Daniel looked at him.
"Because my daughter is waiting."
That changed the atmosphere.
One of the young men laughed.
"Your daughter?"
Daniel nodded.
"She's six."
The tallest man glanced toward the playground.
"That kid?"
Daniel didn't answer.
The young man smiled.
"That's cute."
Daniel's expression hardened slightly.
"Leave it alone."
"What?"
"My daughter."
The young man looked back at the others.
Then he smiled.
"Maybe we should meet her."
Daniel took one step forward.
"No."
The word was quiet.
But it stopped the laughter.
The tallest man stared at him.
Daniel stared back.
For the first time, the young man felt something he couldn't explain.
The old man didn't look scared.
He looked certain.
Then the young man laughed again.
"Relax, grandpa."
Daniel's jaw tightened.
He had heard that tone before.
He had heard it from opponents before they entered cages.
He had heard it from men who believed size was strength.
He had heard it from people who had never been forced to discover the difference between confidence and control.
But Daniel wasn't interested.
Not tonight.
He turned and walked toward the playground.
The five young men followed.
And none of them realized they had just made the second mistake.
The first had been assuming Daniel Cross was harmless.
The second was involving his daughter.
The Wrong Man
Daniel reached the playground just as his daughter came running toward him.
"Dad!"
His entire face changed.
The coldness disappeared.
He crouched and opened his arms.
Emma crashed into him.
"You took forever!"
Daniel laughed.
"I'm sorry."
"You promised twenty minutes."
"I know."
"You took thirty-seven."
"Thirty-seven?"
Emma held up seven fingers.
"Thirty-seven."
Daniel looked at her mother, who had finally reached them.
Sarah smiled.
"She's been watching the clock."
Daniel shook his head.
"Apparently I've failed as a father."
Emma hugged him tighter.
"You have."
Behind them, the five young men stopped.
They had expected Daniel to be alone.
They had expected an easy target.
They had not expected a family.
Sarah noticed them.
Her smile faded.
"Daniel?"
"I see them."
One of the young men called out.
"Hey, Daniel!"
Daniel didn't respond.
The tallest man walked closer.
"We're not finished talking."
Sarah stepped nearer to Daniel.
Emma looked up.
"Who are they?"
"Nobody."
The young man heard him.
His expression changed.
"Nobody?"
Daniel turned.
"That's what I said."
The young man walked closer.
"I'm Tyler."
Daniel didn't care.
Tyler pointed toward Emma.
"Your daughter?"
Daniel nodded.
"Pretty kid."
"Thank you."
"What's her name?"
"Emma."
Tyler smiled.
"Emma."
He said the name slowly.
Daniel's expression became unreadable.
"Don't talk to her."
Tyler laughed.
"Why?"
"Because I asked you not to."
"That's not how this works."
Daniel stepped between Tyler and Emma.
Sarah placed a hand on Emma's shoulder.
The other four young men spread out behind Tyler.
It wasn't quite a circle.
But it was close.
Daniel recognized it immediately.
Five against one.
He had seen the formation thousands of times.
Only usually there had been referees.
Rules.
Gloves.
Medical staff.
This was different.
"Walk away," Daniel said.
Tyler shook his head.
"You don't get to order us around."
"I don't want to fight you."
Tyler laughed.
"Because you can't."
Daniel sighed.
Sarah whispered, "Daniel."
He looked at her.
"Take Emma to the car."
"What about you?"
"I'll be there in a minute."
Emma looked frightened.
"Dad?"
Daniel crouched.
"Hey."
She looked into his eyes.
"Remember what I told you?"
"Don't run into the street."
Daniel smiled.
"That too."
Emma almost smiled.
"Be careful."
"I will."
Sarah took Emma's hand.
"Come on."
They started toward the parking lot.
Tyler stepped sideways.
"Wait."
Daniel moved immediately.
Not aggressively.
Just enough to block him.
Tyler stopped.
"What's your problem?"
Daniel answered quietly.
"You've already had your chance."
Tyler's face hardened.
"Chance for what?"
"To walk away."
One of the others laughed.
Tyler looked around.
Then he shoved Daniel.
It was a small push.
Barely enough to move him.
But Daniel didn't stumble.
He didn't even take a step.
Tyler frowned.
Daniel looked down at the hand that had touched his chest.
Then back at Tyler.
"Don't do that again."
Tyler shoved him harder.