Defending Bridget - P.J. Fiala Page 0,65

both stood when they saw her, and as soon as she approached, Josh nodded. "You ready to get out of here?"

"Yes." She softly responded.

Axel stared down at her. "You okay?"

"Yeah. Tired. A little freaked out still and eager to get home to Aidyn."

He smiled, took her hand and began walking toward the door. "Since it's late and we're starving, we thought we'd order in at the hotel so we can shower, then rest up and wait for further information from Gaige. He's been brought up to speed on what happened and has been working with the police to make sure we aren't charged with anything. Sometimes it goes better than others. He may need help from our contact at State. But, for now, we're told to stay put until we're released with no further questions about what happened. Then we’re to determine if local PD has, or can get, any intel on where Mikheil Ustymovych is. If he's close, we may have the opportunity to find him."

"What about the man I hit with the truck?"

"He's alive. The last report was that he was seeking extradition to tell everything he knows. Since I doubt the Ukrainians were holding him there on political grounds or some such thing, I expect he’ll be allowed to stay here, but it will be in a prison cell."

They climbed back in the vehicle they'd rented. Bridget cringed when she saw the damage to the front of the Tahoe but knew in her heart, it had to be done.

Upon sitting in the back, her body relaxed and she shivered slightly. She fastened her seatbelt and looked over to see her solar blanket still laying on the floor behind the driver's seat. She reached down and pulled it up over her lap, then further up over her shoulders. Axel looked back at her, "Are you feeling alright?"

"Yeah. Likely adrenaline and exhaustion. I'll be fine with a hot shower, some food and sleep."

He nodded his gaze lingered slightly then he turned forward.

Josh spoke up, "I could use about two dozen spicy hot chicken wings."

Axel laughed. "That sounds fantastic."

He turned toward her again. "Bridget, do you like wings?"

"Wings sound great." She turned to look out the window. "And a beer. Or two. I guess I'm buying."

Both men in the front laughed and Axel pulled his phone out and searched for a restaurant close to their hotel. She made a mental note to ask how everything was miraculously done for them. But she knew it was all done from headquarters. Whoever was there watching over their mission, Gaige or someone else, was the one taking care of it all. It made sense since those on the mission had to keep their heads in the game and themselves and anyone on their side alive.

A few minutes later, Josh turned into the parking lot of a hotel, a well-known chain hotel, and she shivered once again. She was one step closer to a shower and a bed.

Pulling their bags from the back of the SUV, she followed behind Josh and Axel as they entered the hotel letting out a breath and relaxing her shoulders. The hotel was warm, inviting and clean. Hat trick right here.

Josh checked them in, and Axel stood alongside her, his arm around her shoulders, which comforted her and almost made her cry it felt so good.

"I'm thankful and proud of you for today, Irish."

Surprised by his use of the nickname he'd given her many years ago, she turned her face up to his. His image waved amongst the tears forming in her eyes. Blinking rapidly to stave off the wave that might follow she swallowed and gathered her emotions.

"I couldn't let them kill you."

"I'm ecstatic to hear that." His comment held the sardonic humor she'd first noticed about him and wave upon wave of memories flooded over her.

Josh turned and tossed a key to Axel. "You two can share a room, I don't want to hear any arguing tonight and I think you have things to discuss. I intend to fill my belly and get some sleep."

He turned and began walking to the elevators and she and Axel followed behind him. He was right. They did need to talk. They needed to talk about a lot of things.

44

Axel offered Bridget the shower first, but she shook her head. "You should go, I want to stand under the water for a long time."

He chuckled. "You got it."

He ducked into the bathroom, taking his go bag with him. He made short