Expired Getaway (Last Chance County #7) - Lisa Phillips Page 0,71

shield. “I didn’t know. I’d have left you bleeding out on the ground and gone after him.”

“Bridget.”

She wouldn’t look at him. Too ashamed.

“You were trying to find the shooter, right?”

She shook her head and moved away because she had no right to be cared for the way he was doing. The way she could hear in his tone. Not when she had just about left him for dead to search for the threat.

“Do you see him?”

She was grateful he let the subject go, so she stood to search around some more. “It was only one shot. He hit his target, and I think he ran off. Or he was in the pickup I saw drive away.”

Aiden shifted. “This is Officer Donaldson. I need backup at Hollis’s diner.”

She turned back to see he had his radio to his mouth. Lines on his face gave him a strained expression. “Do you want to sit up?”

He shook his head. “Keep your eyes open. I don’t want to get caught by surprise again.”

She stood and had a look over the top of both their cars. Clarke? Or Capeira? Right now she wouldn’t be surprised if it was Sasha who’d shot Aiden, especially considering he wasn’t dead. It would be just like her to make a point like that about real danger, and how she’d basically done them a favor by warning them to be careful.

“Hey!”

She spun to see a huge man race out of the diner. Bridget moved to grab her gun.

“One of the construction guys heard a shot. I was in the back. You okay?” The big man breathed out huge lungfuls of air.

“There’s a cop down. He got hit in his vest.”

The man barreled past her. “Who is it?”

“Aiden.”

“Donaldson?” He passed her and knelt. “You okay, bro?”

“Yeah, Will.” He sounded pained. “Help me up.”

Bridget gave him a pointed look. “Oh, I see how it is. Reject my help, but jump at this guy’s offer.”

Both men looked at her in surprise.

She scanned the area and gritted her teeth while she tried not to feel hurt. Maybe she deserved that. He probably hated her for the way Sasha, her supposed friend, had dropped a baby in his lap and lied to everyone, ultimately changing the course of his life. He’d probably never wanted a child. Especially not one with Bridget.

And yet, he’d made that into something beautiful. At least as far as she could see from the way he looked while on the phone with their daughter. The way he’d been with her outside, lifting her into his arms. He loved Sydney, and she clearly loved him back.

“Who’s that?” The newcomer spoke in a low voice. “Friend of yours?”

She glanced back and tried to smile.

Aiden leaned against the side of his squad car. Before he spoke, another black and white vehicle pulled in. “Will Briar, formerly with the FBI, this is Bridget Meyers, a longtime friend of mine.”

“And the shooter?”

Neither noticed she’d completely frozen up at the mention of the FBI. Another one? Whether he was an agent now, or not, didn’t matter. Not when she had a target on her. Getting tangled up with law enforcement in any official capacity was going to hamstring any chance she had of taking care of this problem. And making Sydney safe.

She winced. “The shooter is likely a colleague of mine.”

The guy, Will, scratched at his jawline with one hand while another cop strode over. This guy had dark features, tanned skin, and sergeant stripes on his shirt sleeves.

All Bridget had wanted was to talk with Aiden and keep Sydney safe. Now she was mixed up in official business, and her name would land on paperwork.

She strode away from the cars toward the front of the building, unsure where she was even going. On the way past Aiden, he reached out. Their hands clasped. Instead of stalling her momentum, he pushed off the car and joined her. Walking beside her, he shifted to her right side, moving to drape his left arm across the back of her shoulders.

The way he used to.

The way they’d walked so many times, years ago.

She sucked in a breath.

“Talk to me. Don’t run.”

She managed to stop, and he stayed close to her.

“Easy.”

She glanced back and saw Will talking to the Sergeant, their attention partially on her and Aiden.

“Don’t worry about them. Stick with me.”

She squeezed her eyes shut, focusing on the warmth of his body. She slid her hand to the side of his neck and put two fingers on the underside