I crouched slowly, meeting her eyes. “Is your mom alive?” I murmured.
“I don’t know. Daddy said if I told anyone, I’d be next.”
“Addison, sweetheart,” he said, trying to fake calm. “Come to Daddy.”
“No,” she whispered, clinging tighter.
I stood up, placing a steady hand on her back. “She’s not going anywhere,” I said. “But sounds like we need to check on her mother.”
The veneer cracked. “She’s my kid! Give her to me!”
“Sure,” I said. “Soon as the police get here.”
I pulled out my phone. He twitched like he was about to make a move.
“Don’t,” I warned. “Take one step toward her, and you’ll learn exactly why people leave old bikers alone.”
Everything went still — shoppers froze, an employee hovered near the end of the aisle, and the man bolted.
