Except the second he says it, Kane practically materializes in his mind—leaning over the fryer with that faint, teasing smile, joking about overcooking the oil. Rafeal’s pulse kicks up.
Then he’s standing with the man on his balcony with morning coffee, laughing with flour ontheir hands. Kane’s chrome hand is in his, cool metal against tan. Those same fingers are tight around his hips, Kane’s weight pressing him down—
“I’ll take your word for it,” Lian cuts in, and Rafael jolts in the booth.
His heart slams against his ribs as heat crawls up his neck.
“But you know who I—” Lian’s words fade to static, drowned out by the blood rushing in his ears.
Oh God.
This isn’t just attraction anymore…He has feelings for theChrome Baron.
His hands shake around his drink. Rafael tries to trace when it changed, but the moments don’t line up neatly. Kane listening when he talks about cooking, like his dreams mattered and could someday be real. Asking questions, remembering details, trusting him—maybe more than he should.
No one in Midtown ever made Rafael feel seen like that.
Rafael’s gaze drops to the untouched fries. It’s ridiculous. Impossible, really. Kane was probably just being kind—or feeling guilty about the kidnapping. Maybe it was strategic, keeping the hostage cooperative.
And even if it wasn’t—if that moment after the explosion meant something—they’ll never see each other again.
The thought should be a relief after what happened.
Instead, his chest aches.
“Oh! I forgot to tell you!” Lian gasps, pushing her glasses up. “Guess who scored a date with that cyber Adonis from security?”
A chuckle escapes Rafael despite the pounding of his heart. Typical Lian, still chasing anyone new with a pretty face. “You?”
She flips her hair over her shoulder, the color shifting to a confident red. “Of course.” Her tone softens to a pout. “But here’s the thing…Day shift’s the only time he’s free this week—today, actually, in a few hours. I know we talked about no guests while you’re sleeping last month, but any chance you could be the best podmate ever and chill in your room for a bit? Maybe until ten? Trust me, cyber Adonis’ doesn’t begin to describe him.”
Rafael’s grip tightens around his cup. He should agree as usual. Their apartment’s soundproof, and she usually keeps her visitors contained. But the thought of a stranger in his space twists his stomach. He opens his mouth, then hesitates.
Back in Shreveport, speaking up didn’t end in disaster. Kane listened. His crew listened. The same could be true here. After all, Lian’s a kind person. She might hear him out and understand.
“Lian—”
Before he can finish, a chime.
“Hold that thought, Raffy,” she says quickly, tapping her wristlink. A holovid of her friend Sam flickers to life, a prerecorded message about club access and Premiere Corp events that Rafael barely hears.
When the feed ends, Lian sighs and shuts off her wristlink. “That could’ve waited….” she mutters. “I just thought they would’ve had some good news. But that doesn’t seem to be the case. I mean—seriously, theypromisedthey could get us into a club downtown, but apparently not. Sam seemed so cool when we first met, too. Well, might as well wipe ’em. I don’t need friends like that. We can get into the ones in Midtown fine without them.”
With a flick of her finger, she wipes Sam from her contact list and grins up at Rafael. “Anyway, Raffy, can my date swing by today?”
A weight settles in his stomach. Saying no could mean losing her, losing all of them. Divya, Gavin, every one of his friends here. People who, unlike Kane’s crew, care about who’s who and where they can go in Midtown.
Rafael musters a grin. “Sure, no problem!”
“Thank you, Rafey!” Lian shakes as her hair shifts to yellow. “You’re the bestbest friendever.” Her hands cover his on the table. “I’ve really missed you these past few days. Divya and Gavin are great and all, but you’re who I trust the most. You know that, right?”
Affection stirs in Rafael, his smile turning genuine. “Thanks, Lian. I missed you, too,” he whispers.
As she launches into a new story about her upcoming date, his mind drifts to Kane leaning against that abandoned HOV. The man gifted him a box of donuts made from his own recipe, no reason given except that he thought Rafael deserved something decent. Then there’s Lian, his best friend, asking him for a favor the minute he’s home.
But that’s ridiculous. This is just Lian being Lian.
This is what he wanted. To be home again—in Midtown with his friends and family, where it’s safe. Here, he doesn’t need a guard to walk him home at night, doesn’t have to think about a man with chrome arms who could never walk down Main Street hand-in-hand.