think he actually wants me dead this time.”
“Your boyfriend?”
Bridget supposed that was true. “Yeah.” She swallowed. “He shot my father tonight as well. I think he might be dead.”
So far she hadn’t spoken an untruth. But what she didn’t want was to get her fake name on a police report. Bridget didn’t need Clarke discovering she was in the hospital—if he hadn’t already seen the ambulance for himself.
Likely he was just biding his time and waiting for another shot at her so he could kill her. Or capture her. She didn’t know which. Nor did she know if it would be for himself or the Capeiras.
“Oh, hon.”
The disparity between this compassionate nurse and the authoritative one she’d met first was a significant switch, but one Bridget needed to use. “He’ll find me here. He’ll come, and he’ll hurt me again.”
All true.
The nurse shook her head. “You’re safe. We have procedures so people can’t just walk in off the street. He won’t get to you here.” The nurse squeezed Bridget’s hand. “Tell the cop that’s coming all about your man and what he did. I know they didn’t do right by you tonight, but the cops in this town are good people. And they’re good cops. File a restraining order.”
Bridget shook her head. “I have to get out of here. Now.” She shoved the blanket back and sat up. “I need your help. Some clothes.”
“I know you’re scared—”
“Please, just either help me, or leave.” Bridget held up a hand. In the bag, her pants were intact. It was only her shirt that’d been cut off her. That was enough. “I have to go.”
The nurse shifted. Indecision warred on her face with what she knew to be true about hospital security…and good cops.
Bridget had nothing against cops. They were people who made mistakes just like everyone else. But they were also held to higher standards of honor and upright behavior. They were supposed to be the best of what humans could be.
She just didn’t need to talk to one right now, when it would be about the wrong they’d done. Cops in this town would want to envelop her life. Make sure she wasn’t going to sue the officer or press charges for an accident. Try to help her out. Pay her back.
All of which was a complication she couldn’t afford.
“Maybe you could wait until morning?” the nurse suggested. “I’ll find you clean clothes. After the doctor has checked you out, then we’ll make sure you can get somewhere safe. There’s a house in town, Hope Mansion, where any woman or child is always welcome.”
Bridget knew about Maggie’s shelter. She’d lived there with her mom for a few weeks right before her seventh birthday. Before her mom got a new boyfriend.
One who had beat her so badly he’d killed her.
Bridget let the tears fall. The nurse didn’t need to know she was only crying over the memory of her mother—even though she hadn’t done that in years. Of course, the tears were for more than just her mother. She hurt and she was exhausted, but she also cried for the baby she’d lost. She’d shed so many tears after birthing the most beautiful baby and having her die from complications.
Yet another failure Bridget had been unable to prevent.
Her tragic life.
“I have to go.”
The nurse bit her lip. “I’ll be back in a minute with some clothes. Please let me help you out.”
Ten minutes later, they stood at one of the side doors. Close enough to where Millie had left the car for her. Once she got back to the safe house, Bridget would be able to collapse in bed and cry for as long as she wanted. Then pass out. Literally everything hurt and her head spun just being upright. Until then, she had to hold it together and not think about every awful thing in her life.
Or that one star trying to shine, though enveloped in darkness. “Thank you for your help.”
The nurse nodded. “There’s a cab right outside the door. He’ll take you to Hope Mansion.”
Bridget had no intention of getting into the cab. “Thanks.”
She pushed open the door one handed and let it shut behind her before she bypassed the cab at the curb and strode down the sidewalk.
She brushed back blonde hair from her face. She probably looked like she’d been dragged through a hedge.
A man turned the corner of the building and headed down the sidewalk toward her. Dark hair, lean but toned under his police uniform.