“What are you going to do, orphan?” he mocked.
Lucas lifted his head, one eye swelling shut.
“Even if you kill me,” he whispered, “I won’t leave her.”
Then they heard it.
At first it sounded distant—like thunder rolling far away. But within seconds it grew louder.
Motorcycles.
Many of them.
The roar echoed through the streets.
The attackers froze.
The girl’s eyes widened with a strange mixture of fear and relief.
“My dad,” she whispered.
The two bullies panicked and ran without looking back.
Lucas barely saw the white glare of motorcycle headlights filling the alley before his legs finally gave out and he collapsed onto the pavement.
The next thing he felt was a small hand shaking his shoulder.
“Don’t fall asleep,” the girl pleaded through tears. “Please don’t die.”
Lucas forced his eyes open halfway.
“What’s your name?” he murmured.
“Emily.”
“That’s… a nice name,” he managed to say.
Then the engines stopped.
Heavy boots stepped into the alley.
Large shadows blocked the light.
A tall, broad-shouldered man wearing a black leather jacket covered in patches pushed through the group. His beard was short, his eyes sharp and dark, and his presence carried a quiet authority stronger than shouting.
Emily ran to him.
“Dad!”
Victor Moreno lifted her immediately, checking her arms, her face, her knees. When he was sure she was safe, his eyes turned toward the injured boy on the ground.
“Was it him?” Victor asked calmly.
Emily shook her head firmly.
“No! He saved me. He stood in front of me. He didn’t even know me.”
The alley went silent.
Victor walked slowly toward Lucas and crouched beside him.
“You’re the one who took the beating for my daughter?” he asked.
Lucas tried to sit up but winced in pain.
“She was crying,” he whispered. “That’s all.”
Victor studied him carefully.
“And do you know who I am?”
“I do now.”
“And you still did it?”
Lucas nodded weakly.
“Yes.”
Emily tugged on her father’s sleeve.
“Dad, help him.”
Victor stood up and glanced at the bikers behind him.
“Jake,” he said to one of them, “find those two boys. I want their names before midnight.”
Then he turned to another.
“Marcus, get him on a bike. Carefully.”
Strong arms lifted Lucas.
“I don’t want trouble,” Lucas muttered.
Victor looked at him steadily.
“Kid, the trouble already happened,” he said. “The difference now is that you’re not alone.”