Page 62 of Chief's Addiction

Cue shrugged, his fingers drumming nervously against his thigh.

“Fine,” Lid finally conceded, his voice low and tight. “But don’t move from that spot. Not even an inch.”

I crossed my heart. “Girl Scout’s honor. Though I was never actually a Girl Scout. Love the cookies, though.”

They moved off toward the shoe section, still glancing back every few steps like they expected me to make a break for it.

Shaking my head, I couldn’t help but smile. They were insane. Mason was going to have to dial down the security.

“Beck?” I called through the fitting room door. “How’s that gray tee working out?”

“Almost done,” came his muffled reply. “It fits pretty good.”

I pulled out my phone, figuring I should text Mason as promised. Just as I was typing out a message, a movement in my peripheral caught my attention.

Three men, who looked wildly out of place, were headed right for me. Something about the way they kept their eyes fixed on me had the hair on my arms standing on end.

I glanced toward the shoe department, but Lid and Cueball had their backs turned, examining the display of sneakers.

My pulse quickened as I finished typing out my text to Mason.

Me: At the mall. Men approaching. Something feels off.

Before I could press send, they were on me. The one in the middle, the thin, wiry guy with unsettling eyes, stepped directly in front of my chair. A flash of metal appeared at his side.

“Not a sound,” he whispered, his breath reeking of stale cigarettes. “Or I’ll paint the walls with your insides.”

My blood turned to ice in my veins.

This couldn’t be happening. My phone slipped from my suddenly numb fingers, the unsent message still on the screen.

“W-what do you want?” I managed to ask.

His thin lips stretched into a smile that didn’t reach his eyes. “You’re coming with me, sweetheart. You and the kid.”

My stomach twisted violently. “There’s no kid,” I lied, hoping Beckett would stay quiet, praying he’d somehow know to stay hidden.

The man’s smile widened, revealing yellowed teeth. “Don’t bullshit me. I’ve been watching you for days.” He raised his voice slightly, still keeping the gun pressed to my side. “Hey, kid! Get out here now, or I'll put a bullet in your friend.”

There was a beat of silence, then the fitting room door slowly opened. Beckett stood there, half-dressed in new jeans and a t-shirt with the tags still on, his face as white as a ghost.

“Good boy,” the man said, motioning with his free hand for Beckett to come closer.

As Beckett moved toward us, I finally got a better look at the gun pressing into my side, and my stomach dropped. Shit. That was real. Where were Lid and Cueball? How had they not noticed yet?

“Stand up, nice and easy,” the man instructed, his grip on the gun never wavering.

I rose on shaky legs, my mind racing. I needed to draw attention somehow, to alert Lid and Cueball. But before I could think of a plan, the asshole dug his fingers into my arm.

“We’re going to walk through that service door,” he said, nodding toward a door marked ‘Employees Only’ at the back of the fitting area. “All nice and calm, like we’re friends just hanging out. Try anything, and the kid gets it first.” He gestured to one of his companions, who had moved to Beckett’s side and was now pressing something into his back.

Beckett’s eyes met mine, wide with panic.

Oh, God. Stay calm. Keep it together.

As we were marched toward the service door, I glanced desperately toward the shoe department again. Lid was now examining a package of socks, his back still to us. Cueball was nowhere in sight.

“My... my purse,” I stammered, trying to slow our progress. “I forgot my purse.”

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