Page 3 of Shadow Undercover

“Good girl.”

Her lips curved, amused at his whispered praise. Seconds later, she heard something that didn’t make sense.

“Got a plus one complication, unknown injuries.” A pause, then, “Copy.”

What did that mean? Was he talking to her? Couldn’t be. Who, then? Maybe he had one of those Bluetooth things in his ear and was talking to a friend.

Then the man came around to stand in front of her. Holy cow. He was huge. Her nose came to his sternum.

“Can you walk?”

“I’ll try.”

“If you can’t, I’ll have to carry you and I’m afraid to touch you too much. Don’t know how serious your injuries are.” He squeezed her shoulder gently. “Ready?”

Another nod. What could she say? No, leave me here to die? Not in this lifetime. Bridget Monihan didn’t give up. Ever.

He slid his hand down her arm to thread his fingers through hers. His other hand touched his ear and he whispered, “On the move.” He turned back to Bridget. “Step where I step. If I tell you to drop, do it without question. You’ll get out of here alive if you trust me.”

She squeezed his hand in silent agreement.

With a quick smile that stole her breath for a reason other than pain, he led her closer to the wall of a warehouse. Bridget did her best to follow in his footsteps and walk as soundlessly as he did.

Her brow furrowed. How did he do that? No wonder she hadn’t heard him in the alley until his hand was over her mouth. Neat trick. Perhaps her rescuer would teach her to walk without sound. Might come in handy the next time she ran for her life from nameless thugs in a foreign country.

The man stopped at the corner of the warehouse and peered around the edge. He tugged her behind him as he crossed a street to another dark alley between two more warehouses.

Bridget frowned. She was sick of alleys. They reeked to high heaven. The nausea roiling in her stomach built to a dangerous level.

Not good. Nothing like announcing their location by retching and leaving evidence behind. She swallowed hard, afraid to breathe through her nose because of the stench.

The man glanced at her. “Sick?”

No point in lying. He’d find out soon if she couldn’t hold back the tide. “Yes.”

“Hold on. Not long now.” Rather than wait for her to respond, he got them moving again, this time at a faster pace.

She silently urged him to move faster although Bridget wasn’t sure she could keep up if he did. She was pushing her limit as it was and she was pretty sure he was going at a slug’s pace in deference to her injuries.

Another turn of the corner and he hurried to a door.

What was he doing? Wouldn’t the place be locked?

Her rescuer turned the knob and slipped inside the building, tugging her in after him. He shut the door and nudged her several feet away from the entrance and positioned her with her back against the wall. “Don’t move from this spot. Understand?”

“Okay.”

Another squeeze of her hand before he slid something from his shoulder and positioned himself in front of her. His clothing rustled when he touched his ear again. “In place,” he whispered. “Four tangos still in pursuit.” Then he went motionless.

Alarm roared through Bridget. What had he heard? Was it the four men he’d mentioned to his friend or some other threat? She scowled. How many threats to her life in one night was she supposed to take?

Dizziness hit her again and the nausea built to a fever pitch. She needed to sit or she’d fall and give away their location to the enemy. Sliding down the wall would make too much noise, though.

Only one safe thing to do. She reached out and grabbed the stranger’s hand.

He glanced back.

“Sorry. I need to sit.”

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