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The Draxdan grabbed his iced cupcake and slung it at Avel.

He dodged the cake and retaliated with his own cupcake, which slammed into the Draxdan’s face.

“Hey, what’s going on?” Holly hurried over with a tray of cupcakes in her hands.

Avel grabbed two and slung them at the Draxdan.

The Draxdan growled and launched himself at Avel.

“Stop that!” Holly dumped the cupcakes on the table. “There’s no fighting in my class.”

Avel grabbed the Draxdan in a headlock and squished another cupcake into his face. “Sorry, buddy. These cupcakes seem to be tricky too.”

The Draxdan punched him in the side, but Avel barely felt it.

It wasn’t until Holly wrapped a hand around his bicep and dug her nails in that he let go of the Draxdan.

“What do you think you’re doing?” she hissed at him.

The Draxdan wiped smeared cupcake off his face before licking his fingers. “This is a good cake, Holly.”

Avel growled at him. “Stay away from her.”

Holly wheeled on him. “No! You stay away. I’ve never had a fight in any of my classes. What happened?”

“You think this is my fault?” Avel stared at her.

“You were the one holding Chien in a headlock.”

“That jerk squirted icing at me.” Avel realized how ridiculous he sounded.

“So, you retaliated by punching him?”

“He threw cake,” Chien said.

“So did you!”

“That was an accident,” Chien protested.

Avel grunted at him. “You aimed straight at me.”

“I don’t care who started it,” Holly said, her hands on her hips and her eyes blazing with anger. “You don’t fight in my class.”

Avel looked around the group and saw them staring at him. What the hell was he doing here? He’d been swayed by a fine set of curves and a kiss that tasted of chocolate. This shit wasn’t for him. He knew his place. He was a thug, a debt collector, someone to fear, not someone who got covered in sprinkles and icing.

“Apologize to Chien,” Holly said.

Avel scowled at her. “It was his fault. Where’s my apology?”

“Hey, man,” Chien said. “I meant nothing by it. It was a bit of fun. It got out of hand. I didn’t mean to punch you.”

“You solve nothing with your fists,” Holly said.

“That’s not true,” Avel muttered.

“Avel!” Holly said. “Cupcakes and fighting don’t go together.”

He looked around the group again and saw the worry and fear in everyone’s eyes. But that’s what he did. That’s what he’d always done. He inspired fear in people. He couldn’t change.