But what is he supposed to do? Leave his job like Maria and move into the Outer Districts? And what if Kane doesn’t want him back? What if the man’s already moved on? He could risk everything, only to find the door shut in his face.
And then there are his parents. They might be blind to the corps and biased against the Smiles, but they’re still family. Could he really walk away from them, too?
Except staying means facing what he can no longer ignore.
His wristlink buzzes, cutting through his spiraling thoughts. Maria’s name flashes on the display.
[MOM AND DAD SAID THEY’RE OPEN TO MEETING IDRIS. COULD BE A SETUP, BUT IT FELT GENUINE. ANYWAY, I HOPE YOU FOLLOW YOUR HEART TOO, RAFA.]
Something in him finally shifts.
If their family is willing to meet Idris for Maria, why is he still standing here?
He exhales slowly, then rises from his chair. “I can’t do this anymore,” Rafael declares.
Lian stares at him. “Do what? Rafael, what’s going—”
“I can’t keep pretending everything’s okay.” He interrupts and crosses over to the staff closet. While his hands tremble as he swipes the access panel, his mind is steady for the first time in years.
“Rafey, seriously. Come on. Is this about that patient? Forget it. Think about tonight—the club we’re—”
“No.” Belongings in hand, Rafael turns to meet her wideeyes. “I’m not going to any more clubs, Lian. And I’m not coming back here.” He unclips his VitaCorp badge. The plastic tag hits the tiled floor with a click.
“You can’t be serious,” she scoffs. “What are you talking about? Where would you go?”
Rafael heads for the exit and pauses, glancing at her. “To someone who reminded me what matters. To me.” His tone loses any edge. “I hope you figure that out someday, Lian.”
The door hisses shut behind him before she can respond.
He lingers outside a moment, watching the medical drones hover past, and coworkers flash their polished smiles. Somewhere down the hall, a faint beeping echoes from a patient’s room.
The descent seems endless.
When he finally reaches the ground floor, the lobby looks the same as always. Tired patients queue at AI-powered vidscreens while armed VitaCorp enforcers stand guard at the exit. At the doors, the sensors perform a full-body sweep—his final ever—before he’s released into the open air.
For six years, this place and Midtown have held him in the same safe, predictable life. It’s the only world he’s ever known.
Maybe heshouldbe more afraid of leaving here. Some part of him is.
Then the neon outside flickers across his wristlink, and he glances down. His hands have stopped shaking.
A smile tugs at his lips.
Rafael doesn’t know what he’ll find in Shreveport, or how Kane will react. But the thought of standing still feels heavier than the risk of moving.
Whatever comes next, he’ll meet it head-on.
Just like Kane taught him.
36
Chapter 36 - Kane
Kane says nothing at first, eyes locked on Viper. He doesn’t need to look at the holo map hovering above the table. The red spread of Natural Order in District Three is burned into his memory.
He folds his arms across his chest. When Viper still won’t speak, Kane’s patience snaps.
“Half. They’ve takenhalfnow, Viper? And this is the best your squad can manage?