Chapter 46: No Retreat
The day came as Jake stood alone in the center of the dimly lit factory.
His wrists were bound, his lip bloodied, and bruises already began blooming across his cheek and ribs. Alya sat nearby, tied to a rusted pipe, her hair messy and her face streaked with tears. She looked up at him with wide, terrified eyes.
"Jake…" she whispered.
A slap cracked across Jake's face. One of Kram's thugs laughed. "Talk later, hero."
Kram stepped forward, surrounded by more than thirty gangsters. His expression twisted into a grin. "Since our little guest came all this way," he said, "let's give him a show he'll never forget."
Jake spat blood on the floor but kept his gaze firm. "You think this makes you powerful? Cowards like you need a crowd to feel strong."
Remy leaned toward Kram. "Alex isn't here. He came alone."
Jake's lip curled into a smirk despite the pain. "Then make your move. But do something stupid—"
He lifted his head, his eyes burning.
"—and you're gonna pay."
Kram's face twitched with anger. "I don't care. Let's mess her up. Do it in front of him. Like we planned."
Alya screamed, struggling against the ropes.
But before anyone could move—
BOOM!
The side door burst open.
A wave of people charged in — familiar faces, furious and ready. Alex. Lisa. Jacob. Elena. The entire gym squad. Even Marcus, Jake's older brother, led the charge, fists clenched and eyes blazing.
"GET THEM!" Alex roared, charging into the fray.
Chaos exploded in the factory.
Fists flew. Bodies slammed against crates and walls. The gangsters were overwhelmed. They hadn't expected a counterattack—let alone from trained gym members who had spent months toughening up under Alex's brutal workouts.
Lisa ran to Jake, cutting his ropes. "Jake! Are you okay?"
"I've been better," Jake muttered, grabbing her hand as he stood. "Let's finish this."
Meanwhile, Marcus barreled through thugs like a machine, each punch dropping a gangster in one hit. "Stay behind me, Elena!" he barked, shielding her as she untied Alya.
Alex's fist collided with someone's jaw so hard a tooth flew across the room. "Don't you dare touch my family," he growled.
In the chaos, Kram stumbled back, watching his carefully laid plans crumble. Luke grabbed him. "This is your fault! We should've messed her up before Jake showed up!"
"We still outnumber them!" Kram yelled. But his voice was shaky.
He turned.
And ran.
"KRAM!" Jake shouted, shoving past brawling bodies.
Jake chased him, pushing through the shattered stairwell and up the rusting metal steps. Kram's heavy boots clanged as he reached the top floor — the roof.
Jake followed, ignoring the pain lancing through his body.
Finally, they reached the top.
The wind was cold.
The sky, dark.
Just the two of them.
No more gang. No more backup.
Just Jake and Kram — face to face.
A final fight.
A final reckoning.