Breathless (Seven Brides Seven Brothers Pelican Bay Book 1) Read online

  Cadence knew God was with her. Ever since this ordeal began, she had clung to the Lord for strength. Without Him, she wouldn’t have gathered the courage to drive to Pelican Bay to seek Parker’s assistance. It hadn’t been easy to come running back to the only man she’d ever loved—a man who clearly thought the worst of her. A man who’d been under the belief for the past three years that she’d unceremoniously dumped him for another man. Cadence couldn’t help but wonder if Parker believed her version of events. If so, he had to know she’d only broken things off with him in order to save his life.

  Cadence wondered if her feelings for him were as clear as the blue skies over Pelican Bay? Had he taken one look in her direction and seen the love she felt for him shining in her eyes?

  She shook her head to rid her mind of all these thoughts. Her feelings for Parker didn’t matter. She loved him still, but Logan was the only thing that mattered. She’d had her shot with Parker three years ago, and it had all crashed and burned around them because of Mason and his deadly obsession with her. Cadence realized now that she could have handled things differently. She could have told Parker about Mason, his threats and the automobile accident that had taken Keith’s life. Fear had kept her silent. She’d thrown herself on her sword in order to protect Parker. And in the end, she’d subjected herself to endless pain.

  If Parker and Jason could bring Logan back home safe and sound, Cadence would never ask for another thing in her entire life. Years ago she’d lost Logan’s father and the only love she’d ever known. She couldn’t lose Logan. He was the most important thing in her world and the only reason she had to get up in the morning. Being married to Mason and losing Parker had caused the last three years of her life to be bleak. The only ray of sunshine had been Logan. Sweet, innocent Logan. God had blessed her by making her his mother. And even though she’d lost Parker, Cadence would forever have a piece of him in Logan.

  As she drifted off to sleep, Cadence curled herself up into a ball. She didn’t make a sound as the hot tears coursed down her face. At the moment she felt almost numb. She wasn’t sure how much more she could take before she shattered into a million little pieces.

  **

  “So, you’re a father?” Jason asked as soon as Parker came back downstairs after making sure Cadence was all settled in for the night.

  Parker heaved a tremendous sigh. He ran a weary hand over his face. “Yes. It seems that I am.”

  Jason shook his head. “How are you feeling about all this? It’s pretty wild. Your whole life has changed on a dime.”

  “That’s the understatement of the century. I keep thinking I’m about to wake up from a dream or something. For the moment, I just need to focus on finding Logan. The rest of it I can sort through at a later point in time.”

  Jason knitted his brows together. “What about Cadence? It must feel surreal to have her walk back into your life with so many bombshells.”

  Parker’s jaw hardened. “I don’t get it, to be honest. She said she did all of this for me. But that kind of burns me up inside. I’m a PI. I’m tough. I’ve been through a lot in my career. I know how to handle myself. I could have dealt with Mason on my own. And then we could have—”

  “Walked off into the sunset together?” Jason asked.

  Jason’s comment rankled. It came too close to the truth. Parker’s brain was muddled with what might have been

  “I didn’t say that, did I?” he asked in an annoyed tone.

  Jason clapped him on the shoulder. “Bro, you didn’t have to. I know you like I know my own self. It’s okay to feel that way. The two of you were pure magic together. I know how much it cost you when she walked out of your life.”

  He let out a groan of frustration. “If she’d only talked to me. Told me everything. I could have been with her and seen my son come into the world. We could have been a family.” Parker heard the agony in his own voice and he hated himself for being so vulnerable. It wasn’t his way. He was tougher than this. Hardened by life and his experiences. Being vulnerable was showing weakness. And ever since Cadence broke his heart, Parker had hardened himself against any further hurts. He walked around now with a shell around him. Tonight, Cadence had broken through that shell with her sudden appearance. And he didn’t really want to dwell on the reasons why. He’d stuffed down so many emotions after she’d broken up with him and walked away without a single glance backward. The pain had been unbearable, so much so that he hadn’t known if he was coming or going most of the time.

