it being night. His smooth dark hair was slicked back and he wore a gray suit.

  “Tyson Jewell, your bodyguard.” The man pressed Andie to the seat and latched her seatbelt in place. “I don’t want to alarm you, but Rob Cash and Devon Davis escaped from prison. We’re taking you to a safe location.”

  “But I want my baby!” Andie wailed. “Where’s my Bonnie? Why isn’t she with me? Where’s my mom and dad? What about Cade?”

  “Bonnie’s safer away from you. The crooks don’t know you’ve given birth. We’ll keep Bonnie in the hospital under lock and key until the police catch the crooks.”

  “But is she going to be okay? What about feedings? My milk’s going to dry up.”

  Tyson pursed his lips and nodded. “Small price to pay for your life.”

  “Where’s Cade? Is he safe?”

  “Cade’s going after them.” Tyson turned his face away from her, ending the conversation.

  “No! No!” Andie clutched her hands in front of her heart as a raw ache grabbed and twisted her insides. She couldn’t have gotten married only to become a widow. And Bonnie! How could she stand not being with her baby, or worse, leaving her an orphan?

  # # #

  Cade listened in as Ronaldo put the conversation he was having with Roxanne, Rob’s sister, on the speakerphone.

  “I’ve already spoken to the police,” Roxanne said, her voice as annoying and shrill as the night was long. “He hasn’t contacted me.”

  “What did you talk about the last time you visited him in prison?”

  “Nothing important. This and that. Why?” Roxanne sounded evasive.

  “We want to know his state of mind. Listen, this is important. Your brother is in the company of a murderer. He might not know what he’s getting himself into.”

  The murderer was Devon Davis, of course. He was Cade’s half-brother from his father’s side and had shot and killed Dick Davis, who had fathered both Devon and Cade, during a disp
ute when Cade’s mother had walked off with the casino chips.

  Roxanne sucked in a sizzling breath. “Rob would never hurt anyone. I’m sure he just wanted to go free. Maybe they headed for Mexico or Canada.”

  “Does he have friends there? What about that Danny guy?” Cade cut in.

  “Cade? Wow. Can’t believe you’re involved. I thought you fired my brother.” Roxanne sounded breathless. “Listen, Danny called me a few days ago asking for a job.”

  “He asked me for one too,” Cade said. “Have you spoken to him today or yesterday?”

  “No, but he seemed pretty desperate. What if he busted them out of prison? Danny doesn’t have the best common sense.”

  “No, he doesn’t.” Cade ran his fingers through his hair. “It’d be just like Danny to get lured into a ‘job’ like that and think it’s one big joke.”

  “So, go find Danny,” Roxanne said.

  “Sure, we will,” Ronaldo replied. “If there’s nothing else, we’ll hang up now. If you remember anything, anything at all, call me at the private number I gave you.”

  “Oh, wait,” Roxanne said. “I wanted to ask Cade how Bret’s doing? How big is he?”

  “He’s cut his first tooth and starting to babble. Big boy’s crawling around too.” Cade couldn’t help the pride bubbling up his chest. “You should come for a visit sometime, once Andie’s settled.”

  “Has she had the baby yet?” Roxanne asked.

  Ronaldo glared at Cade and cut the call. “That was stupid. Why’d you talk about babies?”

  “Shit, damn!” Cade pounded his fist on the oaken table. “I hope she doesn’t think Andie had the baby already.”

  “Exactly. For all you know, she could be in contact with Rob. That Danny bit might have been a bone she tossed to get you off the trail.”

  “I’m calling him anyway. He might have seen or heard something. Actually, he offered to be a cook for Andie.” Cade felt a chill of adrenaline surge through his veins. “I think I’ll make him a job offer. Tell him Andie’s still big and pregnant and in need of a cook. Then I’ll wait at my house.”

  “You’re playing a dangerous game, Prescott.” Ronaldo pursed his lips and tapped a message into his cell phone. “I’ll call for backup surveillance. This is ballsy, but it just might work. If you don’t get yourself killed first.”

  Chapter 18

  After traveling through the wee hours of the morning, the limousine carrying Andie rolled up to a two-story lakefront cottage. Dawn was breaking over the still waters of a lake. Even though Andie was freaked out about Cade going after the killers, she realized the only thing she could do was to stay safe so Cade wouldn’t have to worry about her.

  When they’d crossed the border, Tyson had produced her passport, and she’d told them she was on her honeymoon, as instructed. Sometime later, she’d finally succumbed to sheer exhaustion and slept the rest of the way.

  A large RV was already parked on the gravel driveway beside a wooden two-story house with red siding. A stone chimney rose from a steeply pitched gray roof while three dormer windows peeked from the second floor. A row of white Adirondack lounge chairs faced the placid water, and a tire swing hung from an old tree.

  As soon as Andie alighted from the limo, she ran up the path to the sound of her dogs barking.

  “Get back here,” Tyson growled behind her and clamped his left arm around her while holding a gun in his right. “I have to clear the area.”

  “Clear the area? From who?” This was getting fricking ridiculous. Right now, all she wanted was a good hot bath, a hug from her parents, and a cup of hot chocolate. Then she was getting on the internet to figure out what they were up against.

  Tyson spoke into a headset, and a few seconds later, someone answered. The door opened and another armed man clicked off his headset. “Welcome, Mrs. Prescott.”

  Red and Gollie surged from the house to greet her. Andie bent over and hugged them both. Behind them, a yawning Mom padded toward them, holding out her arms.

