Apple pie made everything better.

Lani let herself get swept away into her own little world while she baked, humming along to a popular K-pop tune she played on her phone. Each movement and added ingredient was like a choreographed scene as she danced around the small kitchen of her father’s bakery, Mad Batter.

A scrumptious aroma embraced the room in apple and baked crust. Despite how many people traveled away on vacation for fall break, their cozy little bakery nestled in the ass-crack of New Syracuse still had its loyal customers who came in everyday for their piping hot coffee and treats to munch on.

New Syracuse didn’t flourish with many local businesses, nor did they receive a lot of tourists. The crime that ran rampant through their town frightened folks away. Even the locals got the hell away from there when they could. If Lani didn’t have her family and the bakery’s responsibilities, she probably would’ve fled New Syracuse long ago.

Broken glass shattered, ripping Lani from her reverie as she hurried to pause her song. She heard loud voices echo outside as she tip-toed into the dimly lit dining room. Where were they? What did they break? Glass window panes showed her nothing but empty streets across from the bakery, and she suspiciously glanced around for the arguing men she overheard. 

The sun melted like warm butter across the sky. Birds chirped their melodies as she sucked in a breath, watching closely for the men as their shouts got louder. They had to be near the bakery. Possibly around back.

Heart pounding a mile a minute in her chest, she carefully stepped behind the counter and reached underneath the register for the bakery’s lockbox. It contained her father’s gun. Before she could put the combination in, her dad emerged from the restroom. A look of bewilderment shone in his eyes.

“I think there are gangsters fighting out back.” Lani paused, glancing behind her at the door to the back alley. She fought back the haunting memories.

Her father’s forehead creased with worry as he came around the counter, gently placing his hand atop of her trembling one. “I’ll check it out, okay? You just stay here.” He took the lockbox, dialing the code before retrieving the pistol to tuck in his apron pocket.

Lani watched her father with bated breath as he unlocked the back door, stepping out into the alleyway. Curiosity led her to peek outside. Her dad walked around with his gun drawn, remaining vigilant to anything that might pop out at him. Lani took cautious steps toward the dumpster, reaching a hand out for the lid. She froze.

She couldn’t look inside. Not again. Not after they’d found their dear mother tossed away in there like garbage over a year ago. Her eyes brimmed with tears, but she blinked them away before heading back inside. Nothing that tragic would ever happen again. She tried to convince herself of that while pacing the bakery foyer, but it didn’t work. Her anxiety rose like dough in the oven until her dad came back inside.

“Nobody’s out there, honey.” Her dad closed the door behind him. “Are you sure it wasn’t some animals fighting in the alley?”

“No, I heard men arguing,” Lani insisted.

“Well, whoever was out there didn’t stick around. We should be okay.” He made his way around the counter to stash the gun in the lockbox. “I know you’re on edge with the Voiceless Rebels gang lurking around, but we just have to deal with them.”

Lani folded her arms across her chest. “We shouldn’t have to. It’s all Casey’s fault that we’re in this mess.”

“Your brother only wanted to keep our family and the bakery safe,” he explained. “Without the Rebels, we wouldn’t even be open. Their funding is the only reason we got this place back off the ground.”

“I’m not saying I don’t understand why he turned to them. I just wish there’d been another way to keep Wyatt and August safe from those damn Black Vipers.”

They almost lost Mad Batter last year when those wretched gang members vandalized the bakery. Then, when they kidnapped Wyatt, Casey turned to the Voiceless Rebels for help. But they didn’t do it out of the kindness of their hearts. Everything came at a price.

Only the Voiceless Rebels’ dirty money helped them rebuild the ruins, but Lani trusted none of them. She hated it when they stopped by and loitered around their bakery. She had half a mind to chase them away, but she’d never put her family at risk like that.

By the time they opened at five in the morning, they’d cranked out enough pastries for the day. Their glass cases brimmed with an assortment of sweets. She couldn’t deny how delicious those apple fritters looked, and the cinnamon twists beckoned her to eat them. 