  “Or you might not be here right now,” Jason said with a pointed look at Parker. “Cadence might have saved your life. A man who would kill your best friend and abduct your child is capable of anything as far as I’m concerned.”

  “True,” Parker acknowledged. Part of him wanted to be able to accept Cadence’s actions as a huge sacrifice for love, while another part of him rejected that notion. For the past three years he’d convinced himself she hadn’t loved him at all. She had made him feel that way! It was difficult to reverse those thoughts over the course of a few hours.

  It was a tricky thing to wrap one’s head around. He felt frustrated over the past. He knew he was harboring some negativity toward Cadence. It wasn’t right or fair of him to judge her, but he partially blamed her for all the lost years between them. Why hadn’t she come to him? Hadn’t she believed in him enough to know he would have kept her safe?

  He shook off his thoughts. Now wasn’t the time to dwell on things he couldn’t change.

  “Let’s get down to business. I’m going to run a background check on Price. He’s a pretty public figure here in Florida, so I shouldn’t have any trouble finding some intel on him. He’s in his sixties so he must have lived a life before he came crashing into Cadence’s world. I’d like to know more about him and his past.”

  Jason nodded. “I can check out the properties he owns and try to get a lead on his whereabouts. A sixty something man with a two-year-old may have left an impression. I’ll try and find out if he’s left the country in the last twenty-four hours.”

  “Make sure to check to see if he filed any flight plans with a private plane,” Parker suggested. Jason nodded. The two worked seamlessly together. It never failed to astonish Parker. Sometimes it seemed as if they shared one mind. Often they finished each other’s sentences. Jason hadn’t been in the PI business as long as Parker, but his instincts were every bit as good.

  “You still have the computer in the den?” Jason asked.

  “Yeah. Why don’t you go set up in there and I’ll use my laptop in here?” Parker threw out the suggestion, knowing they could work separately on leads then reconvene to discuss what each had uncovered.

  “Sure thing,” Jason said, pulling open the fridge and taking out a cold soda. He placed it on the counter, then began rummaging in Parker’s cupboards. “Aaah, I hit the jackpot,” he said, grabbing a bag of chips.

  Jason always knew how to make Parker smile. Even right now in these terrible circumstances, the sight of his brother acting as if he owned the joint cracked him up. He needed this laugh. The next few hours were going to be grueling. Between the two of them, he and Jason would tap into every single resource they had and track down any and all leads. This wasn’t just any case. This one was personal. Parker had seen the look in his brother’s eyes. They didn’t even have to put into words. They were Donahue’s. And so was Logan.

  “When your faith is challenged, you either hold on to it even tighter or let go of it.”

  Micah Donahue

  Chapter Five

  “I’ve got something, Parker.” Jason walked into the kitchen holding some papers up in the air. “I used your printer and copier machine to print them off.”

  Parker swung his gaze up from his computer. “What did you find?”

  “A private plane registered to Synchro Industries left Miami-Dade airport at four o’clock yesterday afternoon.”

  Mason Price’s high profile company was Synchro Industries. Parker felt his p
ulse quicken.

  “Where was it headed?”

  “I was able to contact one of my buddies at the FAA. Mason filed a flight plan. His destination was California. Cadence’s hunch was right. He flew to Sonoma.”

  Parker slapped Jason on the back. “Excellent work as usual.”

  “Happy to help out,” Jason said with a grin. “It brings us one step closer to finding Logan.”

  “I found some information, as well.” Parker grimaced. “Price has a history of disturbing behavior. He’s been married twice before and neither marriage ended well. His first wife died under mysterious circumstances and the other one obtained a restraining order against him. She accused him of domestic violence and terroristic threats. Their divorce records ended up being sealed due to some fancy footwork by his attorney.”

  Jason let out a whistle. “Sounds like a head case.”

  “He’s a few sandwiches short of a picnic, that’s for sure. This information proves he’s dangerous.”

  Jason frowned. “So Cadence was right about him being a threat?”