  “Andie, oh, my baby girl. You’re okay. We were so worried. Cade’s security team took us directly from the wedding. You’re father’s still asleep and so is Bret, but I couldn’t rest until I knew you and Bonnie were safe.” She peered around Andie. “Is Bonnie with you?”

  “Actually, not.” Andie backed from the embrace and focused on her mother’s worry-stricken eyes. “Devon and Rob don’t know I’ve had the baby. I’m not due until next week, so Cade thought it would be safer to leave Bonnie in the hospital under lock and key. I’m not happy about it, but I’d do anything to keep her safe.”

  “I know you would. Just like any mother.” Her mother led her into the kitchen while the limo driver brought suitcases in from the trunk.

  “Father too. Cade’s going after the bad guys,” Andie said with a suppressed shudder. “I’m so afraid for him.”

  “I’m sure he knows what he’s doing,” her mother said, hugging her. “Let’s get you some coffee, unless you’d like to go back to sleep.”

  “No time. Where’s Bret? I missed my little boy.” Andie idly patted her dog. “I sure hope Bonnie’s okay. They said the pediatrician is seeing her this morning.”

  She glanced at the vintage black Kit-Cat clock with the wagging pendulum tail and revolving eyes.

  Her mother poured her a cup of coffee. “I’m sure she’ll be fine. Cade would have made arrangements with the doctors to keep her under wraps. Leo, the bodyguard who brought us here, explained that the killers think you’re still pregnant.”

  “True, but Mom,” Andie said, as a chill ran up her spine. “If I’m the target, and I’m here, then I’m endangering you, Dad, and Bret.”

  “Leo says Cade’s getting a body double made of you.”

  “A what?” Andie set the coffee cup down with a thump.

  “A mannequin, well, one that looks big and pregnant.” Mom poured a little cream into her coffee. “He’s going to drive with it around town, move it around the house. Everyone’s going to think you’re still back in Itasca. See? We’ll be perfectly safe.”

  “We might, but not Cade.” Andie pushed away from the table. “Can I use your phone? I have to call this off. Cade should leave the manhunt in the hands of professionals.”

  Her mother rubbed her shoulder. “He is, but if he doesn’t lure them into the open, they could hide out for years. Would you like to be in hiding forever, not knowing when these criminals would reappear?”

  A baby’s cry sounded from across the house. Even though Andie was still woozy from giving birth, she marched down the hall at a fast pace. She missed that sweet little boy as much as she missed her little Bonnie.

  If anything happened to Cade, she wouldn’t be able to look this little guy in the eye to let him know it was all because of her.

  She stumbled into the bedroom where the cries came from and picked up little Bret, Cade’s son—her son. The baby was fussy, cutting another tooth, and his sweet little eyes were red with tears.

  “You poor sweetheart.” Andie crooned, rocking him. “Let me put some gel on your little gums.”

  He looked so much like his father, big boned with those bright blue eyes, clear like the big sky out West. So different from her dainty little Bonnie with the blue-green ocean eyes and the wispy red hair. She missed her, closing her eyes to picture these two together. Brother and sister, both Cade’s children. He had to defeat the killers. There would be no other alternative. Mother was right. If they let the killers go into hiding, they’d always be watching their backs, never knowing when they’d strike.

  Her heart threatening to explode, Andie collapsed in a rocking chair and held Bret tight. “Dear God. Please watch over Cade and bring him back to us. He’s so brave, but those men are cruel and clever. My children need their father, and I need Cade so much. But most of all, Cade needs us, his family to love him and adore him. Please give him time with us so we can cherish him as the keystone of our family.”

  The thumping of a walker brought her eye
s to the doorway. Andie’s brave and determined father left his walker and staggered toward her.

  “Dad, oh Dad. I’m so scared for Cade.”

  He grabbed onto the uprights of the rocking chair and bent over her, hugging her. “A man has to protect his own. He’ll be back. You’ll see.”

  # # #

  Cade arranged the “fake Andie” mannequin in the passenger seat of his SUV and drove around with her. He also posted a picture of a very pregnant Andie to social media with the note that he was excited about the upcoming delivery. Of course he didn’t overdo it. Devon would take the bait and charge full steam ahead, but Rob was smarter.

  He called Danny on his cell phone.

  Danny picked up right before it went to voicemail. “Cade, it’s good to hear from you. You got any leads for me?”

  “Actually, I do. The more I thought about it, the more I realized that taking care of a pregnant woman is more up your alley than mine.”

  “Glad you saw the light.” Danny chuckled. “Does that mean I get the job?”

  “Sure thing, buddy. How soon can you fly out here? I tell you, she’s driving me nuts with the cravings.”

  “Tell me about it. Your other baby mama had a thing for chorizo. Can you believe it? Chorizo kimchee fried rice?”

  “Fortunately, Andie’s got Midwestern tastebuds. Comfort food—chicken and dumplings, Shepherd’s pie, Brunswick stew.” Cade crossed his fingers, hoping Danny didn’t realize Andie’s mother could just about spoil her with any dish she wanted.

  “Easy baloney. I can fly out whenever. Buy the tickets and email them to me,” Danny chortled. “Can’t wait to hang with you again. I’ll even walk the dogs and do groceries.”

  “Awesome. I’ll get right on it.”

  “Great. Hey, by the way, Rob and Devon are still missing,” Danny said.

  “Any idea where they’d go?” Cade was glad law enforcement was monitoring the call.

  “Nope. I thought they’d contact you. Rob says you owe him.”

  “Really?” Cade projected a disbelieving attitude. “I can’t believe he’s still holding a grudge.”