They weren’t looking for unnecessary confrontation. Their eyes locked directly on Clara, and something changed in the air, a breath of justice that made the entire room shiver. The leader of the group, a man with salt-and-pepper beard, calmly approached the boys who had terrorized the girl.

“Well,” he said in a deep voice, “looks like you need a lesson.”

The boys, surprised and intimidated by the imposing presence of these massive men, instinctively stepped back. The bikers didn’t raise a hand; they didn’t need violence. Their mere presence, their aura of protection, was enough to command respect.