Sensing the sudden shift in the room's gravity, the stranger raised both palms in the air. "Easy."
Mason didn't stand. He simply rotated his chair, transforming his massive frame into an impenetrable wall between the doorway and the child.
The man took a slow, calculated step forward. "We need to talk."
"To me?" Mason asked, his voice flat, devoid of any warmth.
The stranger’s eyes flicked to the terrified child cowering behind the leather vest. "To her."
"No."
The stranger’s jaw clenched, a muscle feathering in his cheek. "Mister, you don’t understand what’s happening."
"Probably not," Mason replied, casually leaning back, though his scarred hands rested lightly on his thighs, ready to move. "But I understand a frightened kid hiding behind my chair."
The stranger darted an anxious glance around the diner. The standing bikers had crossed their arms. Nobody was sitting down.
Mason tilted his head over his shoulder. "What's your name, sweetheart?"
The girl hesitated for a fraction of a second. "Lily."
"Last name?"
"Hart."
The stranger took a half-step closer. "She doesn't need to answer questions."
Mason’s calm eyes snapped back to the man, pinning him in place. "That wasn't your decision."
The man released a heavy, frustrated breath. "My name is Darren Cole."
Mason looked back at the trembling girl. "Do you know him, Lily?"
Lily peeked around the leather vest, her eyes meeting Darren's. For a fleeting second, the aggressive posture of the stranger cracked, replaced by something that looked remarkably like desperate worry rather than anger.
Then, Lily delivered the sentence that armed the entire room.
"He’s Darren. He’s not my daddy."
The sound of twenty heavy chairs scraping backward echoed like a firing squad loading their rifles. Darren’s hands shot higher into the air. "I never said I was."
Lily pressed her back against Mason’s spine. "You told the lady at the motel you were."
Darren closed his eyes, a grimace of defeat crossing his face. "That was different."
Cal stepped around the table, his imposing shadow falling over Darren. "How different?"
Darren ignored Saint, his eyes pleading as they darted back to the man in the chair. "I was trying to get her out without drawing attention."