Page 15 of Shadow Undercover

“Right now, it’s fine.”

“Might not be the case when you sit up.” She grabbed a nearby lined garbage can and set it close at hand. “Let’s get her upright, Trace. Go slow.”

“Let us do the work,” Trace said. With a nod at Sam, the operatives raised Bridget to a sitting position. Her face paled and she clamped a hand to her mouth.

Sam grabbed the garbage can. “Hold her hair out of the way. Joe, we need more ice packs and a soft drink,” she called out.

“Coming up.”

Trace held Bridget while she barfed. By the time she finished, tears were streaming down her face. “Okay now?”

She gave a slight nod as she swiped tears from her face. “In case you didn’t know, throwing up with cracked ribs is no picnic.”

He draped her arm around her shoulders and squeezed her gently. “Been there a time or two.” More. Definitely not any fun. “You’ll be all right, Bridget. We’ll take good care of you.”

“Can you walk?” Sam asked. “If not, Trace or Joe will carry you into the bathroom.”

They helped her stand. Trace steadied her when she swayed, then swung her carefully into his arms. “Let’s save your strength for dealing with Sorenson.”

She eyed him. “Is he grumpy?”

Trace grinned. “He can be.” He angled her through the doorway and set her on her feet. “Sam and I will be right outside the door. Holler if you feel faint.”

Within a few minutes, the three of them were seated in the cabin, the ice packs once again in place with Bridget sipping her soft drink.

After the jet touched down and taxied to a stop, two men boarded the plane. “Need help?” the taller one asked.

“Could use an assist with the gear,” Nico said. “Trace and Sam will handle our patient.”

Joe signaled Trace that he would take care of Trace’s sniper rifle.

Excellent. Some of the tension eased from his muscles. He loved that sweet Barrett and had it set up to his exact specifications.

Trace wrapped his arm around Bridget’s waist. “If you need help, say so. I don’t want you to sustain more injuries before I get you to Sorenson’s clinic. He’d tear a strip off my hide.”

The SUVs were loaded with Shadow’s gear and Bridget’s bag. “Fifteen minutes to the clinic,” Trace assured Bridget.

“Why did you have your bags unloaded? Won’t we be going back to Nashville soon?”

“Depends on what the doc says about you. I figure we won’t be leaving before tomorrow at the earliest. Sorenson will want to keep an eye on you for at least one night. In the meantime, Fortress might need the jet for another team. They’ll make sure we have a flight home when it’s time.”

She leaned her head against his shoulder, eyes closed. “Hope it won’t take long to clear me. I’m ready to go home and regroup. There must be a way to find Ruth, one that won’t involve me going head-to-head with Pedro Torino. He’s not the friendly sort.”

“You don’t have to worry about him anymore.”

“Because your friend, Zane, will find Ruth without Pedro’s input.”

“Right.”

She opened her eyes and looked at him. “Plus whatever else you aren’t telling me.”

“Yes, ma’am.”

“When I’m not about to throw up on your shoes, you will tell me the rest.”

He didn’t reply, not wanting to lie to her. He wouldn’t be able to tell her anything unless Nico and Maddox approved. His only question was how fast and how far Bridget would run when she knew the truth.

CHAPTER SIX

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