  “Seems like it,” Parker said in a grudging tone. He still wasn’t sure what to make about all of the decisions Cadence had made in the past, but he could acknowledge she’d had reasons to be afraid of Mason Price. Parker would hazard a guess that his mental state was questionable. It made his pulse race like crazy to know his son was in the company of a lunatic like Price.

  Parker glanced at his watch. It was three in the morning. “Why don’t we crash for a bit? We’re going to need all of our energy tomorrow. I’ll buy the tickets for the three of us now.”

  Jason raised an eyebrow. “Three tickets?”

  “Cadence is coming with us. Is that a problem?” Parker asked gruffly.

  Jason raised his hands up in the air. “I didn’t say a word. I was only asking a question. Just be careful,” he said in a warning tone.

  “What’s that supposed to mean?” Parker asked gruffly.

  “It means that Cadence is your soft spot. Being in her presence might stir up old feelings.”

  “That’s not going to happen,” Parker said. “Those feelings are dead and buried.”

  Jason simply stared at Parker without saying a word. The concern he felt over the situation radiated from his caramel-colored eyes.

  “What?” Parker asked, feeling annoyed at Jason. He was poking him with a big stick, trying to get him to reveal his feelings. Jason had been doing it ever since they were kids. Parker wasn’t in the mood to get all warm and fuzzy about his feelings.

  “You keep telling yourself that and you’re bound to fall right back in love with her.”

  Parker gritted his teeth. He knew Jason meant well, but he wasn’t some love struck teenager dealing with his first crush. Cadence had broken his heart and betrayed his trust at a point in his life when he’d been prepared to settle down and make her his forever. A person didn’t just get over something like that. It had been a crushing experience.

  “That’s not going to happen,” he said, wishing his voice sounded more confident.

  “I’m going to change the subject because I don’t want to beat a horse to death. What do you plan to tell the family?”

  “Nothing yet. How can I tell them anything when this could all end badly? I don’t want Mom and Dad to get all excited over having a grandson, only to be left heartbroken.”

  “Think positive,” Jason urged him. “Imagine how great it will be when that moment happens.”

  “I’m trying to, but I have to consider the worst,” Parker said, hating that he even had to ponder the unthinkable. In his line of work, it was only practical.

  A sudden noise had him turning around. Cadence was standing there with wide, red-rimmed eyes. She was wearing his over-sized T-shirt and her leggings. She was staring at Parker with anger radiating from her ice-blue eyes. The intensity of it surprised him.

  She took a step closer to him, her eyes glittering with emotion. “I didn’t come all this way only to have you give up on Logan. That little boy is my entire world. I’d give up my own life for him. And if you’re not willing to go the distance for him, I’ll find someone who is,” she said in a raised voice. Before Parker could even respond, she was gone from the doorway. Her footsteps echoed on the staircase.

  Parker looked at Jason, whose jaw was practically on the floor. Neither one of them had ever heard Cadence speak in such a fierce manner. Her personality had always been characterized by sweetness and light, with slight sass on occasion. Parker sensed her current attitude stemmed from the extreme stress of not knowing where Mason had taken Logan or how he was faring in the situation.

  Parker let out a groan. “I don’t have time to deal with a Mama Grizzly trying to protect her cub.”

  “You should go after her,” Jason said. “She’s under an incredible amount of stress.”

  Jason was right. The look on Cadence’s face had been frantic and furious. She was under considerable strain. He needed to lead with compassion and understanding. Hadn’t his parents always taught him to do so?

  “Wish me luck,” Parker said as he slowly walked down the hall and toward the staircase. He felt like a man walking toward the guillotine. It felt as if a huge divide stood between the two of them. Years ago he’d been really great at comforting her. Under the current circumstances, he wasn’t sure he still had the ability to provide comfort to Cadence.

  He tapped lightly on her door, then pressed his ear against it. Silence. He knocked louder before hearing her telling him to come in. Parker slowly turned the knob and stepped inside. She was sitting on the bed with her legs crossed in front of her. She looked wide awake although her expression appeared shuttered. Her cheeks were flushed and her eyes were red and swollen. It didn’t look as if she would be getting much shut-eye anytime soon.

