Expired Getaway (Last Chance County #7) - Lisa Phillips Page 0,35

been.

Hopefully that was still true. Because the cabin was nearly two miles from here and she needed to get there fast. This was the quickest way.

Please, Lord. She prayed it would come together like a good plan. Not a spur of the moment reaction.

Clarke better not hurt anyone before she had a chance to get there. Regardless, she owed him for getting the jump on her in the hall at Tate’s office. As if running into Aiden hadn’t been shock enough. Clarke had nearly knocked her out. She’d pretended to be completely felled, unconscious so he would be more apt to reveal his plan, and she could figure out what he’d been doing there.

How he’d found out about the office, she didn’t know. She did know that he’d done a deep dive into each of the employees of the accountant’s office so he now knew everything about their ties to Last Chance. Millie. Her family.

Bridget didn’t want to know what might happen had Millie and her husband’s kids been in town right now. Thank You. They weren’t.

She parked and had to slow her breathing before panic set in. The last thing she needed right now was to have an anxiety attack that stopped her from helping. Millie and her husband were in danger, and Bridget was going to help.

After all, this whole mess was at least partially her fault.

Another car pulled up behind hers, and she stared at it in the rearview mirror. Of course he’d followed her. She hadn’t had enough of him back at the office, when he’d stood too close and spoken too softly. Her teeth gritted. She didn’t need the reminder of the potent attraction between them.

Especially not when one of the first things he’d done was bring up the fact she’d lost their baby. How he even knew she’d been pregnant, Bridget had no idea. But right now there was no time to find out.

And right on the heels of him handing Butch over to the other cop? Aiden had to remember how much she’d loved her dog. He hadn’t even asked her if she wanted to take Butch. Of course, she’d have had to turn him down, but still. It was the principle of the thing.

She shoved the door open and got out. Aware he could see her, she shook her head as he pulled up, then turned away to the house.

She was better off alone. Bridget needed to save Millie, or Tate would never forgive her. Millie’s children would be motherless.

A tear rolled down her cheek. Why did Aiden have to mention their baby? Surely he would know how much that hurt.

“Bridget!”

She headed for the barn, where her father kept his dirt bikes. Snowmobiles. Tools. Whatever he’d collected over the last decade or so since he bought this house. She prayed a working vehicle was in there.

“Bridget.” He was closer to her now.

She spun at the door to the barn. “Can you just go?”

“I’m here to help.” Stubbornness laced his tone.

“I don’t need your help.” After all, he had people who cared about him. She didn’t need him getting injured. “You’ve made a good life for yourself. Don’t ruin all that today by getting hurt, or maybe even dying.”

“You think I’ll get killed because of you?”

“This is about helping Millie and Eric.”

“He’s a fed. Backup is on the way to them.” He waved his phone at her.

“Then why are you trying to help him, if he’ll be fine?”

“I’m helping you.” The intent in his eyes impacted her. “I hit you with my car. Means I owe you.”

She turned away, not wanting to think about the deeper meaning she saw there. “You don’t.”

“Please let me help you.”

If she let him help her, she’d have to let him in, and there was no way she wanted—or needed—Aiden to have any part in her life. She would only end up right where she’d been.

Broken and alone.

She was about to tell him “no,” when she noticed the door to the house. About twenty feet from her, she spotted what might be a bloody handprint. Also, it looked like the door might be open.

She spun back. “Look in the barn and see if the dirt bike is functional. We need a way to get to the cabin. Fast.”

Except she was pretty sure Clarke was here somewhere. Bleeding.

Maybe.

She took a step toward the house. “I’ll look for ATV keys just in case there is one.”

It was a lame excuse. But instead of waiting for his response, Bridget jogged to