A moment later, an arm snaked around her waist. “Hey, babe.”
Liam’s calm, steady voice startled her.
He lifted a shirt from the rack, turned her so her back was facing the kid, and held the shirt up.
“I think this brings out the color of your eyes. You should try it on.” It may have looked like he was focused on her, but she could tell his gaze was on the teen behind them.
“I’ve seen him in each of the stores so far,” she whispered. “It could be nothing. But why is he in the women’s clothing section?”
“I don’t know, but I intend to find out.” He put the hanger back on the rack and marched toward the teen.
Liam stared the kid down as he made his way toward him. “Why are you following us?”
The kid’s eyes grew wide, and he looked around wildly.
Liam kept marching toward him, determined to find out what was going on.
He darted off.
“US marshal. Stop!” Liam shouted as he gave chase. He raced past gawking shoppers and grabbed the kid before he could make it out the door.
“What’s your name?” Liam stared the kid in the eyes.
He was about sixteen or seventeen. Five-eleven or six foot. Average build.
“I don’t gotta say nothing to you.” The kid jutted out his chin.
Liam clenched his jaw. “Why are you following us?”
“It’s a free country. I can go where I want.” He tried to rip his arm out of Liam’s grasp.
“I’m going to ask you again. Why are you following us?”
The kid’s eyes narrowed. “Maybe I liked what I saw.” He licked his lips lasciviously.
Liam’s free hand fisted at his side. The kid was trying to get a rise out of him. It wasn’t going to work. “Try again. Without the attitude this time.”
“I’d rather not.” He smirked.
“Were you spying on us? Who sent you?” Liam leaned in closer.
“I was looking for a present for my mom.”
Liam wasn’t going to get anywhere with this kid.
“What’s going on here?” a security guard interrupted.
Liam kept a grip on the kid’s arm. “I’m Deputy US Marshal Liam Roberts. This kid has been following us all afternoon. It’s suspicious. I’m trying to determine why.”
The security guard fisted his hands on his hips. “Identification.”
Liam inhaled deeply and reached for his badge, clipped to the other side of his body.
The kid took the momentary distraction to shove Liam hard, yank free, and run out the front door.
Liam grunted and chased after him, but he was swallowed up in the crowd of shoppers. He pushed forward, hoping to catch up, but it was no use. The kid was gone.
He could keep chasing, but what if the kid wasn’t alone? Liam needed to make sure Sam and the girls were safe, then he could hunt the boy down.
