bathroom or bedrooms beyond. Aiden stood up to go after her but stopped as she held out a hand to the man standing by the breakfast bar. His arms, once crossed over his huge chest, reached out to steady her by clasping her forearm with his. Aiden had seen him in town before, so he was obviously a local.
The man held her steady for a second longer as she passed. “Okay?”
She nodded, not stopping. Butch padded after her. He sniffed at the knee of the other man’s cargo pants. “Sit.”
The dog carried on down the hall, following Bridget.
“Huh.” The man said, “Sasha, you know this guy?”
The woman on the couch turned and looked at the window. “It was going to come out, eventually.”
The man turned to him next. “Donaldson, right?”
“Aiden.” He nodded as the man strode to him.
“Zander.” They shook.
“Right.” Aiden had seen his photo at Ted’s house. “Explains a lot. But not everything.”
“What’s going on?”
Aiden turned to the woman. “Your name is Sasha?”
She glanced at him. Unremorseful. Determined not to break.
“Funny. That’s not what you told me when you came to see me six years ago.” He took a breath, hardly able to process the truth. “You told me you worked for child services.”
Aiden couldn’t believe it. He wanted it to come out, but not like this. Not when Sydney was on the couch across the alley, watching her favorite show. He’d been out looking for the dog so she wouldn’t worry about Butch. Keeping Butch in the backyard was proving to be a full-time job by itself. Had the dog been trying to get to Bridget the whole time? Once out, he’d come straight here.
Zander said, “Child services, Sash?”
She had the decency to shift on the couch. Aiden realized she wore a sling. She’d been injured.
He didn’t let that soften him. “Does Bridget even know?”
Sasha glared at him. Before she could say anything, Bridget reentered the living room with Butch right behind her. She pulled out a breakfast bar stool and sat while the dog laid down at her feet.
Guess he knew whose dog it was now. Unfortunately, he was going to have to break that news to Sydney.
“What’s going on?” Bridget glanced around.
Sasha didn’t answer her. She was looking at Aiden. “Did I do the wrong thing?”
“Is this about my freak out?” Bridget chuckled, but it sounded hollow. “I have a problem with blood, okay? I can handle it most of the time. Until I’m exhausted and one too many memories creep back in.” She looked nervous.
“This isn’t about that.” He sent her a soft smile. She was a trained operative who didn’t like blood?
Zander leaned his hips back against the breakfast bar. “You knew about this, Sasha?”
The woman on the couch shot him a look.
“You should be more careful with your friend.” Zander then motioned in Aiden’s direction with a wave of his hand. “Now tell us the rest of what’s going on.”
Bridget glanced between them, a frown emerging on her forehead.
“I did the right thing.”
Aiden pressed his lips together. Sasha was going to keep thinking that? Convincing herself it wasn’t a serious violation of whatever relationship she and Bridget had. Unless it was spiteful. And yet, she’d done Aiden the best favor he could’ve asked for.
Sasha pushed at the material of her pants and shifted it over her bent knee. “The right thing for everyone.” She glared at Aiden.
“Sasha.” Bridget shook her head. “What?”
She said nothing. Aiden wasn’t about to let her get away with that. “Tell her how you lied. Tell her how you betrayed her.”
“Betrayed?” Sasha shot off the couch to stand. “I did what she wanted! What was best for all of you!”
He couldn’t look at Bridget. He’d need to eventually. In the aftermath, he would be there for her. He’d have to figure out how to navigate this in the middle of everything else. And take care of Sydney.
“What is he talking about, Sasha?” Bridget’s expression turned cautious. Because she knew what her friend was capable of? “What was best for everyone?”
Aiden folded his arms. “Six years ago, Sasha here knocked on my door.” He didn’t even know how to say it. Bridget was going to be devastated.
“I protected her!” Sasha yelled. “Did I do the wrong thing? She’s safe, right? She’ll continue to be safe, regardless of what happens with Clarke or Capeira. I protected her. Both of them.”
Bridget said, “What did you do?”
“That guy was dogging you.”
“Six years ago.” Bridget nodded. “So the fire chief?”
Aiden twisted to Bridget. “This