Expired Getaway (Last Chance County #7) - Lisa Phillips Page 0,79

path that hadn’t been used much. “Why would she come this way?”

Something had to have drawn Bridget into the forest.

It hadn’t been but several minutes, but it only took a moment for someone to be killed.

Even seconds could make it too late.

“Bridget!”

“Shhh. Someone could be out here.” Eric’s voice sounded strained.

“There!” One of the agents spotted something and took off in that direction. The other one went with him.

Eric stayed with Millie. Probably so he could “protect” her, even though he was the one who looked like he was about to fall over.

“You should have ordered someone else to help me and then stayed with the vehicles.” Millie glanced left, then swept her gaze right. Repeat. Repeat. Scanning for Bridget. A flash of her hair or a piece of clothing that might be visible wherever she was.

Don’t be dead.

“I’m fine.”

“And I’m terminally pregnant? Is that it?” She rolled her eyes. “You were shot. You’re not fine.”

“If you think I’m letting you go off alone and—” He grunted. When she glanced back, he’d slowed and now held his stomach with his free hand. The other one held his gun.

“You can stop. I’ll keep looking.”

Eric shook his head.

Why he insisted on coming, despite his injured physical state, she didn’t know. Unless he really did think he needed to protect his pregnant wife. The agents had told her about the incident with the dog and the rollerblading little girl at the house, though they didn’t understand the significance of it all, or why Bridget had been hiding in the garage. Or why that had led to her breakdown in the restaurant parking lot. All they knew was that the woman they’d been charged with watching had drawn out Capeira’s men and then run off.

Something Bridget would never have done without a good reason.

A flash of blonde hair caught her attention.

“Bridget!” Millie crashed through the brush to where she lay. Her clothing snagged on sticky prickles of berry bush as she ran. She swiped at them and felt a sting across her palm. It didn’t matter. She tugged on her friend’s arm, unwilling to concede that the worst had happened.

“Let’s lift her.” Eric knelt beside her.

Bridget was out cold. A huge knot had formed on her temple, clearly the blow that had knocked her unconscious. The gun she carried lay beside her.

“She must’ve squeezed off a round.” Either accidentally, or to draw attention to herself.

They started to lift Bridget. She came awake with a cry, thrashing against them.

“Whoa. Bridge. It’s me.” Millie grasped her arms in a loose hold. “Eric is here. It’s okay.”

Bridget pushed down on both their shoulders and stood. So fast she nearly toppled over. “Whoa.” She straightened. “Ouch.” Bridget blew out a breath and touched the sides of her face. “That’s gonna leave a mark.”

“Clarke?”

Bridget started to nod. “Yes.” She gritted her teeth.

Millie reached to help Eric to his feet. Her husband shot her a look. She lifted both hands. “Sorry. Do it yourself, then.”

“I know when to sit down. And I can stand by myself.”

Millie pressed her lips into a thin line. He kept pace, but only barely. He wasn’t likely to admit even an ounce of weakness to his colleagues. No, he was going to just pretend he was raring to go, despite the fact he was seriously pale and a strong wind would probably blow him over.

Meanwhile, Millie wasn’t allowed to comment on his physical injury, or she would be “mothering” him. She turned to her friend. “What happened, Bridget?”

“Clarke was out here watching those Capeira guys try to take me. He saw me and ran. So I chased him.”

Eric glanced around. “Let’s head back to the parking lot.”

Millie could take whoever came at them. She was mad and prepared to fight for these two injured people she loved and cared for. In the same way she would defend her two boys if she had to. Why would Eric be mad about that?

Bridget nodded. “Ouch. Bad idea.” She turned and started walking. “I could use an icepack.”

Millie said, “There’s an ambulance there. If it hasn’t left with the agent already.”

“Is one of the feds dead? One got shot, right?”

“Right.” Eric nodded. “He was nicked pretty badly.”

Millie didn’t need Bridget to freak out about the possible blood. “Not too badly. He’ll be okay.”

Eric glanced at her. She didn’t meet his gaze. How she helped her employee was her business.

“I get it,” Eric said. As though that was some kind of consolation for her. “I want to help her