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“No, you don’t,” Lake said firmly. “No one has the right to treat anyone like that. Family or stranger. You need to leave.”

“I called security and Jesse. They’re on the way,” Mason whispered.

“Take Ezra into the back,” Lake ordered.

“No! Lake.” Ezra grabbed the back of his shirt.

“Can you please check on Zeb and Al?” Lake asked. “I dropped them.”

“But, Lake—”

“Please, Ezra,” Lake murmured.

“You aren’t going anywhere!” the old man yelled. “We aren’t done here!”

“They’re never gonna stop!” Ezra cried.

Oh yes, they were. Lake stepped away from his friend.

“Come on, Ezra. Let’s go into the kitchen,” Mason said.

Lake waited until he heard the swinging doors move then he advanced. He headed toward the older man who had put his hands on Lake’s friend. “I warned you to leave.”

“What are you going to do?” Ezra’s father challenged. “You won’t do anything, will you? You might mess up your makeup. I’ve heard of people like you. If you’re my son’s friend, then we need to get Annabelle away from all of you.”

“Annabelle is Ezra’s daughter,” Lake said firmly. “You won’t take her anywhere.”

“She’s our blood!” the woman shouted.

“I’ve seen how you treat your blood,” Lake responded. He crossed his arms over his chest. “I also know that you tried to sue Ezra for custody and that your case was dismissed. You have no claim to Annabelle or Ezra. Leave now!”

The old man advanced.

Lake braced his feet. They would not get to Ezra. Not on Lake’s watch.

“They won’t be going anywhere.”

Lake’s shoulders stiffened and he didn’t dare take his eyes off Ezra’s parents.

Luckily, Jesse came to him. “The cops are already on the way.”

“Cops!” the woman shrieked.

“You have physically assaulted an employee of mine,” Jesse said.

He shifted enough that half of Lake’s body was behind him. The shaking started and Lake fisted his hands.

“Security will take you into holding until the cops have arrived,” Jesse stated.

Ezra’s parents must have seen how serious Jesse was.

“That’s not necessary,” the old man said. “We’ll go.”

They couldn’t go! Not with the threats that were made. Ezra was right. If they didn’t do something, this wasn’t going to end.

“You won’t go anywhere but to jail where you belong,” Jesse corrected.

“I didn’t do anything!” the woman yelled.