Page 79 of Lahaina Noon

Bridget reeled. She’d heard Vaughn say that earlier but didn’t quite connect the dots. Now, she was stunned. She jumped to her feet and was dizzy for a moment. She steadied herself on the back of a chair and straightened. She looked around and thought no one had noticed until she saw Jack’s face.

He was studying her seriously. He tilted his head at her.

She begged him with her eyes not to mention it.

He gave an almost imperceptible nod.

She inserted her still raspy voice into the conversation, which gained everyone’s attention. “Thank you all for your kind concern today. I’m fine. I just need a little rest. Before we head to the airport, there are things you need to know. One, the Shadow King definitely knows what we are doing, and he is going to be prepared for us. We need to adjust our tactics; no simple diversion will work. Two, he is pissed about what I did to him and wants me dead. Three, I know for certain now, we can kill him.”

Chapter 42

Bridget leaned her headagainst the cool glass of the window and looked out at the bustling city of Rome. She hoped they could come back someday, on vacation and see more of the sights. She glanced over and saw Gabe sitting with Bunny. They were playing Cloud Warrior on his handheld. Jorrie had her hand in Liam’s they were staring into each other’s eyes. Davis and Shepard were whispering together with their new friend, Dio, about the diversion plan they had devised.

Many of the others were on the second plane that Vaughn had sent to accommodate the large group now traveling to the US.

They were getting ready for take-off, just waiting for Jack, who’d had some errand he needed to run before he got on the plane. He leapt on board, and the attendant sealed the door behind him.

He came and flopped down in the seat next to hers and looked at her. “Babe,” he said softly, “You know I love you, right?”

She looked at him startled. “Of course, I do!” she rasped.

He smiled and replied, “Good, because I mean this in the most loving way possible. But you look like shit. I got you something.” He handed her a brown paper sack.

She shook it, “What is it?"

“Medicine for your headache and your poor throat,” he told her. “Now be a good girl and buckle your seat belt; we’re leaving.”

After the plane reached cruising altitude and it was safe to move, Jack shooed Bridget to the bathroom to wash her face, take the medicine, and go to bed.

In the bathroom, she looked in the mirror and had to admit he was right. She did look pretty peaked, and her throat had ugly bruising. Great, she was going to need to wear a scarf in summer until that healed. Her head was pounding again. She opened the bag and saw it wasn’t just Tylenol in there. She stared down at the contents and thought,God bless you Jack.

After downing the pills and getting some bottled water from the attendant, she went and laid down on the bed. It was surprisingly soft and perfect for her to stretch out. She lay there, reading the book Siobhan had loaned her and eating gummy bears.

Vaughn walked in and sat down next to her. He glanced at her snack and said, “Where did those come from?”

She winked and saluted him with a red bear before she bit its head off. “Jack. He got me some Tylenol and my favorite candy to help me feel better.”

Vaughn sat silently and then kissed her forehead. “I’m sorry, my love; I should have thought of that myself.”

She waved off his apology. “It’s okay, you’ve been so busy coordinating this rabble. It’s fine. Jack could tell I had a headache, and he knew I needed some sugar to combat the after-adrenaline crash. He’s known me for years. He just picked up on it quicker because he wasn’t trying to save the world.” She smiled to let him know he was off the hook.

“How are you now, my love?” he asked her softly.

“Much better, but you know what would really help?”

He gestured for her to go on.

“If you would lie here with me and hold me for a while?”

He laid back on the bed and pulled her over to him.

She snuggled in and sighed. They lay there for a moment, and he closed his eyes, breathing her in.

Shortly, he realized she was shaking and crying. “Bridget,” he said, knowing she had been putting on a brave face. “Shh. My sweet Bridget, it’s okay, you’re safe now. He will never touch you again.”

“You don’t know that!” she wailed.

He gripped her tightly. “You’re right, I can’t guarantee it. But I swear to you, if he does touch you, it will be because I’m dead. Because that’s the only way he would get you.”

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