As Brianna hurried toward the exit, her heart pounding with tension, a deep voice called out behind her, “Excuse me!” She froze, gripping her children’s hands tightly. Slowly, she turned around, steeling herself for whatever might come next. They were in a toy store in broad daylight—surely, he couldn’t harm them.
“Yes?” she asked, her voice firm despite the nervous flutter in her chest. The man in the white T-shirt stepped closer, his expression now softer than before. “I’m sorry to stop you,” he began. “I just wanted to say… I heard your conversation in the restaurant earlier.”