Expired Getaway (Last Chance County #7) - Lisa Phillips Page 0,97

one after already going to all the trouble of taking off her jacket, shoes and socks. Her knife was nowhere to be found. It was freezing back here, while no doubt he had the heater running full blast in the front where he drove.

Her breath was visible in the chilled air.

She slumped against the side and fought a sense of despair. No, that was what he wanted for her. She still had hope.

Bridget knew with all certainty that she always had hope.

No matter how bad things got, she could always count on the fact God was in control. After all, her daughter was alive. She knew God would grant her peace and help calm her fears. That was what He loved to do with His children, the ones who believed in Him and looked to Him to supply their needs.

Without Him she would have given up a long time ago.

And maybe she wasn’t the best Christian. God knew she didn’t always focus on the right things, or do everything she should. But she was honest about herself. She’d long since figured there was no point lying to Him when He knew everything anyway.

Please don’t let Sydney get hurt. And please, help me too.

All she could think about was that photo. The one she’d received in her texts.

Her little girl. She knew it was Sydney from seeing her earlier, and she’d studied that face on the text message photo. The first time she’d been able to do it up close. Her daughter was gorgeous.

The picture was one of her looking at something to the side of the camera, in a place lit up by colored lights. Given it was the middle of the night, it might not be from today. The expression on her face wasn’t terror, but still serious concern. She’d been upset by something. Which, for someone wearing a unicorn headband, should not ever have to happen.

Darkness overcame the back of the van until she could no longer see her bare feet. They’d pulled off somewhere? From the way the streetlights that had illuminated and bounced off the windows above where she sat had now stopped, she assumed they had pulled off the road, onto some sort of side street.

Or they’d gone into a tunnel.

A building.

Where was he taking her? Though she had no idea, her mind was happy to provide possible answers. Mostly images from thriller TV cop shows and the few horror movies she’d seen.

Bridget needed a solid plan so when he opened the back door, she could…do something. Rush out. Jump him. Launch up and tackle him to the ground.

All sounded great, but her body was losing energy fast. The longer she stayed put against the side of the van, the heavier her limbs got—and the weaker she felt. Lord, I need help. She immediately thought of Aiden, then remembered what she’d seen right before the van door shut her in. Aiden and those men coming up behind him. The way he’d stiffened and stopped so suddenly.

The van door made a clicking sound, causing her to jump, and then began sliding open. Bridget winced against the glare of fluorescent light. She’d fallen into unconsciousness when she should’ve been readying herself to attack. “Sydney.”

Clarke stood in the open doorway. “What?”

She spoke louder this time. “Sydney.”

“Who? You don’t even know the kid in the photo. So don’t pretend to know her name.” He frowned, and then sneered. “Or is that the name of your dead baby?”

Bridget said nothing. She tried to process what on earth he’d just said, what it even meant and what he knew. He believed…her baby had died? He thought she didn’t know the girl in the photo.

Also…what?

Clarke sniffed. “I figured it was close enough. She even kind of looks like you.” He shook his head. “Sasha spouted all that nonsense about lying to you over the whole dead baby thing. I figured you’d care about any kid...even some neighborhood kid you’ve never met. Maternal instinct and all that.”

Bridget blinked. Her brain spun as she tried again to figure out what he thought he knew. He didn’t believe that Sydney was her child. He had no idea.

He had no idea.

“You threatened her.” Bridget barely got the words out. “All to get me to go with you.”

“So you’ll jump through hoops for some random kid, but you don’t care enough when I’m the one who needs you?” Clarke made a face. “Figures. Doesn’t matter, though. You have your uses, and now I know I can use