  “Are you all right?” he asked, not knowing what else to say.

  “I’m fine,” she said in a low voice.

  “You’re far from fine,” Parker said. “Your eyes are red. You’ve been crying.”

  Cadence let out a sigh. “I never stopped really. It’s been a regular sob fest.”

  “I’m sorry about what you overheard. I’m not being pessimistic about finding Logan. I promise.” He shoved his hands into the pockets of his pants. He shifted from one foot to another. “I just…don’t want to get blindsided if something goes wrong,” he admitted.

  Saying those words to Cadence didn’t come easily to him. He didn’t like to admit his fears or worries. As a PI, Parker tended to be the strong and silent type. He let his actions speak for themselves.

  Cadence looked at him with deadened eyes. “If something goes wrong, the bottom will fall out of my world. I don’t have anything to live for if I don’t have Logan.”

  The way she spoke sent chills down Parker’s back. It sounded fairly ominous. It struck fear deep into his heart. Even though he’d believed he was well past caring about her well-being, he now knew how wrong he’d been.

  He made his way over to the bed and stared down at Cadence. “Don’t talk like that. You’re going to see Logan again. You’re going to hold him in your arms and rock him to sleep at night. You’re going to raise him to be a fine young man and it’s going to drive you crazy when the girls start coming out of the woodwork and flocking around him.”

  Cadence wiped away tears. She made a strange sound—somewhere between a laugh and a snort. “Oh no. I don’t think I can handle girls buzzing around Logan. Not until he’s at least thirty-years-old.” She swiped underneath her eyes with the back of her hand.

  “Thank you, Parker. I’m sorry for the way I acted earlier. I had no right to say those things to you.”

  Parker’s heart constricted at the wounded expression on Cadence’s face. She looked utterly ashamed. “I understand, Cadence. This situation is unbearable for you. You’re Logan’s mother.” He shook his head, trying to find the words to say how he felt. “Knowing Logan is my son is monumental for me. I don’t know him the way you do, but
he’s my flesh and blood. My boy. And as I told you before, I’m going to do whatever I need to do in order to bring him back to you.”

  She pressed her hands against her chest and blinked away her tears. “Oh, Parker. I know you’ll fall in love with Logan. And he’s going to love you in return.”

  For a moment they simply stared at one another as thoughts of their son hung in the air between them. Parker felt a wild urge to reach out to Cadence and take her in his arms. He wanted to brush a kiss across her temple and soothe away her fears. He wished he could make a guarantee to bring their son back safe and sound. They both knew such a promise wasn’t possible.

  Dear Lord. He needed to get away from Cadence before he surrendered to nostalgia and made a huge fool of himself.

  “Jason got some intel on his whereabouts. You were right on the money. He took a private flight to California.”

  Hope flared in her eyes. “Does this mean we’re going to follow him out there?”

  “Yes, it does,” he said with a nod. “I’m going to go scout around on the Internet for some flights right now. Make sure you get some rest, okay? Tomorrow is going to be intense.”

  With a grim nod of his head, Parker turned around and headed toward the door.

  “Parker.” He turned back around at the sound of Cadence’s voice.

  “I’m really sorry I didn’t tell you about Logan.” A look of shame crossed her face. Her lips trembled. Parker felt a surge of sympathy surge up inside him. Cadence had faced an impossible choice.

  “I can’t think about that right now. I need to stay focused. Trust me, Cadence. After we get Logan back, I’m going to have plenty to say to you on that subject. Get some sleep.”

  He turned back toward the door and made his way into the hall, firmly closing the door behind him. His heart was thumping wildly in his chest. His palms were moist. For three years he’d told himself she was nothing more than a memory. He’d tried to erase her from his heart and mind. Parker thought he’d accomplished that goal. Until tonight. Until she’d come crashing back into his life like a runaway train.