Lani wandered around behind the counter as time ticked away at a snail’s pace. She pulled out her phone, sending a quick text to her girlfriend, Audrey. Maybe they’d finally both be free this weekend. They’d been together since high school, when Audrey had somehow convinced her to ditch their classes and ride her bike all the way across town for some freaking ice cream. Just remembering that day made her smile.

As the front door’s bell chimed, Lani stuffed her phone away to greet their first customers in the morning. The middle-aged woman approached the counter with her two little girls trailing gleefully behind her. Both girls planted their hands on the display case, creating a chain of little prints against the glass she’d cleaned earlier. Splendid. Gotta love kids, right?

She ordered some donut holes for both the girls, an apple fritter for herself, and three chocolate milks. After Lani retrieved their order, she rang them up, and they found a table near the windowpane to eat their breakfast. It reminded Lani of when her parents took her and Casey out for breakfast as kids. Before Mad Batter. They usually went out before driving them to school. Those were some of Lani’s fondest memories of their family together, especially with her mother. God bless her.

Only time healed grief, but Lani didn’t believe she’d ever recover from the murder of their mother.

More customers entered their bakery after her co-worker, Xavier clocked in, giving Lani a little wave as he donned an apron and made his way into the kitchen. At least he didn’t reek of marijuana again. Lani kept insisting he be more careful smoking that crap, but he never listened. Neither he nor Casey ever listened to her. Typical idiots.

A tall, rail-thin man with honey blond hair entered their bakery. Lani recognized the gangster immediately as he waltzed in like he owned the place. Irritation simmered deep inside, but she pushed it down and greeted Emmett Larson with a fake smile.

“You’ve got a nice crowd today,” Emmett remarked, plucking his wallet from the pocket of his denim jacket. “I’ve been meaning to talk with your father about bringing in more employees. You guys will burn yourselves out at this point.”

Lani grit her teeth. “Oh, we’ll be fine. You don’t need to worry about us.”

“I worry about all of my investments.” Emmett eyed the display case of sweets, pondering over what he wanted.

Investments. Lani bit back a laugh. The only reason he had any claim over Mad Batter was because Casey had no choice. If she had any say in the matter, she’d report his crimes to the police and tell him to go screw himself. However, she needed to keep the bastard on good terms. He could ruin their bakery with the snap of his fingers, and Lani didn’t want to imagine her father’s lifelong dream going down the toilet because she couldn’t play nice with Emmett.

If she could handle unruly customers, then she could tolerate that jackass.

“Any day now,” Lani muttered under her breath before she could stop herself.

Amusement sparked in Emmett’s green eyes as he smirked, stealing a glance over his shoulder. An older woman stood behind him, close enough that if she really wanted to, she could’ve shoved him aside. Lani would have laughed if she had. That jackass loved messing around. It amazed her how someone who behaved like a damn child held so much power over her family’s bakery.

Casey told her how dangerous he was, but she never believed him and always assumed someone else must cover for Emmett’s scrawny ass. But maybe Lani underestimated him.

“Let me have three chocolate glazed donuts and half a dozen of your strawberry shortcake cupcakes,” Emmett said.

“Sure thing.” Lani calculated his total, and he paid her in cash. Blood money, no doubt.

Emmett stepped off to the side to let other customers give their orders, only slipping back to her register when they cleared away. He leaned up against the counter. The smell of  cigarette smoke and musky cologne wafted off him. “Be careful today. There’s a woman robbing local businesses around here. The last hit was at a shop up the road. I’ve heard nothing from my sources, but I wouldn’t be surprised if it’s gang-related.”

“What?” Lani frowned. “Should I get my dad? You need to tell him about this.”

“Don’t worry, we’re keeping an eye on the place.” Emmett winked. “I gotta get going, but if y’all need anything, you can always reach out. Your dad has my number.”

What the hell was with that guy? He mentioned that so nonchalantly, and after hearing those guys fighting outside, Lani couldn’t shut her worries out. What if someone tried to rob them? Would they do it in broad daylight? As much as she loathed Emmett, she almost wished he’d stick around.