Chapter 19: Shattered Cakes and Broken Trust
Jake rolled his shoulders and cracked his knuckles.
"You know, I was just thinking I needed a good warm-up today," he said with a grin.
Alex stepped forward slowly, his eyes locked on Kram.
"This is your last warning. Walk away."
Kram laughed. "Or what? You gonna flex us into submission?"
That was all the answer Alex needed.
He launched forward like a freight train, his fist catching Kram in the gut before he could react. Kram staggered backward, wind knocked from his lungs.
Before the others could jump in, Jake was already moving—ducking a swing from Suk and retaliating with a quick jab to the ribs, followed by a sweep that knocked him flat.
"Leg day, baby!" Jake shouted, dodging a bottle thrown by Remy.
Ted charged at Alex with a broken broomstick. Alex caught it mid-swing, snapped it over his knee, and tossed the pieces aside like twigs.
"You really thought that'd work?"
He slammed his elbow into Ted's chest, sending him flying into a stack of crates.
Luke lunged at Jake with a chain, swinging it wildly. Jake side-stepped, grabbed the chain mid-air, yanked it toward him, and headbutted Luke cleanly.
"I hate chains," he muttered, shaking the sting off his forehead.
Kram recovered and roared in rage, tackling Alex to the ground. They rolled in the dirt, fists flying—until Alex flipped him off with pure brute strength and slammed him against the alley wall.
Jake turned to see Remy sneaking toward Alya.
"Oh no you don't!"
He dashed, vaulted off a nearby box, and landed squarely between them. Remy froze, just in time for Jake to hit him with a textbook roundhouse kick.
"That's for the cake shop."
Alex grabbed Kram by the shirt and pulled him in close.
"You think you can intimidate people? Use fear to control them?"
Kram spat. "People like her don't deserve—"
Alex punched him hard enough to shut him up.
"You don't get to decide who deserves what."
Jake looked around at the scene: five punks groaning on the ground, bruised and battered. Alya stood nearby, wide-eyed, gripping her arm—but safe.
Alex dusted off his hands and walked over to her.
"You alright?"
Alya nodded, tears brimming in her eyes. "Yeah. Thanks to you two."
Jake offered a wink. "Hey, saving friends and breaking noses? All in a day's work."
Sirens began to wail in the distance—someone must've called the cops. The five troublemakers scrambled to flee, but it was too late. Alex stood tall, arms crossed.
"Let them come."
Jake turned to Alya, voice softer now. "We'll help rebuild. The cake shop… we'll fix it. Together."
She smiled, finally, a real smile.
"For the first time in a long time… I believe that."