Expired Getaway (Last Chance County #7) - Lisa Phillips Page 0,75
considering you destroyed any chance Bridget and I had of making a family.”
“Two nineteen-year-olds and a baby?”
“Like people in that situation don’t make it work every single day? Relationships don’t always last forever, but we won’t ever know, will we, because you took that chance away from us. You took Sydney’s mother from her life.”
“I saved Sydney, and I saved Bridget.” Sasha huffed. “And there’s nothing you can say that will convince me I’m wrong. That’s how right I know I am.”
“Because the fire chief was such a bad guy? That’s true enough.” Aiden stuck the fingers of his free hand into one pocket. “But you didn’t even let me try to protect them. You’re just assuming I’ll do it now so you can continue to believe you’re right.”
Sasha shrugged the shoulder he knew was uninjured. “I’ll also be right here, working with you to protect them.”
“No one wants you to do that. And I don’t need you.”
“Sure, that’s why you have a bullet hole in your shirt right above your heart. Because Clarke wasn’t trying to make a point about how close to Bridget he can get.”
Aiden didn’t like the sound of that. “I’m supposed to accept your help because you’re so all-knowing?”
“Look, I’m not saying I need to move into your guest room —”
“Good. Because I don’t have one.”
Sasha sighed. “I did what I thought was right. They can all hate me for it for the rest of their lives, but that doesn’t mean I was wrong. Does it?”
He pressed his lips together, deciding not to answer that. “Do you know where Clarke is holed up?”
“Why, am I supposed to call you if I find him?”
“I don’t suppose you would do that.”
Sasha laughed.
“The FBI is looking for Capeira. Do you know anything about that?”
“Yeah, I wasn’t going to tell you if I find that guy, either. But I’ll call and let you know where to find the remains.”
Aiden realized he wasn’t going to get anywhere with this woman. He had no idea what her intentions were, or how to convince her to work with him inside the bounds of the law. It was clear she had more of a renegade work ethic. Something she had likely tried to train Bridget on.
He didn’t think it stuck entirely. With her aversion to blood and the clear stress response he’d seen in her, he doubted Bridget would respond as aggressively as Sasha might. After all, a woman like Sasha would never suggest running and hiding, even if it involved protecting a child in the mix.
He needed to get back to work. “You’re gonna call and give me intel?” He walked past her as he spoke. “Do you even have my number?”
Aiden continued down the side street to the tune of her laughter bouncing off the sides of the buildings.
No matter what she’d done, or the decisions she’d made, Aiden would accept her help if it meant protection for those he cared about. The ones who wanted it, and those who thought they didn’t need it.
After all, he knew what it was like to want absolution for your past choices.
Aiden made it to Frees, but the search yielded nothing. Clarke had made his statement. Now he was gone. The question was, when would he strike next? Aiden planned to be ready, now that he knew what he was up against.
Who would be the target?
Twenty-five
The little redhead girl wobbled on rollerblades down her drive while a teen looked on. A couple of times, the girl’s arms swung like two windmills and she nearly went down on both knees.
Bridget gasped. Her breath fogged up the window, so she used her sleeve to wipe it away.
Having caught herself just in time, the little girl adjusted her knee pads and skated on while the teen kept a close eye out, though she clearly knew she was capable enough.
Butch leaned against her leg. Bridget reached down and touched his head. She buried her fingers in his fur while everything in her wanted to run out there. To introduce herself. Even if she only waved and called out a generic greeting in the process.
Sydney would look at her. She might even smile.
Everything Bridget had wanted for years, and she would have it in a matter of seconds. Even if the girl didn’t even know her name.
But she didn’t go outside. Instead, she contemplated the likely consequences of deciding to venture out instead of staying holed up in here with myriad injuries—fear her only company. What would happen? A