Family Don't Break

CHAPTER 19

JACK'S POV:

Something's up with Alex. She's quiet, which is completely weird for her. I can't tell if she's just deep in thought or if something is wrong.

"Hey, is everything alright?" I ask quietly. She startles out of her trance, jumping a bit. "Yeah, everything's fine. Just thinking." She fiddles with her necklace. "Well, whatcha thinking about?" she just shrugs, not giving me a straight answer. I sit down next to her and scootch close enough that our legs are touching. "Something's wrong. What is it?"

"It's just the Delancey's. They're still pissed that I bested 'em. Apparently word got around of what happened. They've been harrassing me for a couple days, trying to get me to quit. They think that if I quit they can salvage their reputations."

Those damn Delanceys. They don't know when to quit. "Well, if you want, I could teach them a lesson. I've been looking for an excuse to hit 'em." Alex chuckles, some of the tension lifting from her shoulders. "They'll get sick of bothering me eventually and move on to their next target. I just gotta keep ignoring them until they get bored."

"Are they smart enough to realize they're messing with the toughest girl in New York City? And that her boyfriend could take both of them down in a matter of minutes?"

"I don't think they're smart enough, period." Alex and I start laughing. "Those two share one braincell between them, and half the time Wiesel has it." she adds. "Yeah. I wouldn't be too scared of those two. If they try anything, I'll make sure they won't see straight for a week." I say this seriously so she knows that I'm not joking. I would do anything to protect her. In this city, you hold on to the people you love as tight as you can. Otherwise the city takes them too.

"I don't want to see you get hurt because of me, Jack. You're already clumsy enough, you don't need more bruises." I grab her hand and squeeze it, looking her straight in the eyes. "Promise me that if they ever try something you'll call for me, alright?" she rolls her eyes but she promises. "I can handle myself." she insists. "I know you can, but I'm not just going to sit by when you're in trouble. It's my job to protect you."

"That's not your responsibility, Jack. Don't put that on yourself. You'll only regret it." She says. "Caring is a risk you take when you love someone. No matter what I'll always do my best to keep you safe. It's not just for you, it's for me too. I don't know what I would do if anything happened to you. You're family, and family fights for one another."

Her mouth curves into a small smile. She places a soft hand on my jaw and pulls me in for a kiss. Every kiss is like the first time, with fireworks and butterflies in my stomach. I can't imagine kissing anyone else and feeling the same way.

"I am so lucky I met you, Jack Kelly." she whispers. "You have my clumsiness to thank. Without that, I never would have spilled paint on you." she giggles, a golden sound. "It was pure fate that I was standing there when you tripped. Who would've thought that would be how we first met?"

It is kind of crazy that we met by coincidence. Coincidence is usually bad for me, like coincidentally running into a police officer or Schneyder. Since he got out of jail, he's been lurking around the streets looking for a job. Unsurprisingly, he still holds a grudge against me.

Anyway, I guess there can be good coincidences too. They might look like a terrible accident, but sometimes they can be a blessing in disguise.