Page 12 of Shadow Undercover

“Smart man.” Sam turned back to Bridget. “I need to clean the wound on your neck and the back of your head. I’ll be as fast as I can, then I’ll numb your scalp near the cut.”

Bridget gave a slight nod of agreement although the only thing she wanted to do was run.

“Talk to me while she’s working,” Trace said, his hands squeezing hers to gain her attention. “Tell me who grabbed you.”

“Trace.” Sam glared at him.

“We need to know. Bridget’s tough. She can answer a few questions while you’re treating her injuries.” His gaze locked with Bridget’s. “Talk to me. We can help.”

Bridget weighed her options and quickly realized she only had two. She could continue tracking Ruth on her own and maybe end up dead the next time she ran afoul of the wrong people or accept help from a group of Americans who seemed capable and deadly. “I don’t know who hurt me, Trace. If I did, I’d tell you.”

His eyebrow rose.

“Maybe I’d tell you,” she amended. “The truth is I don’t know the men’s names. I do know they’re connected to a thug named Torino.”

Trace went utterly still. “Why were you mixed up with Torino?”

“He convinced my sister to leave the country with him and empty out my bank account in the process. I don’t know who this man is but I haven’t heard from Ruth in weeks. Something is wrong.”

CHAPTER FIVE

Trace drew in a deep breath, dread building in his gut. Torino had taken off with Bridget’s sister? Did that mean Ruth Monihan was back in Torino’s estate?

He frowned. Wait. That couldn’t be right. Torino was married and, from all accounts, hadn’t left Puebla in months. The Monihans were from Tennessee. Where had the two met?

“Your sister left the United States with Pedro Torino?” Joe asked.

Bridget shook her head. “That’s the patriarch of the Torino family. Ruth left home with Hugo, his son. They had only been dating a couple weeks. I told Ruth he was a loser. She didn’t want to listen to me. I guess she was blinded by his supposed good looks.”

“You didn’t think he was attractive?” Sam asked as she ripped open a packet of alcohol wipes and began to clean Bridget’s scalp and neck.

Bridget flinched at the sudden sting. “He’s too pretty.”

Amused, Trace’s lips curved upward.

“Do you know where Hugo took your sister?” Joe asked.

“I have no idea. I thought I would start with his father. I hoped Pedro would have some idea where Hugo was. I couldn’t even get inside the house to ask him.”

Good thing, Trace thought. Pedro would have killed Bridget in a heartbeat if he thought his son was in jeopardy. The old man had doted on Hugo. Now that the father was dead, he wondered who would take his place in the business hierarchy. If Hugo was slated to take over, Torino’s son might be the next Shadow mission, especially if he was anything like his old man.

More than anything, Trace hated that Bridget’s sister was involved with that scumbag. If he was like Pedro, Ruth was in serious trouble. “We’ll find her.”

“How? Will you be able to get Hugo’s location from his father?”

Silence descended on the bedroom. Trace watched Bridget for a moment. He didn’t know how much of the truth she could handle. “We’ll use other sources. We have a friend who is a tech genius. If Ruth or Hugo left an electronic trail, Zane will find it.”

Bridget’s brow furrowed. “Why do I have the feeling that you’re not telling me everything?”

“Because you’re an intelligent, intuitive woman.”

She smiled. “You’re observant and wise. I like it.”

That surprised another laugh out of him. Bridget didn’t let the pain she was in make her grumpy. He liked that about her. Maybe a little too much.

“A little stick,” Sam murmured.

Bridget winced. “Joe, make sure she doesn’t carve an S in the back of my skull, all right?”

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