“Nonsense. Climbing trees is like riding a bike, right? You never forget how to do it.”
Sam grabbed the lowest branch and tested its sturdiness before starting her ascent. The rough bark cut into her feet through her socks as she climbed. She maneuvered up the branches and made her way to the kitten. It mewed softly as she approached.
“Hey, little guy. Let’s get you down from here. Emily misses you.” She slowly reached forward, trying not to scare the animal any more than he already was.
The fluffy white kitten sniffed her fingers.
Sam had to wonder if this was a tactic she could use with Bella. Would the teen respond to gentleness? Sam didn’t even know where to start with the girl, but she had to figure out something.
“That’s a good boy.” She inched her fingers closer, but the kitten stepped back. “It’s okay. I’m here to help you.”
She reached forward a little more, and the little guy didn’t move. She gave him a small pet on his head, and he immediately purred.
“Come here.” She scooped the kitten up and cradled him to her chest. He stayed still as she descended the tree.
Emily waited with arms wide open for his safe return. “Thank you!” She hugged her kitten.
Sam crouched. “You’re welcome, Emily.”
“That was awesome.” Greer clapped her on the shoulder. “Were you in the circus before moving to Renegade?”
Sam’s stomach tightened as she straightened. “I guess you’ll never know.”
She never talked to anyone about her past, and she never would. Her and Bella’s safety depended on no one ever finding out who they really were or how Madison had testified in federal court and sent a dangerous man and all his cronies to prison for life.
If anyone discovered her past, she and Bella would be moved out of Renegade so fast their heads would be spinning.
For the sake of this life she had built, no one could ever find out her secrets.
Adrenaline coursed through Deputy US Marshal Liam Roberts’s body as he shifted his weight from foot to foot, ready for the hunt. But this wasn’t a fugitive apprehension task force. Nope. He’d given up that career, become the guardian of his niece, and taken a job at the Marshals’ office in the city of Renegade. He looked around the room, taking in his new coworkers, who were busy gearing up, all wearing some fashion of blue jeans, tees, and running shoes.
This was a far cry from his old life.
But if he didn’t make this work, he’d be ruining more than one future.
Liam looked down at his black slacks and button-down shirt. Not his fugitive-hunting apparel. He’d been in his new office all of two minutes before his new boss, Supervisor Daniel Howard, had told him to grab his gear and meet in the conference room for a briefing about a fugitive apprehension.
He already had his vest and duty belt on by the time the others filed into the conference room. A whiteboard filled the entire right wall. Pictures of criminals were taped along the board, with notes written all around them. A table that seated eight was centered in the room. Instead of sitting, everyone stood behind a chair. Just as anxious to get the hunt started as he was.
Except he shouldn’t be this excited. He’d kissed the late nights kicking in doors and arresting bad guys goodbye. The adrenaline-filled life of fugitive apprehension didn’t mesh well with single parenthood. A role change in his personal life had required a role change in his career. Now he was supposed to spend his days guarding the courthouse, transporting criminals,and handling witnesses—all with the caveat that he could be called for fugitive apprehension if needed.
Not what I expected on the first day, Lord.
Maybe after Sophia turned eighteen and went off to college, he’d go back to that life. If it was still available. He’d been told Renegade was where good marshals went to die career-wise. Apparently, no one ever transferred out of Renegade.
Which was a small price to pay, seeing as his sister sat in prison because of him. He’d made a decision as a teen that had sent her running down the wrong path and straight to a life of crime. He’d made something of himself, becoming a marshal on the straight and narrow, trying to absolve himself of his guilt. His sister hadn’t been so successful, no matter how he’d tried to help her.
In the end it had been a no-brainer to become Sophia’s guardian. After all, it was another way he could make amends.
No way would he have let her disappear into the foster care system. But he couldn’t help feeling like God had thrown a wrench in where Liam had thought his life was going. He’d hoped to one day become a father; he’d just expected to start at the beginning—with all-nighters, diapers, and spit-up. The works. Not to be thrown immediately into the hormones and high school stage. And doing it as a single man, at that.
“Okay.” A broad-shouldered man wearing stonewashed blue jeans, a simple black shirt, and a US Marshals ball cap yelled over the activity, pulling Liam from his thoughts. “We’ve got John Vickers. Number eight on the list.”
The US Marshals’ Most Wanted list: the fifteen criminals the Marshals considered the most dangerous. There were some real bad guys, and occasionally gals, on that list.
Supervisor Howard stepped up. “Before we get into the details, let me introduce you to our newest team member.” He gestured to Liam, and all eyes turned to him. “This is LiamRoberts. He’ll be our new WITSEC and court-security guy. He comes to us from the fugitive apprehension team in Virginia.”
Supervisor Howard went around the room putting names to the new faces, starting with the broad-shouldered man. Ethan Butler.
