Kane beside him, hand in hand, five years from now.
His fingers still.
The realization twists in his stomach.
Does that mean…
Rafael stiffens.
Does he love Kane?
“What’s wrong?” Kane’s voice barely registers over the rush of his pulse. “Still worried about those security drones?”
Rafael swallows hard.
Love. The word is much too big. Too soon. Their lives are still in completely different worlds.
If anything, he cares for Kane. More than most people in his life.
He presses a kiss to Kane’s chest. He needs to stay grounded, stay present. “Thank you for the amazing date,” Rafael whispers.
Kane chuckles. “You’re welcome. But we can’t stay much longer. I have to head back tonight—only trust my lieutenants so much.”
Something tightens in Rafael’s chest. He nods. “Of course.”
It’s easier to enjoy what they have now—simple and uncomplicated—than chase feelings he doesn’t have words for yet. Or think too hard about what comes next.
27
Chapter 27 - Kane
“Thanks for taking the time to meet with me, Baron,” Mrs. Gibson greets with a smile, yet Kane’s overlay tells the truth.
>ID: MAGGIE GIBSON - SHV RES
>HR: 110 BPM ↑
She stands at her shop counter, waiter drones buzzing back and forth in the space behind her.
Kane crosses his arms, glances back at Echo, observing from another stall. Dealing with civilian concerns is usually her job, but the shopkeeper asked for him personally. “Cut to the chase,” he says, checking his wristlink.
Ten minutes until his V-link date with Rafael. Their first real chance to connect after the rooftop five days ago. They’d planned to meet in person today—until Natural Order started probing the borders again. Now Kane can’t afford to step away.
Mrs. Gibson wrings her hands. “We haven’t missed a payment in nineteen years. Not since your uncle first offered us protection.” Her gaze flicks to a young man repairing the “Meat Pies” sign beside her stand. “VitaCorp raised the cost of my grandson’s medicine this month. I only have a partialpayment right now. So I’m asking for two weeks. Just two weeks to make up the difference.”
His jaw tightens. This is what Kane expected, not what he wanted. Payments from civilians keep the crew running and their streets safe. They have to stand in where the corps and NCPD won’t.
But if Kane lets this slide, how long before everyone stops paying?
“You want two weeks, then you owe me.” Kane gestures to the man fixing the sign. Likely her grandson. “Have him report to Echo. He’ll work with our tech crew after his shift at VitaCorp until the debt’s cleared. No pay, no combat. Simply extra hands where we need them.”
Shoulder sagging, she nods. “Thank you, Baron. That’s…fair.” Kane moves to leave when she leans in, tone shifting. “But there’s something else…” His gaze snaps back to her.
“Been seeing some new faces around lately. Asking odd questions. Probably nothing, but thought you should know.”
This isn’t the news he wants to hear. “New faces? What kind of questions?” Kane jerks his chin toward Echo at the next stall. She’s at his side in seconds. He turns back to Mrs. Gibson. “Go on.”
The shopkeeper’s eyes flick between them. “I don’t want to cause trouble, Baron.”