But traces of Rafael break through. A worn, colorful blanket draped over the couch. Terra’s ingredients neatly stocked onthe shelves. Framed holographic portraits along the walls, cycling through photos that make the place feel almost alive.
One catches his eye in particular: Rafael with a young woman, grinning at the camera. Both have voluminous brown hair, big dark eyes, and tan skin. Kane would normally tune these details out, but with Rafael, he wants to know more.
“Your sister?” He nods at the portrait.
Rafael’s smile widens. “Maria—we’re only a few years apart but complete opposites.” A chuckle escapes him. “She can’tstand themega corps. It led to a lot of fights with our parents growing up. But she’s still supportive of me, you know?” His focus drifts for a moment. “You two would probably…get along.”
At least someone from Rafael’s world might approve of Kane. The odds are certainly stacked against him.
“Well, I’m not interested in her,” he murmurs, brushing a curl from Rafael’s face. “I’m interested in you.”
Color rises along Rafael’s cheeks. “Good.” The possessiveness leaves Kane more smug than he anticipated.
“How’d your parents handle having an anti-corp kid?” he asks before taking another bite of his food. “Can’t imagine that was easy around here.”
His question draws a chuckle. “Well, she wasn’t always like that, but yeah, my parents—they don’t really get my sister.” Rafael’s expression softens. “Especially now. But we see them regularly, at least once a month, for family dinners. It’s…not perfect, but it works.”
He pauses to stir his food. “Sorry, didn’t mean to ramble. But enough about me—what about you? Are your parents…around?”
Kane’s grip tightens around his fork. Would someone likeRafael understand? His compassion extended as far as Natural Order extremists, but family is different. Those scars may have healed, but they still burn when touched. And Kane can’t afford to let anyone see that part of him. Not even Rafael.
“Not much to say.” He shrugs. “They passed a long time ago.”
“Oh, I’m sorry.” Rafael’s expression falters. But his grin returns. “So, um, how’s the food? Hopefully, it’s not too bad. You, Echo, and Pixie are the only people I’ve cooked for outside my family.”
Warmth stirs in Kane’s chest. He’s one of the few people to taste Rafael’s cooking, and he just shut him down. But he has his reasons. “I told you before,” he says, setting his fork down. “You’re wasted on VitaCorp.”
Those brown eyes almost shine bright. “Still? Um—thank you.” He ducks his head, clearing his throat.
“They—your lieutenants mentioned you helped everyone in the marketplace get those ingredients. I thought that was really admirable. Is it because of your interest in baking? Or something your uncle started? Or maybe your aunt?”
Kane’s shoulders tense, and Rafael swallows. “Sorry, I shouldn’t have asked.”
Sorry. The word sounds so wrong coming from his mouth.
Kane looks down at his plate, jaw tight. Rafael knows more about him than half the crew does. He’s never once thrown it back in his face. And Kane’s the one who keeps saying to ask questions, to speak his mind.
If he wants them to have something real, Kane needs to meet him halfway. Play his own cards for once.
He straightens. “No. I helped start the Shreveport market, not my uncle.”
Rafael blinks.
“Look—family isn’t something I dwell on…” Kane drums his fingers on the counter. “Lost both my parents when I was young. Mom to a faulty Lux Systems product, Dad to the gang that ran Shreveport back in the day. My uncle stepped in after that, started our crew to protect the neighborhood—to make sure what happened to his brother never happens again.”
His gaze drops to the half-eaten meal on his plate. A hand settles on his leg. Kane looks up to find Rafael watching him, expression soft with understanding.
“Your uncle…” Rafael starts. “He probably did what he thought best in the situation. That must’ve taken a lot of courage and strength. He sounds a lot like you…”
A knot forms in Kane’s throat. “Yeah.” He shifts in his seat. “My uncle—he stood up for the people who couldn’t. Shreveport changed under him. It’s still dangerous, but we became a shield against the worst of it. I joined right after high school. Echo and the others took me under their wing until—” His jaw clenches at the painful memory. “My uncle died in a deal gone bad…”
Silence falls over the kitchen. Rafael stares at him, not with the pity he expected but pure, unguarded sympathy. “I’m sorry, Kane.”
The tension drains from him. He rests a chrome hand over Rafael’s on his leg.
“Most of the lieutenants left after that day, all but Echo. Dragan, our version of Viper, was taken by the dealer. Personal grudge or something. Never heard from him again. Our medic—she died that night too. Our techie stayed behind and brought my uncle back. But I told them to leave. They were just as responsible. And Athena—she fled the scene. Disappeared.Until now.”
Her smug grin flickers in his mind. “And she’s not just back. She’s leading Natural Order—the same anti-cyberware cult that’s been stirring up trouble for a century, the crew that’s led all those attacks on our borders.”